Breakthrough bleeding refers to vaginal bleeding or spotting that occurs between menstrual periods or during pregnancy. It is a common concern among women using hormonal birth control. Breakthrough bleeding can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal contraception, IUDs, infections, fibroids, blood thinners, hormonal drugs, and thyroid medication. Women who smoke are also at risk of experiencing breakthrough bleeding.

Breakthrough bleeding is not necessarily a reason for concern, but it can be annoying. If you experience breakthrough bleeding, you should pay attention to any changes in your normal bleeding patterns from month to month. While breakthrough bleeding may be normal and go away on its own over time, you should call your doctor if you’re also experiencing abdominal pain, chest pain, heavy bleeding, eyesight or vision changes, severe leg pain, or other concerning symptoms.

If breakthrough bleeding is related to birth control, there are usually a number of options to manage it. For example, switching from an ultra-low-dose birth control pill to a low-dose pill, changing the number of placebo (or pill-free) days, or changing the type of birth control method. Treatment for breakthrough bleeding usually depends on the cause, and may include antibiotics or other medications.

In summary, breakthrough bleeding is vaginal bleeding or spotting that occurs between menstrual periods or during pregnancy. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal contraception, IUDs, infections, fibroids, blood thinners, hormonal drugs, and thyroid medication. While breakthrough bleeding is not necessarily a reason for concern, you should call your doctor if you’re experiencing concerning symptoms. There are usually a number of options to manage breakthrough bleeding, including changing the type of birth control method.