Lady issues, bleeding between periods.

[KKenny83]

Hey all,
After a prolonged dormancy in my HA, I've been experiencing a very frustrating reoccurrence lately. My HA has always largely been centered around family and friends and less often, myself. This time around its all of the above. In a short period of time, my father has had a suspected skin cancer removed and my mother who is a breast cancer survivor, and post menopausal is experiencing spotting that is being investigated by her Gyn. So, needless to say between that and normal work and life stress, my anxiety has been sky high. Then, yesterday I woke up and went to use the bathroom and noticed I was bleeding, not spotting but full-on period bleeding. It's only been 2 weeks since my last period ended but I've ALWAYS had regular yet heavy periods. Now that its started, I have very mild cramps compared to what I usually get, (which is clobbered) back pain, and very tender breasts. There is NO chance of pregnancy and I'm around 30 yrs old.

I say all this to ask has anyone else ever experienced this? I keep reading it could be stress related (but also cancer, of course) but I've had severe anxiety my whole adult life and never had physical side effects like this. I know I should see a doctor about this but I just want to get through this stressful situation with my mother before I start down a path of tests of my own. Ladies, has anyone else experienced a shortened length between periods like this? I can't sleep I'm so freaked out. Help!!

[tipperton]

Hi KKenny83,

I'm sorry to hear you are going through a worrying time with your parents' health at the moment.  I've also had lots of issues around bleeding/spotting over the past 3 years.  I'd never before had the slightest variation in my periods, they were always exactly on time, so I was really worried. I did go to my doctor, and then to a gynecologist, and as the problem was persistent, I ended up having a number of exams, pap tests, and pelvic ultrasounds.  With each one, I worried before, during, and after the test, and went around clutching my cell phone and waiting for the dreaded bad news.  But all my tests came back normal, and no one was ever able to pinpoint a reason for the bleeding.  Even going on the Pill for 6 months didn't help.  Eventually, I got pregnant.  That stopped it!

At 30 years old, your bleeding is really unlikely to be cancer.  Hormonal disturbances and infections are more likely causes.   

Even post menopausal bleeding, which is definitely a red flag, is usually not cancer.  (Although it is essential to get it checked out.)  It can be a sign of fluctuating hormones too, or polyps.  My grandmother, who was over 80, was so terrified by her bleeding that she didn't tell anyone at first.  She just quietly bought sanitary pads and put up with it for weeks.  Eventually she went to the hospital, and was diagnosed with a prolapsed uterus.  Apparently the positioning of it was causing irritation and bleeding.  She was fitted with a pessary and all was well. 

I suspect that if you go to the doctor, they are unlikely to set you off on a "path of tests" because of this one incident.  More likely, they'll quickly press on your ovaries to check for tenderness (meaning infection) and then offer some reassurance. 

Good luck

[lane79]

Hi KKenny83- so sorry you are going through all that right now. With everything that you are going through I would say it's very likely to be stress related. Our bodies just do weird things when we're stressed- even if we've never experienced physical side affects before. I'm around your age and went through a bout of spotting/period issues over the past year which completely freaked me out. Since the spotting continued to happen I finally sucked it up and called my gynecologist. I swear she almost laughed at me when I mentioned I was concerned that it was cancer. Due to my age and lack of risk factors it was so far down on her list. So, she did do a few bouts of testing-just the one exam with her then an ultrasound. I think it was more for my own reassurance because I was so worried.

Again, there are so many reasons our periods go wonky on us, and in so many cases it's stress related or something completely benign. Keep an eye on it, try not to worry, but if you are overly concerned just call your doctor. They may do some tests but won't immediately jump to cancer, believe me. 

[aunjypoo]

I had a problem with this last spring. I ended up going to the emergency room for a work related injury (roudy in-mates, gotta love 'em!)and brought it up and mentioned my mother had cervical cancer. The dr blew me off, so I went to my PCP the next day. He told me it was fairly common and nothing to worry about. He gave me a prescription for 10 days worth of Progesterone pills to stop the bleeding and it worked and I've been fine every since... While it's a nuisance I don't think it is anything to worry about. Stress can also cause it, he mentioned that to me also.

[Chantelle]

My situation was VERY similar to Tipperton's and I am ok too!

I had spotting before my period for a full week, every month, for five years. Oh, and at times I would also have light bleeding mid cycle out of nowhere, which, as you would guess always freaked me out! I regret spending so much time worrying about it though as I walked around thinking the sky was going to fall at any minute. I guess it's easier said than done when you are worrying about a health concern. I was sent for multiple pelvic ultrasounds, pap exams, etc. and nothing was ever found. To this day I don't have an explaination from my obgyn as to why it happened but thankfully, like Tipperton, once I got pregnant it all magically went away, hooray! I haven't had a period for the last 6 months due to breastfeeding and am crossing my fingers that my cycles return to what they use to be...a very long time ago 

If it makes you feel better my dr. told me that irregular bleeding is the number one reason women visit their obgyn's. Very often it is nothing to be concerned about, especially when you are so young! I was 22 when my irregular bleeding started and am now 29...

[lawkcrabb]

I am so sorry for everything you have been through!

I can definitely tell you that I have been there before...most likely it is stress related.  Whenever I am extra anxious or stressed out it reeks havoc on my menstrual cycle.  Last year I was having a period every 2 weeks...and I mean a fully on period.  I was VERY stressed out at that time too.  I made a call to my OB GYN's office and was told that mid cycle bleeding can be very common...if it happens for more than 2 or 3 months or in accompanied by pain during intercourse or SEVERE pain then I should make an appointment.  I took away what was stressing me and my periods have been like clock work ever sense (knock on wood).

The mind is a very powerful thing!  Try not to stress to much about it.  I promise you...you are ok!

[Daisy131]

this actually JUST happened to me so i can relate. i freaked my junk out. i am your age, and i called the doctor. they know i have severe anxiety, so her first question was, are you under any kind of stress? well, YEAH, i have anxiety. i'm always under stress. she said it's extremely common to have cycles that are wonky when you're under stress and/or suffer from anxiety. the only way she would see me was if it happened again. then she said she would simply check for cysts and maybe fibroids. other than that, she said to wait it out. it was a regular period, and i didn't get another one for 4 weeks. so please rest assure that stress and anxiety wreak havoc on your cycle. and do NOT look up Dr. Google- you will only get yourself even more worried.

[KKenny83]

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing your experiences, it has really helped more than you know. Everything seems much more dire at night. I've decided I'm not gonna drive myself nuts and made an appointment with my gyn. Then comes the challenge of accepting what she says