Query for the WOMEN: Intense activity/spotting

Christine · Jul 12, 2004

Have any of you ever experienced some spotting after a long ride or bout of exercise?

Here's the deal: Went for a long trail ride (approx. 40 miles) on Saturday morning. Experienced some sharp abdominal pain about 30 minutes after I started, which went away soon afterwards. Figured it was from trying to keep up with the fast riders.

Ride was normal otherwise. Came home and noticed a bit of.....well, spotting. I'm mid-cycle, though, and it wasn't from hemmorhoids or anything else.

I'm not pregnant or menopausal. Everything else is status quo. It was just that one little bit and nothing since, so I don't want to rush to the doctor needlessly.

It seems to be connected to the long ride, as I haven't done a ride like that in some time. So I'm curious if any other women have had this experience after a ride?

catzilla · Jul 12, 2004

Christine said:
...and it wasn't from hemmorhoids or anything else.

Yeeeeeek! Oh my frickin' #@$%@! Periods are one thing, but visions of bursting bleeding 'roids is totally different!

Other than that, I have nothing noteworthy to add since I don't tend to develop leaks after long rides, but I really don't go on many long rides either.

I'm not a doctor, but I occasionally where a white gown and hang out in back alleys. Given that, I'd suggest seeing a doc if it becomes a reoccurring issue.

Christine · Jul 12, 2004

oh I know

But I've been to the general practitioner a couple of times after getting panicky, and it never was anything to worry about. So I try to limit the hypochondriac visits!

It's a little embarassing to bring it up, but it's the Women's Lounge (dammit!) And I couldn't find any info on the internet. If just one other female rider posts a similar experience, then I'll have some peace of mind! Really doesn't seem like a big deal, and I'm hoping it's not unusual.....

surfkayakers · Jul 12, 2004

Query for WOMEN

never happened to me... years ago I did intense cardio training and lost my menstrual cycle altogether until I moderated, so I know there is a correlation of body fat and hormonal balance, but I think what you are describing is different. I would speak with my doctor considering the fact that you had abdominal pain prior to bleeding. never be afraid to speak up...

formica · Jul 13, 2004

get checked for fibroids

I spot on long rides It's erractric but occurs enough that I carry "supplies" at all time, can be anything from a spot to flow. Have you been checked for fibroids? My doc and I have decided that's the cause... I have one, 1 cm in size. I'm also periminopasal, not sure how that figures into the equation.

formica

connie · Jul 13, 2004

Edit: Hmmm... I should read better. But spotting mid-cycle isn't all that unusual for me, so I wouldn't stress over it. Could just be your body reacting to the unusual amount of exercise... The one intense cramp mid-cycle could be from ovulating though - I get those on occasion and they always seem so surprising and at the wrong time of the month. I must sleep through them normally so when they happen and I feel it, it seems strange.

Lucky · Jul 13, 2004

surfkayakers said:
never happened to me... years ago I did intense cardio training and lost my menstrual cycle altogether until I moderated, so I know there is a correlation of body fat and hormonal balance, but I think what you are describing is different. I would speak with my doctor considering the fact that you had abdominal pain prior to bleeding. never be afraid to speak up...

I have to agree. Sharp abdominal pains are usually worth a chat with the doc, for peace of mind if nothing else. My health plan has a toll-free phone number you can call to chat with a registered nurse. If you have such a thing, you might try that. They might have a better idea if its a see-the-doctor issue or not.

Hope all is well.

Kathy :^)

Christine · Jul 13, 2004

BIG sigh of relief!!

I appreciate your help with this! The fact that I'm mid-cycle made me think it must have something to do with ovulating. Although, ovulation pain is generally on one side or the other.

My mother has had fibroids, but I have instead a collection of small, benign ovarian cysts. I bet they're up to no good, the rascals. Maybe I just shook some of 'em loose!

drsam · Jul 13, 2004

One question.

Are you absolutely positively 100% sure you aren't pregnant?

Fetal implantation in the endometrium can cause pain and spotting.

