Elizabeth FernandezGetty Images
Bleeding between your periods? It’s common. Of all the women going to see gynaecologists each year, 20 per cent do so because of abnormal bleeding. While most bleeding between periods is harmless, it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical condition that needs treatment.
Dr Juliet McGrattan looks at the most common causes of bleeding between your periods:
What is intermenstrual bleeding?
When vaginal bleeding happens unexpectedly between periods it is called intermenstrual bleeding (IMB). Whether it’s only happening occasionally or between every period, you should take steps to find out the cause. If you are experiencing pelvic pain, pain during sex (dyspareunia) or when you get your period it is very heavy, then these are signs that there might be an underlying cause for your IMB.