Spotting a week before Period is due can be caused by a variety of reasons such as implantation bleeding, birth control, clomid, stress, endometriosis, PCOS, menopause, low progesterone and so on. 

Brown spotting could happen 1 week or 2,3,4,5 days before your normal period. Some women have light vaginal bleeding every month.

What is spotting Between Periods?

Spotting is a light vaginal bleeding that is not your normal menstrual period. It is commonly known as spotting between periods. It could happen a few days or weeks before period is due.

It can appear has a light pink or brown spots of blood. Spotting is also known as intermenstrual bleeding or metrorrhagia.

What causes Spotting and cramping a week before period

1. Hormonal Changes

The menstrual cycle is control by two main hormones. Estrogen and progesterone. An imbalance between these two hormones does not only cause irregular periods, it also causes an irregular vaginal bleeding.

Other symptoms of hormonal imbalance are:  mood swings, PMS, depression, Low libido and weight gain.

2. Implantation Bleeding/Prgnancy

Implantation bleeding is one of the very first symptoms of pregnancy.  

You may be pregnant if you had unprotected sex and you notice spots of blood in your underwear, a few days to your period. 

Implantation blood can be light pink or dark brown in color.

The flow is very light like strains or streaks of blood.

Unlike menstrual blood that is usually bright red and it last for 3-7 days.

Implantation bleeding is one of the main reason why women spot before their period starts.

3. Ovulation

Some women spot during ovulation. Ovulation is the release of a matured egg from the ovary every month.

Some women have ovulation spotting or bleeding as a sign and symptom of ovulation.​ 

Spotting during ovula​tion is usually pale pink in color.

During the process of ovulation, the matured follicle ruptures and bursts open.

This could lead to mild cramping pain in the lower abdomen or light bleeding.​

4. Birth controls (Mirena IUD)

Most women use birth controls to prevent unwanted pregnancy. But some women also birth control pills to reduce the flow of heavy periods and to treat acne.

Birth controls or contraceptives contain artificial hormones that disrupt your normal menstrual period.

Abnormal vaginal bleeding in the first 2 or 3 months is one of the side effects of using hormonal contraceptives.

Birth controls come as pills, implants, patch, shot, vaginal ring, sponge, IUD e.t.c

Intrauterine devices increases your chances of irregular bleeding.

5. Stress

Both physical stress and emotional stress can impact a woman's menstrual cycle.

Emotional stress(anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia) and physical stress(over exercising, moving to a new city or job, sudden weight loss or weight gain) can both impact a woman's menstrual period.

When we are under continuous stress, the body releases the stress hormone called cortisol to help handle the situation.

The production of cortisol hormone reduces, the production of estrogen and progesterone hormone.

This decline can cause irregular spotting, late period, missed period, or even lighter period.

6. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are diseases that are passed from one person to the other during vaginal, oral or anal sexual intercourse.

Common sexually transmitted disease are gonorrhoea and chlamydia. If chlamydia and gonorrhoea are left untreated, they can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.

Symptoms of gonorrhoea and chlamydia are abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during and after sex, burning sensation while urinating, vaginal itching, spotting in between periods.

6. Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous (benign) tumors or lumps that grow in and around the uterus(womb).

The symptoms of uterine fibroids can occur slowly over a couple of several years or they can happen rapidly.

Common symptoms are​: Abnormal uterine bleeding, heavy periods, painful periods, spotting between menstruation, prolonged periods.

7. Perimenopause

Perimenopause is a period of 2-10 years before a woman reaches menopause (period cessation).

Symptoms of the perimenopause are: pink spotting, brown spotting, light bleeding before period, irregular period, heavier periods, hot flashes and night sweat.

8.  On The Pill

Women often complain of vaginal bleeding while on the pill, especially in the first 3 months. Spotting on the pill is expected to stop after the first 3 months as your body adjusts and gets used to the pill.

​A common side effect of minipill is breakthrough bleeding because it contains only progesterone.

9. Ectopic Pregnancy 

Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilised egg implants in the wrong place. Instead of implanting in the uterus, it implants in the fallopian tube.