I don't mean to come across in a codescending way, but I've actually seen a woman come into the E.R. for acute abdominal pain. She was absolutely certain she wasn't pregnant. Unfortunately, the baby she was in the process of delivering disagreed.

Beyond that, the spotting could be nothing to worry about, or it could be something to worry about. Hate to sound vague, but that's the way it is. Maybe you should make an appointment with your doc.

Christine · Jul 13, 2004

hmmm

Well, I have no reason to believe I'm pregnant, as I'm mid-cycle, and am certainly not trying! If nothing at all happens in a couple more weeks, then I'll start wondering.

Wow, so a woman in labor can be in denial about being pregnant?! How does the 40 lb. weight gain and lack of periods go unnoticed??

Your post wasn't condescending, but I think I may have nightmares tonight!! Imagine, pausing to deal with cramps during a ride and suddenly........

drsam · Jul 13, 2004

more common than one might imagine

This particular case, the woman was already quite obese...about 2 or 3 Mississippi units. She just assumed she had gained some more weight.

When asked what she thought the pain of contractions and fetal movement and such were she stated "I thought it was gallstones"

She was a pretty typical E.R. patient demographically.

When she came in on the gurney she actually became quite abusively angry when told she was in active labor and that the baby was crowning. She acussed everyone of being incompetent and dishonest.

Christine · Jul 13, 2004

Wow

"Doc, these stones are moving around and kicking me!"

The abdominal pain lasted less than one hour, and the spotting was also minimal, which is why I'm not too worried about it. Nothing more has happened since then. If spotting can occur as a result of ovulating, then the timing would be about right.

I'm just blown away by the concept of having a baby take me by surprise during a ride. What would I do? Tuck it into my pack, I suppose, and head back to the parking lot. "Hey guys! Meet our new riding partner."

verslowrdr · Jul 13, 2004

Fwiw

While this is mostly geared towards avoiding/ achieving pregnancy, it also gives a TON of information about just about anything reproductive: Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Specifically mentioned is 'normal' spotting vs 'go see a doc' spotting- charting can help unravel what's going on there plus a whole lot more, and it's really not difficult.

I only wish I'd known about all this when I got married- I could have saved a whole lot of $$$ and avoided about 9 years of artificial hormones.

HappyHamster · Jul 13, 2004

another good site

Another good site for women's health issues is at www.webmd.com It is a searchable site with reputable info on all sorts of things, and a special section on women's health issues.

I once had an experience with spotting mid-cycle, but not related to exercise. It just so happens that I had my regular gyne check up scheduled for shortly after that. Everything was fine, and the doc said that it can also be related to hormone fluctuations or stress, but that if it happened again, to come back since it could be a sign of other things.

Also, my sister who is through menopause and hasn't had a period in two years recently had two days of spotting. Scared the heck out of me as this is not normal after two years. She had a pap test and a uterine biopsy and thankfully everything was clear. However, shortly before the episode she was bringing my niece home from college and carried a heavy TV and a fridge, up stairs (she is in good shape and strong and a strenuous exerciser), but the doc thinks that this and the fact that she is under a lot of stress may have somehow had something to do with it, since all else turned out clear.

So, I'd say if you truly want piece of mind, call your doc and get it checked out. That's what they're here for, and a good doctor will not consider you a hypochondriac. And what does it matter what they think, anyway, it is your health! Or otherwise keep a close eye on things and definitely call if it happens again. But I would at the least definitely mention it at your next regular gyne check up. Take care!

drsam · Jul 13, 2004

I think you are taking the right approach

Chances are you were just cycling while cycling. (Sorry I couldn't resist the double entendre). If your periods are usually regular, I'd at least take a home preg test if you don't start your next one on time. Also, if you aren't already doing it, you need to be taking folic acid (1 mg daily) if there is any chance you could become pregnant.

Christine · Jul 13, 2004

cycling while cycling

I also noticed some info about endometriosis, aka "endo"

So many puns!

I can't wait to go to my doctor and say, "I did some research on a bike website, and according to Happy Hamster....."

