8 reasons why you might have blood in your panties other than during your period

The American Pregnancy Association suggests that 20 percent of women will bleed during the 12th week of pregnancy, so your doctor will want to rule out pregnancy if you experience irregular bleeding, says Mamta Mamic, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Note that bleeding during early pregnancy tends to be lighter than a normal period.

Are you taking blood thinners like warfarin? “In general, any blood thinners can make your period heavier and cause bleeding,” says Johnson. Supplements like ginkgo biloba also have blood-thinning properties that can affect your flow, adds Mamic. Of course, birth control pills like NuvaRing, which contain estrogen and progestin (altering hormone levels), can also be a culprit, Johnson points out. So if you start taking any new prescription medications and notice symptoms, tell your doctor.

STIs can be hard to identify, because there’s a good chance you don’t know you have one. STIs often appear suddenly, without any symptoms. But if you start to notice bleeding in your lower abdomen, especially after sex, gonorrhea or chlamydia could be the culprit, says Johnson. These STIs, like trichomoniasis and HPV, can cause inflammation of the cervix. And when the cervix is ​​inflamed, Johnson says, it can cause bleeding.

RELATED: 4 Terrifying STDs You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

It’s true that IUDs can cause irregular bleeding: About 25 percent of people who use Paragard (a copper IUD) notice their periods get longer and heavier, Johnson says. joy. What about the other type of IUD, Mirena? Because it contains small amounts of levonorgestrel (a progestin), this can also cause irregular bleeding (at least for the first 3-6 months). The good news is that your regular period will be shorter and lighter. And what if the IUD slips out or isn’t in the right place? You’ll get blood on your underwear and feel uncomfortable.

of course Your mysterious thyroid may be involved in vaginal bleeding. If you’re experiencing bleeding, your doctor may worry about an underactive thyroid, says Mamic. What could be causing this? An underactive thyroid can affect the pituitary system, which can have a knock-on effect on hormones and, in some cases, lead to bleeding.

Yes, sex can make you bleed. Usually, it’s because you were a little too rough or not wet enough. The result is a tiny tear just outside the opening of your vagina, says Johnson. If the tear isn’t causing you too much discomfort (and you can pinpoint exactly what’s causing it), it will probably heal on its own. No need to see a doctor. So next time you have sex, you might want to take it easy. (Or stock up on lube at Women’s Health Boutique!)

PCOS is classified as caused by an increase in the male hormone testosterone, says Mamic, which can cause problems with bleeding between menstrual cycles. “Testosterone can interfere with estrogen’s ability to function properly,” she says. Symptoms can include very long and heavy periods, missing periods, or long periods between periods.

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Here’s why you should take bleeding outside of your period seriously: Though rare, at worst, it could be a sign of precancerous lesions or cancer in the uterus or cervix, says Johnson. This is especially true if you’re already at high risk for these diseases (HPV increases your risk). If you’re at high risk, your doctor may order some tests to be on the safe side.