What Does Spotting Look Like

After 2 years of being on daily-prescribed medication, I have begun to experience some surprising side effects.

What is Spotting?

Spotting is bleeding from the vagina that is not due to a woman’s monthly period. Light bleeding before or after a menstrual cycle is also considered spotting.

What Does Spotting Look Like?

Usually, spotting is red, pink, or brown. Spotting can resemble the start of your period or look like old blood. The amount of blood you lose when spotting is small – less than a light period bleed.

As someone with a history of dealing with life threatening uterine fibroids which caused excessive bleeding, and spotting between periods, about 4 months ago, I started to experience spotting between periods.

At first, I brushed it off. But then, I noticed that my period became erratic, I couldn’t tell when it was coming or going, and there was no regularity.

A Trip to the OB/GYN

As the spotting between periods continued, I became anxious about my reproductive health, and naturally, I made an appointment with my OB/GYN.

I was fearing the worst, cervical cancer or some other abnormality.

Fortunately, all tests came back clear, but the spotting was still persistent. My doctor advised me to keep a record of the spotting for the following 2 months.

During these 2 months, I stopped taking sertraline, although I hadn’t yet connected the dots between sertraline and the spotting between my periods.

Two months later, after discontinuing sertraline, I realized that the spotting had begun to subside. However, life hit me with a stressful situation again, and I decided to start back up with sertraline. I knew it would calm down my anxiety quickly.

The spotting came back almost immediately.

Connecting the Dots

I started to scour the internet in search of “What does spotting look like,” “Why am I spotting before my period,” and “How long can you have cervical cancer without knowing,” This was when I made the connection between SSRIs and spotting between periods.

I started to connect the dots between stress, sertraline, and spotting between periods. I did more searching and found out that amenorrhea, when a woman who already menstruates does not get her period for 3 months or more, is a known side effect of Zoloft.

I had no idea that SSRIs, particularly Zoloft and its generic form sertraline, could cause irregular periods. My doctor never mentioned spotting between periods as a side effect, and if I had known, it might have changed my perspective on taking sertraline.

Evidence also suggests that taking SSRIs like Zoloft (sertraline) may lead to a heightened risk of vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods. By limiting the amount of blood serotonin taken up by platelets, SSRIs impede serotonin synthesis in these cells. As a result, since serotonin is vital in promoting platelet aggregation and less serotonin is present within the cells, there can be a heightened risk of abnormal bleeding.

My Decision to Go Off Meds

As of now, I’ve been off the meds, sertraline, for about five days, hoping to restore my menstrual cycle to normal. According to my research, the menstrual cycle should return to normal within three months of discontinuing the medication.

Managing the Journey Ahead

So, how do I plan to manage anxiety going forward?

I’m turning to my trusted Calmigo device. Calmigo is a guided breathing device that’s drug-free and scientifically proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and panic feelings in less than three minutes.

This device is very effective. A few months ago, I had a panic attack that caused me to actually lose my ability to speak momentarily. I grabbed my Calmigo from my bag and I was calm and able to speak within minutes.

I’m going to use the Calmigo device to manage my stress and anxiety as I navigate this path to drug free solutions. For all of our loyal Jute and Olive community members, you can save $30 off sitewide at calmigo.com by using the promo code “Jute30.”

At Jute and Olive, we believe that you should never have to choose between your health and your sanity.

I hope my journey and experiences shed light on the potential side effects of SSRIs like Zoloft, particularly as it relates to what spotting looks like and women’s reproductive health.

Join the Conversation

Your thoughts and experiences matter. Have you ever encountered unexpected side effects while on medication, especially SSRIs? Perhaps you’ve faced challenges with your menstrual cycle that you’d like to share. Join the discussion in the comments below and let’s create a supportive community where we can exchange stories, insights, and advice. Your input might just help someone else going through a similar journey. Together, we can foster a space of understanding and empathy. So, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts, questions, or even just a word of encouragement. Let’s embark on this journey together!

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