Spotting is what we’ve come to know as the little bit of blood that appears on toilet paper, or underwear when we least expect to see it. Since it happens between your actual period, you’re usually unprepared. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that other than the inconvenience, spotting is typically harmless. Since there are ways to prevent it, and there are some cases where spotting could be a sign of a more serious problem, it’s good to think about what might be causing it. 

There are a number of possible explanations, including if you’ve:

🩸 Just started to use a hormone-based birth control method for the first time

🩸 Skipped doses or don't take your birth control pills correctly

🩸 Changed the type or dose of your birth control

🩸 Been using birth control for a long period of time

Either way, let your doctor know about your spotting so you can determine the underlying cause.