non-menstrual vaginal bleeding, no pain

about a week ago, roughly 2-2 1/2 weeks before the due date of my period, I had some light non-menstrual, painless vaginal bleeding for about 2 days. It went away on its own and now, a week later, it's back again, and seems to be getting worse. my period is still not due for a week to a week and a half, and I've had no cramping whatsoever, and it looks like actual blood, not menstrual fluid, though it is getting heavier and darker now than it was before. I'm wearing a tampon just to keep it from leaking all over, though it didn't start actually coming out until I went to the bathroom. it was just sort of sitting there until I went pee, but then it was dripping and I didn't want a mess so I put the tampon in. I don't think it's due to sexual activity, as I hadn't had any in several weeks before it started last week. I have since then, but even that was a few days before it started up again. I've never experienced anything like this before. I've tried googling my symptoms but nothing I've found seems to make sense. I'm 21 and quite certain I'm not pregnant. I'll go to a doctor if it keeps up but I'd really like to try to make some sense of this now. any help would be greatly appreciated.

[sparkeler]

Make sure that bleeding is coming from the vagina and is not from the rectum or in the urine. Inserting a tampon into the vagina will confirm the vagina, cervix, or uterus as the source of bleeding.

A careful exam by your health care provider is frequently the best way to sort out the source of the bleeding. This exam can be accomplished even while you are bleeding. Do not delay getting an exam just because you are currently bleeding.

Common Causes:
Uterine fibroids or polyps
Injury or disease of the vaginal opening (caused by intercourse, infection, polyp, genital warts , ulcer, or varicose veins)
Vaginal injury from insertion of foreign objects, from malignancy , or from infection
Dry vaginal walls resulting from lack of estrogen after menopause
Pregnancy complicated by abortion (spontaneous or induced)
Pregnancy complicated by ectopic pregnancy
Fluctuation in hormone levels
Stopping and starting birth control pills or estrogens
Low thyroid function
IUD use (may cause occasional spotting)
Drugs such as anticoagulants
Cervical conization or cauterization procedures
Stress

[Haven]

I have indeed determined that it's coming from the vagina, and it seems to have taken a break again. it's odd how it stops and starts.

thanks for the list, I can rule out a couple things there right away but I'll look into the rest.

[Debbie1334]

I'm actually having the same problems and its scaring me too.  It was doing it for at least 3 months, I started on the shot of BC and I dont know why but I spotted the entire time.  I switched off of it when I could and it stopped for about two weeks then started up again a few days ago.  I dont understand this because I dont have sex often and I'm pretty positive that it isnt an STD.  I've gotten a few Pap smears and everything came back normal.  I just dont know what to do, I know I should go and get checked out because it could be something dangerous but I'm scared that it could be something awful.  Something uncureable.

[kitty2121]

I'm also having the same problem it has only been happening two days and its about half way between when my period should come, I am also having no symptoms that i would regularly have with my period, i have no cramps but i have more acne then usual and i am going through slight mood swings, I'm 17 and I'm not sure what to do.

[brittalexis89]

My period comes faithfully the first week of every month usually the 2nd. The 26th I was lightly bleeding but it was only the one time I wipped but then the next day I was bleeding again but very light. The bleeding has stopped and my period hasn't started yet. What could this be from? The night before this happend my husband & I had sex but he was "going in deep". Could that be the cause?

[yagurl89]

when I was 17 I went to the doc because I wasnt mensturaing and she though because I was under weight because i was very active due to sport and did a blood test on me and said i had high level of androgens and did a pelvic exam and said my uterus was enlagered and did an ultra sound and said I had PCOS and put me on yazmin. took the BC for eight months and during that time I gained 10lb after stoppin the BC i went 4 months without a period and then I bleed brown blood very light for 2 weeks then it skipped a month and then I had a regular heavy period but no pain then it skipped a mounth and in july i bleed light to spotting for seven mouths straight. docs said my hormones were imbalanced and then I skipped three months and now ites repeating itself again and im in month number 4 and last month I started to take vitex but I see no different ima continue using it for three months to if it works.

