Brown Spotting After Period Am I Pregant?
Brown spotting after period can be caused by several factors. It is not always a warning sign or a cause of concern. It can be a sign of early pregnancy or it could just be a leftover of the last menstrual cycle, which is not just being discharged.
What is Spotting?
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This is the appearance of trace amounts of blood and is differentiated from menstrual bleeding
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In most cases, blood does not reach the underwear, instead it is observed when a woman wipes with tissue
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Spotting can occur post or pre menstrual flow
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The discharge may be pink or bright red. Dark brown spotting after period is also common.
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Light brown spotting may also occur
Endometrial Shedding – Cause of Spotting After a Period
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After menstruation, there may still be some tissue left on the uterus.
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This lining is shed 3 to 4 days after the end of a menstrual cycle in order to prepare for the next one.
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It can be considered as a cleaning out of the uterine lining.
Pregnancy and Ovulation
Spotting may also be a symptom of ovulation or of early pregnancy.
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When the spotting occurs 3 or 4 weeks after the last period, it could be implantation bleeding.
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This is caused by the fertilized embryo burrowing into the walls of the uterus
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Spotting may also occur as a result of ovulation and is thought to be due to the ovum bursting out of the ovaries causing a bit of bleeding.
When Spotting is a Cause for Concern
In some cases, post period spotting may be caused by something more serious than just the sloughing off of the previous endometrial lining. These causes include:
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Uterine Polyps
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Bacterial Infection
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STDs
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
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Vaginosis
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Cervical Cancer
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Endometriosis
Oftentimes, these conditions exhibit symptoms other than spotting, this includes pain and fever.