The presence of the menstrual cycle indicates the health of a woman of reproductive age. Ideally, each girl should maintain a calendar where the days of the beginning and end of menstruation are recorded. With the normal functioning of the cycle, there can be no delays if it is not pregnancy. Some patients at the appointment with a gynecologist say that in the middle of the month they are bothered by a daub instead of menstruation. The reasons for this phenomenon do not always speak of deviation and pathology. We will understand this.
Ectopic pregnancy or threatened miscarriage
Many believe that daub instead of menstruation is a sign of pregnancy. There is some truth in this. Scanty spotting indicates a complicated pregnancy. Or rather, the fertilization of the egg is carried out outside the uterine cavity.
This is very dangerous for the health of the expectant mother. Severe pains in the abdomen are noted, the temperature rises and frequent urination occurs. The test does not always show a positive result (two bars), so you should take an analysis for hCG. Sometimes even with normal pregnancy, spotting brown or pink discharge is noted .
This process is due to the natural implantation of the fetus. If the bloody periods do not disappear, then this indicates a progesterone deficiency, which is necessary to maintain the normal development of pregnancy. If you do not pay attention to it, then the likelihood of spontaneous miscarriage increases. In medical terms, detachment of endometrial tissue occurs.
The effect of contraception
Often smears instead of menstruation in women who use hormonal drugs. These include tablets, rings, patches and intrauterine devices. In such cases, the main function of the appendages decreases and the uterine tissue atrophies.
Incorrectly selected contraception provokes a light brown discharge in the middle of the cycle. This is a kind of side effect on the part of the body that prevents conception. If brown mucus has been disturbing for several months, this is an occasion to consult a gynecologist.
Common causes of violation
Stressful situations, obesity, intense exercise, hypovitaminosis negatively affect the menstrual cycle. A weakened body immediately informs us of problems. Pathological disorders and an undermined psycho-emotional background are one of the many causes of the disturbed cycle. A daub appears instead of menstruation (pregnancy is excluded), usually brown. Doctors distinguish a number of violations that can cause such abnormalities:
- Infectious diseases that occur in severe form;
- hormonal imbalance ;
- mental and nervous disorders;
- oncology;
- rehabilitation after surgery and childbirth;
- Congenital malformations of the genitals;
- intoxication.
Inflammatory processes and STDs
A prerequisite for smearing scanty discharge is endometritis - inflammation of the tissue inside the uterus. The mucus turns brown and has an unpleasant odor. Accompanied by a daub instead of menstruation, the causes of which are diverse, pain. With adnexitis, inflammation of the uterus, polyps, cysts and cervical erosion, as well as hypothermia, a similar clinical picture occurs.
By delaying therapy, the risk of complications and the addition of an additional infection increases. Against the background of latent diseases transmitted exclusively through sexual contact, pink blood cells are observed, itching, frequent urination and burning are worrying. Such infections include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, syphilis, mycoplasmosis.
A daub instead of menstruation: physiological causes
Often such a reaction is considered quite normal and does not pose a threat to health. During lactation, slight leakage of bloody mucus is possible. Within 40 days after birth, this is considered the norm. Brown mucus is possible at the time of puberty in girls, when the cycle is just beginning to form.
In the menopause, a scanty daub instead of menstruation is observed. A sign of pregnancy or a terrible pathology, many women think. It turns out that the reason may lie in a completely different area.
What to do when smears instead of menstruation?
The answer to this question is obvious - to run to the doctor and be examined. After all, violations and negative changes in the body of any woman will not disappear on their own, but will go into the chronic stage. Today, there are modern, painless and accurate diagnostic methods that make it easy to identify why daub instead of menstruation occurs.
A negative test can indicate a disturbed hormonal background. However, it can also give a false result in the presence of pregnancy, when carried out very early (before two weeks). For an accurate determination, it is better to do a blood test for the hCG hormone. Also, the doctor will definitely prescribe an ultrasound of the genitourinary system and kidneys, a smear for latent infections, a general analysis of blood and urine. To exclude malignant and benign formations, you will need to undergo computed tomography or MRI.
The main thing in therapy is the identification and elimination of provoking factors. It is necessary to undergo a consultation with a gynecologist, immunologist, endocrinologist and nutritionist. At the discretion of the therapist, he can also prescribe an examination by other specialists if the diagnosis is difficult to identify.
If the violation is provoked by a hormonal disorder, drugs with the presence of missing hormones will be prescribed. Stress is treated with sedatives. More serious problems are eliminated by antibacterial drugs.
In order not to aggravate the already difficult situation, a woman needs to eat a balanced diet, add complex carbohydrates, proteins, fresh vegetables, greens to her diet, give up alcoholic drinks and get enough sleep. Proper rest and extermination of stressful situations will help to improve the condition.
Finally
A daub instead of menstruation, the causes of which can lead to sad consequences, hides a number of factors. Even minor spotting on cycle days can be pathological. Remember that untreated inflammation affects the reproductive system.