E-mailed a doc from one of the websites last night, and she said the same thing as drsam: Probably no big whoop, but if it happens again, get it checked.

WebMD is a hypochondriac's bible. The "taking charge" website sounds very interesting as well.

Edit: Oops, it's a book, not a website. Sounds fascinating!

All this info is greatly appreciated, guys!!

HappyHamster · Jul 13, 2004

yep.....

Should've posted that WebMD link with a disclaimer:

"Too much reading will inevitably cause one to believe that one suffers from many bizarre and formerly unknown afflictions. Information should be taken with a grain of salt.....unless you suffer from hypertension....."

girlywhirly · Jul 13, 2004

Me, too.

Lately, I've had the joy of mid-cycle spotting, always after an intense (but not necessarily long) ride. Time for the gyno trip.

She'll tell me it's fibroids and I can either put up with it or schedule some dreadful "minimally invasive" procedure. More joy...

Ken in KC · Jul 13, 2004

Obviously....

Christine said:
Have any of you ever experienced some spotting after a long ride or bout of exercise?

Here's the deal: Went for a long trail ride (approx. 40 miles) on Saturday morning. Experienced some sharp abdominal pain about 30 minutes after I started, which went away soon afterwards. Figured it was from trying to keep up with the fast riders.

Ride was normal otherwise. Came home and noticed a bit of.....well, spotting. I'm mid-cycle, though, and it wasn't from hemmorhoids or anything else.

I'm not pregnant or menopausal. Everything else is status quo. It was just that one little bit and nothing since, so I don't want to rush to the doctor needlessly.

It seems to be connected to the long ride, as I haven't done a ride like that in some time. So I'm curious if any other women have had this experience after a ride?

I'm ignoring the title of your OP.

You're experiencing abdominal pain and spotting in mid-cycle. If you were my SO, I would suggest that you see your doctor. I would even go so far as to ask you to see a doctor for me, in order to ensure that you were OK. I would plead, coax and cajole you in to seeing a doctor.

If you were a friend, I would suggest that you see a doctor.

If you were a really good friend, I would tell you that you were fücking nuts for not seeing a doctor. I would most likely call you a moron and let you know in know uncertain terms how stupid it was to ignore your body when it was obvioulsy reacting to something by causing a sharp pain and bleeding.

So if I may take the liberty of assuming that we would be friends if we met, I suggest that you see a doctor. Preferably an internal medicine doctor (or OBGYN) who is either focused on sports medicine or who is an active athlete themselves. It may very well be normal. If so, then you've received professional piece of mind.

Ken

drsam · Jul 13, 2004

Ken in KC said:
So if I may take the liberty of assuming that we would be friends if we met, I suggest that you see a doctor. Preferably an internal medicine doctor (or OBGYN) who is either focused on sports medicine or who is an active athlete themselves. It may very well be normal. If so, then you've received professional piece of mind.

Ken

I disagree with the "Preferably an internal medicine doctor" part

Don't go to an internist for this problem. 1. They don't specialize in sports medicine and 2. Their training is pretty lacking in womens reproductive health issues.

See your family physician. One with fellowship training in sports medicine is fine, but not really necessary. Active atheltic participation on the part of the physician is really pretty irrelevant.

Otherwise see an O.B./Gyn if you already have an established relationship with one.

Please note that when I use the term family physician above that is a distinction from the term general practitioner. A family physician is one who has completed residency training in family medicine and is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

In the U.S. the term general practitioner refers to one who has not completed residency training and hasn't attained board certification in any specialty (Yes, family medicine is a specialty). They have typically done a one year internship only. Not to say they are all bad docs or anything, but they typcially haven't had the level of training in womens health that a boarded family physician or boarded O.B./Gyn has had.

Query for the WOMEN: Intense activity/spotting

Christine

catzilla

Christine

surfkayakers

formica

connie

Lucky

Christine

drsam

Christine

drsam

Christine

verslowrdr

HappyHamster

drsam

Christine

HappyHamster

girlywhirly

Ken in KC

drsam

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities