Women with bleeding between periods often have immune disorders or metabolic disorders of the pancreas and thyroid. Also insulin resistance or diabetes, liver or adrenal insufficiency. Any change in the abdomen related to bleeding outside the period can be detected and treated early by the gynecologist.
What characterizes bleeding outside the menstrual cycle?
If the bleeding phases of menstruation are longer or if a new bleeding starts after subsiding with a too short break, disorders of the bleeding rhythm are present. On average, a bleeding duration of up to 7 days is considered normal. The course of bleeding should be from weak to stronger and subsiding again within this time. If the bleeding phases are longer or if new bleeding starts after subsiding with a too short pause, disorders of the bleeding rhythm are present. The causes of bleeding outside the period can be very diverse and should definitely be clarified.
Causes
Mucosal growths such as uterine polyps or endometriosis are a possible trigger for intermenstrual bleeding, as are tumors of the uterus and cervix. Metabolic disorders of the adrenal gland, liver, pineal gland or thyroid gland such as burnout or Hashimoto’s often occur after many years of emotional stress in family problems and relationship crises. Psychological stress such as traumatizing experiences or lack of strength in working life are one of the most common causes of intermittent bleeding. The course is aggravated by smoking, lack of exercise, overweight or permanent stress. There are also reinforcing organic and hereditary factors. Quite natural and harmless intermenstrual bleeding occurs during hormonal changes in puberty and during menopause, in addition, the mini-pill can trigger such.
Diseases with this symptom
- Metabolic disorder
- Uterine tumor
- Endometriosis
- Uterine rupture
- Polyps
- Menopause
- Uteritis
- Cervical cancer
- Burnout syndrome
Diagnosis and course of the disease
The doctor palpates the abdomen of the woman from the inside and outside for clarification in the case of disturbing intermittent bleeding and takes a smear of vaginal secretions. He or she examines a piece of the uterine lining under a microscope and may do a vaginal ultrasound. The laboratory tests a sample of the woman’s blood for inflammation and tumor markers, as well as hormone levels. Bleeding can last from a few hours to weeks and can vary greatly in severity. If it recurs similarly in the next cycle, a visit to the doctor is necessary at the latest. Intermittent bleeding with threatening blood loss is a medical emergency. With pills, injections and operations it is not done when the female body gets out of rhythm, because very often this has causes in the personal living environment, which are not completely remedied with quick medical measures.
Complications
Bleeding outside of the menstrual cycle is only problematic if it is particularly heavy. In a pregnant woman, heavy bleeding outside the period could indicate placental abruption, in which the placenta has separated from the uterine wall. This can occur almost only in high-risk pregnancies such as placenta praevia, but when it does happen, it is life-threatening for both woman and child due to the high blood loss. Even light bleeding outside the menstrual cycle should be taken seriously if it occurs regularly. They are often trivialized, since they can arise from hormonal imbalances and are actually harmless. Even stress can trigger non-menstrual bleeding in some women who are particularly sensitive to it. However, they can also indicate serious diseases of the reproductive female organs. Some forms of cancer manifest themselves in the late stages by recurrent non-menstrual bleeding, which does not even have to be particularly heavy. If they are not detected, however, the cancer can continue to spread unhindered and may only be discovered at a stage when it is already too late for a cure. Therefore, if bleeding occurs constantly outside the period or occurs during pregnancy, the gynecologist should always be consulted to avoid complications.
When should you go to the doctor?
No matter which orifice it comes out of, blood is always an alarm sign. Therefore, bleeding outside the period, also called intermenstrual bleeding or atypical bleeding, should always lead to the gynecologist. Even if they are faint, a serious condition may be behind them. Irregular bleeding can be an indication of uterine cysts, uterine inflammation, polyps, fibroids or tumors. In very young girls, intermittent bleeding occurs when the menstrual cycle has not yet settled properly. Usually they are harmless, but as a precaution, mothers should take their daughters to the doctor. The same phenomenon is also typical of menopause. As at the beginning of the fertile period, women should visit the doctor. Through physical examinations and blood analysis, he can make a diagnosis. Intermittent bleeding is also a warning signal for estrogen fluctuations or sexually transmitted diseases. Even a brain tumor and metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus can manifest themselves through intermittent bleeding. All of these abnormalities require treatment. Spotting outside the menstrual cycle can even be caused by emotional stress such as lovesickness or grief. If the bleeding occurs as a result of blood vessel damage during sexual intercourse, a check-up should be performed to rule out secondary diseases. Abstinence speeds up the healing process. Intermittent bleeding can also be caused by hormonal contraceptives such as the contraceptive pill or a hormonal IUD. In this case, the patient must switch to another contraceptive.
