Bleeding inbetween periods? Super worried

[worriedplum]

So I'm 22F and grew up on a healthy diet but in recent years I haven't made very good lifestyle choices, I do smoke 1/2 cigarettes a day and take painkillers quite often. Recently I've had bleeding what doesn't seem to be period blood and my period was 2 weeks ago and I'm super worried as this has never happened before. Could anyone give any reasons to why this could happen? Also, I've been going through a lot of stress in recent days so could that be related? I've had a google search and it's coming up with all sorts of answers so now I'm super worried. If anyone has any advice I'm grateful

I've had this before, going back abit but I was also in my twenties.
The reasons ending up being..
contraception.. Messed up my cycle and caused bleeding in between periods.
Another time resulted in needing a small operation to remove abnormal cells that had been picked up by a smear test.
I've not a had a problem since.
Just to add, I know that smears aren't routinely offered until your 25 so if you're doctor faffs around over it and you can afford it get it done privately.
I'm not saying that's the issue but best to check, make an appointment in the morning and hopefully they can put your mind at rest.

Hi op, sorry you're going through this but I am having similar issues too. I'm almost 34 and have had two children (3 and 5). I was on the pill for years but came off and swapped to the depo (the pill was giving me breast lumps). I came off the depo a year ago after being on it for three years. my periods sort of returned in April this year and although they have been monthly they have been quite short and different each time.

I had my last smear in July and it was clear. I have a very tilted cervix and it was very difficult and painful, and ever since, I've had spotting between periods, instances of very light pink/brown on toilet tissue, and one instance of bright red blood after sex. I saw a nurse this week who has referred me for an ultrasound but said it's good my smear was clear and I'm not in any pain, and then I saw my GP (I have massive health anxiety) who was amazing and said he wasn't concerned, and that the depo can cause very erratic periods and bleeding. A friend of mine is a women's health nurse and she said that hormonal contraception is well known for this and while it's great, it can play havoc with you.

Like a pp has said, get checked out if you can, speak to your GP and see if they can refer you for an ultrasound if not a smear too. Try not to Google - I know it's hard and I've done it too and it's not a good read. Keep us posted

Thank you so much for your replies, I've never been on hormonal contraception but my situation is similar to yours @merryandbrightdelight because it'll be brown but then turns bright red after sex and now its having an effect on my sex life so I really hope this isn't something I'll have to forever deal with. I had a surgical abortion 3 months ago so I've only had 2 periods since it but the bleeding has been normal and it's only now I've gotten it

@worriedplum did they mention anything after your procedure about bleeding? My GP has queried a cervical ectropian and said with them, sex irritates them and they bleed. How often have you noticed the bleeding after sex?

You need to see your GP so they can take a look at your cervix and possibly an US. At your age it’s very unlikely to be anything dangerous but important to make sure

It could be a whole range of things. You need to see a GP.