spotting before period

[blondie12]

I am a 30 year old female with an 18 month old little girl. For the past two months I have been spotting a couple days before my period. I only notice it after a bowel movement or if I check with toilet paper to see. I had an Iud in that I got out in December. I also had a normal Pap in December as well as a normal exam. Last month it happened about 2 days before my period and then my period was normal. Now this time it started Monday and I am due for my period anyday. What could be causing this. I have been been under some stress lately but otherwise nothing significant. I have an appt with my obgyn in two weeks but have been worried and just wanted another opinion. Thank you

[blondie12]

Thank you for your help..I got my period today normally at 27 days and was spotting from monday...very little bit as I said only after bowel movement or if I checked. Thank you for your help..

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi! At your age, and with your mild symptoms, its unlikely to be anything too bad.  The most likely cause is hormones.  Perhaps the spotting starts when your estrogen or progesterone level starts to drop as you go into you period.  Another possibility is a polyp on the cervix or within the uterus.  These are little growths that form spontaneously and often cause spotting, they are usually benign and can usually be removed easily.  A fibroid in the uterus can also cause something similar.  These too are usually benign, and if the spotting is your only symptom, nothing would need to be done.

If you were my patient, I would probably do a pap, rule out vaginal infection, and consider an ultrasound, maybe even a saline ultrasound if everything else was negative.  Then, if I still couldn't find anything, I would probably give you progesterone to take for 14 days.

Hope this helps!
Dr B

[bosslady1413]

A related discussion, I'm spotting eleven days before expected cycle was started.