Vaginal Bleeding

Abnormal vaginal bleeding is any vaginal bleeding unrelated to normal menstruation. This type of bleeding may include spotting of small amounts of blood between periods — often seen on toilet tissue after wiping — or extremely heavy periods in which you soak a pad an hour for several hours. Bleeding that lasts for weeks at a time also is considered abnormal.

Normal vaginal bleeding, or menstruation, occurs every 21 to 35 days when the uterus sheds its lining, marking the start of a new reproductive cycle. Your menstrual period may last for just a few days or more than a week, with heavy flow or light spotting, and still be considered normal.