Spotting during ovulation: Is it normal? A doctor weighs in

While many of us expect to see blood in our underwear only around the time of our periods, experiencing light bleeding or spotting outside of this is fairly common. In fact, around a third of women will experience what’s known as abnormal uterine bleeding, which includes light bleeding or spotting outside of the normal period that may not be heavy enough to need a tampon or pad. 

If you notice this around the midpoint in your cycle, then it could be a sign that ovulation has happened. Read on for everything you need to know about spotting during ovulation, including when to see a doctor and other reasons for bleeding between periods. 

Key takeaways

• Ovulation spotting can be caused by hormonal changes and is usually nothing to be worried about.
• Bleeding or spotting between periods can also happen for a variety of other reasons, including if you’re using hormonal birth control and during perimenopause. 
• If you have any questions or worries about your cycle and bleeding between your periods, then don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. There is no question too simple or silly. It’s always a good idea to mention bleeding between your periods to your doctor so they can investigate. 
• If you want to learn more about your cycles and symptoms, you can download a period-tracking app like Flo. There, you can log your symptoms and track any patterns in spotting.

What causes ovulation spotting? 

In a nutshell, ovulation spotting is caused by hormonal changes. In the days leading up to ovulation, when one of your ovaries releases an egg, your estrogen levels rise. This point in your cycle is known as your fertile window and is when you’re most likely to conceive. 

Estrogen plays a key role in triggering the lining of your uterus to thicken in preparation for a possible pregnancy. But if you don’t conceive, your estrogen levels start to drop again. 

“There is a small dip in estrogen levels after ovulation — and a rise in progesterone levels after ovulation occurs,” says member of Flo’s expert board Dr. Sara Twogood, obstetrician and gynecologist, US. “This dip in estrogen and change in hormone levels can cause some of the uterine lining to bleed a bit.”

This shift can cause a little light bleeding (or pink or brown discharge). Ovulation spotting is relatively rare, though. Research suggests that fewer than 5% of women experience it.

How to identify ovulation spotting 

Spotting during your cycle can be caused by lots of different things, so the easiest way to know if you’re experiencing ovulation spotting or something else is by looking at the timing of it during your cycle. 

It can be tough to know when exactly you’re ovulating as it can vary from cycle to cycle. An ovulation tracker like Flo uses your past cycle data to make predictions about when you’ll ovulate in the future and when your fertile window might be. This can help you get to know your body better and help you feel more prepared. 

The average menstrual cycle lasts for 28 days, with ovulation happening around day 14. But, everyone’s different, and if your cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days, then it’ll still be considered typical. It’s important to remember that if your cycle is slightly longer or shorter than 28 days, then you won’t necessarily ovulate on day 14. 

What does ovulation spotting look like? 

Ovulation spotting can appear light pink or red, but it can also be brown. Brown might sound alarming, but this may be because the blood has had more time outside of your body, giving it more time to react with oxygen. This process is known as oxidation. 

How much bleeding during ovulation is normal? 

Spotting is always lighter than your menstrual period and may look like only a few drops of blood in your underwear. As it mixes with your discharge, it may dilute and be less vivid than your period, too. 

Dr. Twogood says, “Most people have light bleeding or spotting only, needing to change a panty liner every few hours for a day or so at most. The bleeding may be bright red, pink, or darker red.”

This spotting should also only last a couple of days at the most. It may be accompanied by ovulation pain. This might feel like a dull pain on one side of your belly (the side where your ovary is releasing an egg).

While these symptoms might sound unpleasant, ovulation spotting and pain are usually nothing to worry about. If you have any questions, the cramps you experience are more severe, or the bleeding lasts for longer than a few days, then make sure you reach out to your doctor. 

