Bleeding between periods

Normal menstrual flow lasts about 5 days and produces a total blood loss of 60 to 250 ml and occurs every 28 days. There are several causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding and a careful exam by a healthcare provider is frequently the best way to sort out the source of the bleeding.

Review Date: 03/22/2011
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine.