Ovulation Bleeding Explained: What’s Normal & What’s Not

Let’s deep dive into ovulation bleeding and talk about what is typically normal and what is not.

Hello, I am so thrilled to be here.

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Michelle Cooke, Period & Hormone Naturopath, Natural Fertility Educator (Menstrual Cycle Charting Educator) & Emotion Release Technique (ERT) Practitioner. I help women struggling with their menstrual cycles, have easy, pain-free periods, balanced hormones & emotional wellbeing. I’m the Founder and Director of Reproductive Wellness. I see patients online and face-to-face.

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Ovulation Bleeding – What is it?

When you have a bleed mid-cycle, sometimes it can come as a bit of a shock particularly when you weren’t expecting your period yet. Compared to a period bleed however, it is a lighter bleed generally spotting or you may notice that your fertile mucus is tinged with blood so it may appear pink in colour. But it is a minimal bleed. An ovulation bleed happens during ovulation. This spotting type bleed is short in duration lasting only a day or two and appearing (as the name suggests) on the day of ovulation or a day or two after it takes place.

Why does an ovulation bleed happen?

During ovulation, there is a change in hormones. Before ovulation there is a big rise in oestrogen which helps your eggs mature & develop. This is when the ‘chosen one’ is selected. Otherwise known as the ‘dominant follicle’ which contains your egg. Then your oestrogen levels decrease & this is progesterone’s time to shine as those levels begin to rise. Your egg is then released leaving the corpus luteum behind (the sac which was your follicle containing your egg) this is what produces progesterone. The uterine lining’s response to this hormone tag team is to bleed. Some women experience the duo of ovulation bleeding and ovulation pain (mittelschmerz).  

When it is not normal

• If the bleed is more than just spotting and resembles the bleed that you would have with your period, whether it be light, medium or heavy.

• If you are experiencing spotting in between periods & you haven’t had it before

• You need change your tampon, pad, cup or period undies regularly

• The bleeding lasts for more than 2 days

Then this is not considered to be a normal ovulation bleed, and it would be worthwhile getting investigated. Any bleeding outside the period is known as intermenstrual bleeding and needs to be checked out.

Reasons for bleeding between periods

• Implantation Bleed

This happens when the egg has been fertilised and it takes up its residence in the lining of the uterus.

• Ectopic Pregnancy

This is when the fertilised egg starts to develop in a location outside the uterus. Which can be in the cervix, ovary, abdomen but the most common place is in one of the fallopian tubes. This is serious and requires urgent surgery.

• Poor Nutrition or Eating Disorders

Not eating enough, fasting, not eating the right types of foods, or due to eating disorders like bulimia nervosa & anorexia.

• Excessive Exercise

• Ovarian Cysts

• PCOS – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

• Cervical Abnormalities

• Polyps – cervical polyps or endometrial polyps

• Fibroids

• Endometriosis

• STIs – Sexually Transmitted Infections e.g. Chlamydia

• Benign lesions on the cervix (non-cancerous)

• Uterine Cancer

• Endometrial Hyperplasia – The Endometrial cells are located in the uterine lining. In this condition those cells are being stimulated by long-term exposure to an oestrogen dominant state (high oestrogen, low progesterone). The uterine lining thickens. Symptoms can be spotting, irregular bleeding and / or heavy flow.

• Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB)

The body’s hormone production & management is affected in the glands in the brain (hypothalamus & pituitary). Typically anovulation takes place (no ovulation) & bleeding is both unpredictable & irregular.

I would suggest that if you experience any unexpected or even expected bleeding in between your periods (known as metrorrhagia or intermenstrual bleeding) that you go to a doctor to get it investigated who can refer you to a Gynaecologist (who deals specifically in women’s health concerns) if deemed appropriate.

If you would like support to help with bleeding between your periods. I would love to help you and be a part of your health care team, go ahead and book an appointment. Please click on the button below to book. 

If you have any questions or comments, pop them in the comments box below 🙂