Spotting Instead of Period: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Manage It

If you’re confused about the difference between spotting and period, the biggest factor is the amount of blood. With a period, you will need a pad or tampon to manage the flow which will last for a good five to seven days, while with spotting it's very, very light enough to only be visible on your toilet paper or as pink or red spots on your underwear.

It may be confusing to tell the difference with spotting vs period blood, and this may get even confusing if you have a light period. But one way you can know spotting vs light period is that with a period, the flow, albeit light, will last for the average five to seven days. Whereas with spotting, it will last maybe between a few hours to a day.

Spotting is any bleeding from the vagina that is not due to a period. Spotting is typically between periods, however, some refer to the spotting at the start of period as 'spotting' since it begins with light red or pinkish discharge. But the difference between spotting and period, is that a period lasts for five to seven days whereas with spotting, it will only last for a few hours to a day.