Spotting a Week After Period: Causes and Treatment

Pink or Brown Spotting After Period

A regular and healthy menstrual cycle typically lasts between 28 and 32 days, with three to five days of bleeding. Of course, everyone’s cycle is different, so deviations from this cycle are also considered normal so long as the pattern and length of the menstrual cycles remains steady. However, untimely spotting or abnormal bleeding may be a cause for concern as it can potentially indicate health problems.

Abnormal bleeding can occur in response either to some external trigger, such as stress, or to some internal hormone imbalance or disregulation of the endocrine system. If you’ve noticed irregular spotting and bleeding after your period, you should consult a doctor to make sure it’s not a symptom of a more serious condition.

Causes of Pink or Brown Discharge

Erratic menstrual cycles could result from a number of factors. Indeed, menstrual abnormalities have become increasingly prevalent with our current hectic lifestyles and elevated stress levels. Many women now report irregular cycles with fluctuating duration, abnormal spotting, and bleeding before, during, and after a cycle.The symptoms of such menstrual anomalies may vary somewhat, but the major causes typically remain unchanged.

One menstrual problem that many women report is spotting a week after their period. It is essential to note that spotting only refers to light or mild bleeding. It generally lasts for a few hours, or a maximum of two days. Spotting can occur due to one or more of the reasons listed below:

• Old blood: A brown discharge or spotting a week or two after your period could indicate an incomplete expulsion of menstrual blood from the body. In other words, the spotting could be the body's attempt to remove the remaining uterine tissue.
• Uncontrolled menstrual cycles: Teenage girls who just began menstruating often take some time to adjust to the changes of puberty. This can result in untimely spotting. It can take a while for teenage girls to settle in a consistent uniform menstrual cycle. During that time, the teenage girl may experience irregular spotting, which is normal.
• Oral contraceptives: Women who have begun taking or just stopped using birth control pills may also experience spotting a week after their period. The hormones contained in oral contraceptives can disturb normal body functioning and delay or speed up menstrual cycles. The body takes some time to get adjusted to the elevated levels of hormones, after which spotting may stop.
• Vigorous or rough sexual intercourse: Sexual intercourse involving deeper penetration can bruise the cervix and occasionally result in physical injuries. This can also cause light spotting.
• Polyps: Polyps are non-malignant cellular growths in the uterus. Some of them may at times burst and result in spotting or bleeding.
• Uterine fibroids: In a majority of cases, uterine fibroids is a mild condition that can occasionally result in spotting a week after the period or at any other time. However, if these fibroids grow larger then they must be immediately eliminated.
• Infections: Infections generally do not cause spotting . They can however increase the risk of abnormal discharge or bleeding which can be difficult to differentiate from spotting. This kind of discharge can often happen from bacterial and yeast infections. The combination of a pink or brown discharge with an unpleasant odor can help distinguish infections from other causes of spotting.

Misconceptions About Spotting

• Light spotting after your period is not an indication of pregnancy. Women generally mistake it for implantation spotting. However, as the calendar below shows, implantation bleeding typically occurs a week before your period, not after it.
• It is only possible to become pregnant after ovulation and positive fertilization. Women experience ovulation about ten days after their period. Hence, the odds of conceiving immediately after your period are very, very low.
• Spotting a week after your period also cannot arise due to early miscarriage, as unlike spotting, it is mostly accompanied by cramping and excessive bleeding.

Spotting vs. Implantation Bleeding

Many people mistake spotting for implantation bleeding. This menstrual calendar will help clear things up.

reatment for Spotting After Period

When spotting a week after your period occurs once or twice, then it is considered to be normal. However, women who experience repeated or frequent instances of spotting after their period must consult a doctor for treatment.

If spotting is caused by excess stress, then meditation, yoga, and medications are recommended. Higher levels of stress can also be alleviated by getting sufficient sleep and rest.

Women who experience spotting after taking birth control pills also need to visit a doctor, who can determine whether the pills are responsible for the spotting. He or she may then suggest a change of brand or an alternative means of contraception.