Odd vaginal bleeding - any medics out there or people with experience?

[DumbledoresGirl]

Not for the first time, I have a little vaginal bleeding. It really is a tiny tiny amount of blood, mixed in with normal vaginal discharge - not bright red, just a tiny bit that browns over time - enough to warrant using a panty liner, but only one per day.

I first noticed it a couple of days ago and still have it but I am not sue a period for another few days.

I have had a smear done recently and all was fine.

I have been to the GP about this before (some years ago now) and they never seem able to find anything wrong with me.

The bleeding doesn't follow sex, doesn't come with any other symptoms, doesn't come at the same time each month, and indeed only occurs rarely (maybe three times a year).

Does anyone know what is going on as I keep having morbid feelings about cancer and wondering if I am going to live to see my children grow up and it is really getting me down.

Thanks.

It might jsut be a hormonal unbalance. Go abck to your gp and demand tests. You shouldnt be worrying about it.

should add, I also had problems with bleeding all over the place, although it was heavier than you describe, and it was hormones. I got put onthe pill to balance it out.

Well, I can probably rule out hormones imbalance too as I was recently tested for that, not because of the bleeding but because I get very tired during my period and I was tested for all sorts of conditions including early menopause. Every test came back absolutely normal.

I mean, should I take comfort that all these tests and investigations have revealed normal results and just relax about it, or could ther still be something deadly wrong with me?

I know I sound like a hypochondriac, but even hypochondriacs have sometimes been known to be properly ill.

Have you ahd a smear recently? That might put your mind at rest.

Smear was done last November/December ish. I know that should put my mind at rest, but I am still wondering about other things that would not show up in a smear.

This is called intermenstrual bleeding (bleeding between periods), and does warrant further investigation.

It is fairly common in women in their mid 30's onwards, especially around the middle of the month when you ovulate.

Alternatively, it might be a cervical erosion. Don't worry, this isn't serious. It just means a thin area of skin on your cervix, which can bleed easily ie after intercourse.

Whichever way, do go to your G.P. as they will be able to help you whatever it is

Tomkat, I read that cervical erosion would be picked up with a smear test. Is this not the case? Plus, if cervical erosion is not a problem, why go to the doctor? Just to eliminate other causes?

Don't want to be alarmist (especially as I'm new) but is it worth being tested for STD - this is one of the symptoms of Chlamydia, which could lie dormant a long time before showing. At least you could rule out another option!

Hermit, funny you should say that, I had some hugely excessive vaginal discharge the other day and did get to the point where I asked dh if he had had sex with anyone else as it seemed to be an infection. Then it disappeared and I decided it was just excessive ovulation discharge - sorry if TMI. I am telling you, there have been lots of odd things happening to me lately, but I think it just comes down to age.

The spotting problem has been shelved again: my period proper started today (5 days early - sigh, see what I mean about odd things?) so I think the spotting was just a slow starting period.