Ectopic pregnancy occurs in about 11 in a thousand pregnancies.

If you are experiencing light bleeding with abdominal pain or cramping before your menstruation is due, see a doctor immediately.

10. Miscarriage

A miscarriage occurs when the developing baby is lost within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.

If the pregnancy is lost in the first 12 weeks, it is called early miscarriage. If lost after 12 weeks it is called late miscarriage. 

Sadly, most pregnancies are lost in the first 4 weeks before a pregnancy test is carried out. 

Spotting is one of the first signs of a miscarriage, if the blood gets heavier and includes tissues and blood clots, See a doctor immediately.

Other symptoms of miscarriage at 4 weeks are: brown discharge, pelvic pain, lower abdominal cramping, bleeding for 3 days or over 1 week, breathing problems, abnormal vaginal discharge.

11. Plan B Pill (Morning After Pill)

Plan B pill is an emergency contraception, used for preventing pregnancy after having unprotected sex.

Plan B works by delaying or preventing ovulation. Or by stopping an egg from being fertilised.

While Plan B is effective, it has some side effects. Some women complain about spotting after using plan B.

12. Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness occurs when the vaginal is no longer naturally moist. It is common in women who have attained menopause or in the perimenopausal phase.

It is usually caused by a decline in estrogen levels. A decline in estrogen levels cause the vaginal to feel itchy, irritated and dry.

Symptoms of vaginal dryness are: Bleeding during sex, Pain while urinating, vaginal itching and soreness.

When to Worry about spotting brown blood a week before period is due

You should see your doctor or OB-GYN anytime you have an abnormal vaginal bleeding that is not your period.

If you think you are pregnant. See your doctor immediately. Bleeding during pregnancy can be a sign of an impeding miscarriage.

Seek medical help immediately, If the bleeding or spotting is accompanied by:

• Pain

• Cramps

• Nausea

• Nizziness

•  Fever

• Excessive vaginal bleeding ​
• Heavy vaginal bleeding after sex

Pink Spotting A Week Before Period on Birth Control

Spotting is quite common while on birth control.  This is one of the side effects of using hormonal birth controls. 

It is also caused by switching to a new pill, stopping or missing a pill. 

If bleeding doesn't stop within the first 3 months see your doctor.

Light Bleeding Before Expected Period

A light brown spotting before your expected period is due is mostly caused by implantation bleeding or birth controls.

If you had unprotected sex around ovulation and you are spotting few days to period, you could be pregnant.

Implantation blood ​is usually light pink or dark brown and it only last for 1 -2 days.

Bright red bleeding a week before period is due

Bright red bleeding before period is due is most likely caused by implantation bleeding. It happens around the same time your period is due.

Implantation occurs between 6-12 days after conception.

CRAMPS AND Spotting a week before my period not pregnant

It is possible to have light bleeding before period that does not mean you are pregnant.

Abnormal spotting could be caused by a variety of reasons such as birth control, stress, hormonal imbalance, thyroid problems, cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease,​ cervical polyps and so on.

LIGHT Spotting 1 days before period... could i be pregnant

Spotting 1 day before period is most likely caused by implantation bleeding if you are not using contraceptives.

A late implantation could happen just immediately before your period.

Spotting AND CRAMPING 2 days before period... What does it mean

Spotting 2 days before period occurs is a sign of implantation bleeding.

If the implantation of the fertilised egg happens late, it can cause you to spot very close to your period.

Spotting 3 days before period... What does it mean

Spotting 3 days to your period could mean you are pregnant.

BROWN Spotting 4 days before period... What does it mean

Spotting 4 days to your period could be a sign of pregnancy caused by implantation of the embryo.

Spotting 5 days before period... What does it mean

Spotting 5,6,7 days before period could mean you are pregnant.

Spotting before period is a sign of pregnancy caused by implantation bleeding.​

Article Resource

• Super drug: https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/bleeding-and-period-contraceptive-pill.html

• Planned Parent hood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control​

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