[khaza1wolfgurl]

I just finished my period a few days ago, tho it was kinda odd because I didn't have any cramps whatsoever, or any migraines--both of which are normal for my periods.  I had sex earlier with my boyfriend and suddenly after we stopped I noticed some blood on him.  Confused, I went to the restroom to check it out, and I saw not menstrual blood, but fresh blood on my toilet paper...Sex has been hurting for a while now, but this is the first time I've been "injured" because of it. I'm worried because my aforementioned period was 20 days late, and I'm wondering what's going on down there, b/c I'm not usually THIS irregular...

[Lilgabes]

I'm glad I'm not the only one having problems with irregular bleeding between periods! The beginning of september me and my husband started trying, I have my period like normal in September, and then about 8 days after I'm done I started bleeding again lightly, but still heavier than just spotting for 3 days then I'm good for awhile and I just started bleeding again about a week after the first bleed! This is 2 times in between periods that I've started bleeding and it wasn't my menstrual cycle. I'm concerned becuz it kind of hurts in certain positions for sex, and becuz this has never happened to me. I talked to my doctor and she said don't worry about it unless it continues after my next real period! Ugh, I wish they would at least see me in the office and exam me just to make sure sumthing isn't wrong!

[Lilgabes]

And in the mean time I've started taking prenatal vitamins so I don't know if my hormone are messed up from that or what the heck is going on! I'm trying not to get stressed over it, but it's just one of those things. I hope I can get an answer soon

[lillady8511]

I have somewhat the same issue I started a new job april 4 and within those 2 weeks I was drinking coffee in the morning and some afternoons when I rthought I got my period it stopped but offical period never started,then I started bleeding light and heavy with some clotting from time to time.there is no pain back in 09 I had a Cyst rupture and had surgery I had any sexual activity in months.I plan to. Go. To the doc but is this just a imbalance?from april till now I'm out of wack n I want to see if n e body has had the same

[Mandie002]

I'm 15 and have been having the same symptoms its the first time and started this on friday morning,December 16,2011 i went to the bathroom a notice a tint of red in my discharge, and thought it was strange, i didn't bleed the entire day until i got home from school and used the restroom then i started bleeding, Saturday i bled all day, then sunday not at all i noticed that i had a dull but sharp pain before i started bleeding saturday, Then today i was fine this morning then found out i was bleeding during intercourse with my boyfriend there was a blood on him.. i am going to the OBGYN tomorrow for my birthcontorl shot but i am also going to be checked out. Earlier today i went to get out of bed to talk to my mom and my lower pelvic area hurt to walk. Intercourse has always hurt for my in certain positions so im not sure if this is tied in with it. I am so scared!!

[SouthAfricanGirl]

I was in my periods for maximum of 4days as usual with normal pains. 9days afta I started bleeding lightly fo about a week then It went heavy without any pains. Its been 11days today n it has'nt stopped. I can't afford (cost) specialist n I dnt even know a good specialist bcoz South African doctors wil ask u instead of examining u n they'l assume n give u drugs, I'm tired of tht. I'l b 23yrs 21days frm nw. This is scary and I dnt knw wat to do or think nw. I dnt hv any infection not tht I knw of bcoz as I said the doctors here wil ask u instead of examining. I'm starting to stress out now. Any advice or info abt this wil b of gud use for me. Thank you

[momwattitude]

Don't want to scare you but I have had the same problem for over a year.  At first I bled intermittently.  After a few months there was not a day that went by that I did not bleed.  The OB has changed my birth control several times, tried an iud, multiple ultrasound have shown nothing.  And this whole time I am getting weaker.  Its not cancerous but the doctors cannot find the problem or a solution
I have finally come to the hard conclusion that a hysterectomy is my only solution.  Its scheduled for a couple of weeks from now.  But remember this....IT'S A LAST RESORT