Treatment and therapy
There are harmless shorter intermenstrual bleedings with little blood loss, which do not require treatment. These include minor bleeding during ovulation, after sexual intercourse or a visit to the doctor, or when a blood vessel has been injured. As an alternative to hormones, the use of monk’s pepper is considered effective, which can be purchased freely as a tablet. But before that, a doctor should rule out that the intermittent bleeding is due to a serious disease.
- Hormonal intermittent bleeding can be treated by hormone therapy. In fibroids, there is often a disproportion of the remaining hormones to the dominant estrogen production. Here, even a freely available progesterone cream can help. Progesterone is the starting hormone for other hormones and can be converted by the body at will, for example, in androstenedione.
- If the endometrium grows uncontrollably outside the uterine cavity, there is endometriosis, which is surgically removed.
- Tumors in the uterus and cervix are treated after surgery by a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.
- Metabolic disorders such as diabetes type I and II can regulate an endocrinologist such as thyroid dysfunction by administering replacement hormones. On her own initiative, the patient can complete her conventional medical treatment well by natural remedies and mindfulness to a holistic therapy.
- Psychotherapy and cures help with psychological stress. Here it is necessary to distinguish whether it is due to current stress from work life and life circumstances, or old wounds and emotional stress from entrenched behaviors.
In naturopathy, globules such as Calcium Carbonicum Hahnemanni are used. It helps with uterine fibroids that cause intermittent bleeding. Evening cold hands and feet are a common companion of fibroids and polyps. Naturopathic doctors recommend 5 globules daily for a period of 3-6 months. Acupuncture can regulate disorders of the bleeding rhythm via the chi of the kidneys and adrenal glands, as well as activation of the spleen meridian. Since stress is an important amplifier for many causes of intermenstrual bleeding, the woman should provide balance. New ways of being creative and living female will to create can have a positive effect in the treatment. Smoking is not only harmful to the female cycle, but also to beautiful skin.
Outlook and prognosis
Bleeding outside the menstrual cycle occurs occasionally in the lives of most adult women. The prognosis depends on the cause. If hormonal contraceptives are taken, it stands to reason that they will affect the female cycle. This is then not a real bleeding outside the period, but an “unnatural” bleeding, which indicates the intolerance of the contraceptive.Nevertheless, it is perceived as bleeding. By completely discontinuing the contraceptive or switching to a better tolerated product, bleeding outside the period can be stopped. During menopause, they are normal even without contraception, because the body is again in a phase of transition and needs time to fully accomplish it. Therefore, it can take months or sometimes years before a woman can be sure that she will stop bleeding. The prognosis is similar if an existing medical condition is the cause of bleeding outside of menstruation. These may continue until the condition itself is treated. A consultation with the treating physician can prepare the woman for what to expect during the course of treatment and how long the problem may continue in her case.
Prevention
Effective prevention is considered to be sufficient exercise to reduce stress and maintain healthy muscles. Monk’s pepper helps prevent acyclic bleeding. A diet of cold-pressed oils and salads, green vegetables during the day, eggs, low-fat cottage cheese desserts, and two handfuls of unprocessed nuts daily can help and prevent acyclic bleeding when combined with obesity or sluggish metabolism. Bleeding outside the period can be an alarm signal if it has no organic causes. They can help to give the body a balance of exercise and rest again, to distinguish necessary activities from relaxing idleness or creativity, and to enjoy life as a woman again.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Intermittent bleeding and spotting that occurs for the first time should always be clarified by a gynecologist. If the causes are known, alternative or naturopathic methods can also help in some cases. Hormonal imbalances are often responsible for bleeding outside of menstruation. If a patient does not want to use allopathic medications or hormonal contraceptives, a visit to a naturopath can help. In naturopathy, attempts are made to restore hormone balance with the help of bioidentical hormones from plants and medicinal herbs. Silver candle, hops and fenugreek are prescribed for estrogen deficiency. Monk’s pepper is said to balance an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. Lady’s mantle is also thought to have balancing properties. Hormone fluctuations are also treated in naturopathy with acupuncture and foot reflexology. In homeopathy, Schüßler salts are used. However, intermittent bleeding is often a result of exceptional emotional situations and stress in connection with an unbalanced or unhealthy diet. In these cases, relaxation techniques such as yoga or autogenic training can help. Women on a reduction diet should also make sure they have an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals. If bleeding outside of the menstrual cycle cannot be successfully treated, affected women should get into the habit of always carrying mini tampons and panty liners with them. In this way, embarrassing situations can at least be avoided in everyday life.
