Cancer Causes Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods

An average period cycle lasts from 20 to 35 days. Normal vaginal bleeding, also known as your period, can happen for a few days to a week. Any bleeding in between the cycles out irregular bleeding is considered abnormal and can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of them that I have commonly noticed include:

• Hormonal imbalance
• Pregnancy complications
• Uterine fibroids
• Infection
• Cancer
• Extreme stress
• Diabetes
• Significant loss or gain in weight

I will specifically be talking about the cancers that affect vaginal bleeding between periods:

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is a hollow cylinder that connects the lower part of a woman’s uterus to her vagina. Most cervical cancers begin in cells on the surface of the cervix. As a personal observation, most women with cervical cancer don’t realise it until much later. Some of its symptoms are:

• Unusual bleeding, such as between periods, after sex, or after menopause
• Vaginal discharge that looks or smells different than usual
• Pain in the pelvic
• Needing to urinate more often
• Pain during urination

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Vaginal Neoplasm

Vaginal neoplasm is just another name for vaginal cancer. Also called the birth canal, the vagina is a tubular part of the female genital tract that connects the cervix, at the bottom of the uterus, to the vulva, which is part of the external female genitalia. It is basically the multiplication of cancer cells in the vaginal area. Some of its symptoms are:

• Vaginal bleeding after intercourse
• Abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding
• Pelvic pain
• Vaginal pain

Uterine Cancer

Most uterine cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. Some risk factors that I have noticed overtime include being overweight and starting periods at an early age. Some of its symptoms are:

• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
• Bleeding between periods
• Pelvic pain

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to multiply out of control and form a tumour. If left untreated, the tumour can spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastatic ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer often has warning signs, but it is observed that the earliest symptoms are vague and easy to dismiss. In my experience, only 20% of ovarian cancers are detected at an early stage. Some of its symptoms are:

• Menstrual irregularities
• Abdominal bloating, pressure and pain
• Abnormal fullness after eating
• Difficulty in eating
• An increase in urination
• Unusual bleeding

You may not be able to prevent bleeding between periods depending on the cause. However, in some cases, preventive measures can help. Like, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a normal weight because being overweight can lead to abnormal periods.

In general, anytime you experience unexpected vaginal bleeding, consult your doctor. Vaginal bleeding is normal or not depends on your age and the circumstances.