Other signs you might be ovulating

There are plenty of ways to track ovulation, including:

• Ovulation tests: One of the best ways to see if you’re ovulating is by taking an ovulation test. These tests can be cheap and easy to use. You simply pee onto an ovulation stick, like how at-home pregnancy tests work. Ovulation tests are 99% accurate in detecting the increase in luteinizing hormone levels just before ovulation.
• Basal body temperature (BBT): Your basal body temperature, taken when your body is completely at rest, increases slightly during ovulation (usually by about 0.5°F to 1°F, or 0.22°C to 0.56°C). You can measure your basal body temperature by using a specialized digital thermometer every morning as soon as you wake up. By logging your temperature every day for several months, you can get an idea of which day it starts to increase during your cycle. You can do this using an app like Flo. 

• Cervical mucus: This can turn from a thick, dry, and paste-like consistency to slippery and clear (kind of like egg whites) just before ovulation.
• Ovulation symptoms: Alongside a change in your BBT, you may also notice other symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings, and/or an increased sex drive around the time of ovulation.

Using an ovulation-tracking app like Flo is one of the easiest and most effective ways to track ovulation and predict your ovulation day. This can help you to monitor symptoms, know when to take an ovulation test, and find out when it’s the best time to try to conceive. 

If you’d like to know more about ovulation or getting pregnant, you can also try Flo’s Secret Chats, where you can anonymously chat with millions of other members in a safe and friendly space.

Other reasons for bleeding between periods

It’s important to remember that, alongside ovulation, there are other reasons you may see spotting outside of your periods. 

They can include: 

Implantation bleeding 

Implantation bleeding can happen when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, disrupting some of the blood vessels as it embeds. Implantation bleeding is completely normal, so try not to worry if you notice it. Around 1 in 4 women say they notice some spotting in early pregnancy. It can be easy to distinguish from a period because it’s usually much lighter bleeding — usually only a few spots — and the blood is often brown or pink as it mixes with your discharge. 

It can be tough to know if you’ve experienced implantation bleeding because not everyone will experience this symptom, and this doesn’t mean implantation didn’t happen. Spotting can also be caused by lots of other things and isn’t exclusively an indication of implantation. If you’re ever worried about bleeding between your periods, then don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. 

Hormonal contraceptives 

Hormonal contraceptives can also cause bleeding between periods, especially in the first few months of taking them as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes. 

Some hormonal birth control methods contain a human-made version of a combination of estrogen and progesterone, or only progesterone, and these can affect your menstrual cycle, including stopping ovulation altogether. These include the contraceptive implant, contraceptive injection, hormonal intrauterine device, progestin-only pill (mini pill), combined pill, contraceptive patch, and vaginal ring. Learn more about spotting on birth control. 

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the transition through menopause, which is your last ever period. Most of us will enter perimenopause in our 40s, but it can start anytime between our late 30s and 50s. It usually lasts around four to eight years and is characterized by changes to periods and cycles due to changes in hormone levels. 

Underlying health conditions

Underlying health conditions can also cause bleeding between periods, including:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This is a condition caused by a hormonal imbalance that affects how the ovaries work. Irregular periods are one of the signs of PCOS. PCOS affects around 1 in 10 women.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): One of the key signs of an STI, such as chlamydia, is bleeding between periods. 
• Polyps or fibroids: These are small noncancerous growths in and around the uterus. They are usually harmless but can cause irregular periods or bleeding between periods, including bleeding after sex.

Learn more about your body and menstrual cycle using Flo’s Symptom Checker.

When to see a doctor about bleeding between periods

In most cases, bleeding between periods is nothing to worry about, but speak to a health care professional to be sure. They can assess your symptoms to find out what’s causing the bleeding and may carry out tests, including:

• Pregnancy test
• STI test
• Blood test
• Examination of your vagina and cervix

“If bleeding between periods persists, I would recommend making an appointment,” advises Dr. Twogood. “Because there are so many potential reasons for spotting in between periods, a discussion with a doctor can help decide which tests would be indicated. The recommendation may also be to continue to monitor and track symptoms and spotting closely.”

In the case of ovulation spotting, tracking ovulation using Flo’s app is one surefire way to stay on top of your symptoms and better understand your menstrual cycle.