Article: You may have abnormal spotting due to a pelvic infection, medical condition, or cancer. Try not to worry because there are many harmless causes of spotting. Instead, monitor yourself for other possible symptoms of a medical condition. See your doctor if you notice these symptoms: Easy bruising Fever Dizziness Abdominal or pelvic pain Abnormal discharge Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that commonly causes irregular periods, among other symptoms. As part of your irregular periods, you may experience spotting. If you know you have PCOS, consider if it might be the reason behind your spotting. Symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, excess facial and body hair, acne, male-pattern baldness (hair thinning at your temples or your crown), and enlarged ovaries. See your doctor if you suspect you may have undiagnosed PCOS. You might have bleeding after sex due to scratching inside your vagina or because of a medical issue. Sometimes this is no big deal, but it can be a cause for concern. If you've only experienced spotting once, it's likely nothing is wrong. However, it's best to talk to your doctor if you have spotting after sex more than once or you're very concerned. If you have vaginal dryness, you're more likely to have spotting after sex. If this is the case, using a lube may help you avoid spotting in the future. Spotting can happen in the early days of pregnancy when your baby attaches to the lining of your uterus. However, it may also happen in the first few weeks. If you may be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test to find out if this could be the cause of your spotting. If the results are negative but you don't get your period, take the test again or talk to your doctor. Try not to worry, but it's possible that spotting can be a sign that something is wrong with your pregnancy. Go to your doctor to make sure you're not have an ectopic pregnancy, which means your baby is growing in your fallopian tubes. Additionally, your doctor can make sure you aren't experiencing early symptoms of a miscarriage. If something is wrong, your doctor will begin treatment immediately to help you and your baby. While this is scary, it's possible that nothing is wrong. Just make sure you see your doctor immediately to be on the safe side. Some STDs can cause vaginal spotting. You're more likely to get an STD if you've had unprotected sex with a new partner or if you or your sexual partner has more than 1 partner. Consider getting tested for an STD, and talk to your partner to find out if they may be at risk. If you do have an STD, you can likely get treatment to help you recover quickly. If you're taking any medication, it may be the cause of your spotting. Don't stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor. Instead, make an appointment with your doctor to ask about your medication and find out if it's causing your bleeding. In addition to birth control pills, blood thinners, antidepressants, and antipsychotics can all potentially cause bleeding between periods. Your doctor might tell you that your spotting is nothing to worry about. Alternatively, they may change your medication.
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Notice if you're experiencing other symptoms. Determine if your spotting could be a symptom of PCOS. Consider if the spotting happened after sexual intercourse. Take a pregnancy test if you could be in the early weeks of pregnancy. Get checked by your doctor if you're pregnant. Evaluate your risk for a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Check the side effects of the medications you're taking.