Intermenstrual bleeding according to Chinese Medicine

The main symptom under this Blood Stagnation pattern is the dark clots and dark color menstruation blood. The bleeding can be scanty or heavy. 

The Stagnation can be caused by birth-giving, abdominal surgery or traumas. It can block the Directing and Penetrating Vessels as well as the Uterus, thus any newly created Blood has no place to go but spill out unwantedly during mid-cycle.

The treatment principle is to invigorate Qi and Blood, remove Stagnation and stop bleeding.

Read more about Blood Stagnation here

Mid-cycle bleeding under this pattern can be recognized by the sticky texture of the blood, without clots. Blood volume can be scanty or heavy. 

The Spleen is the main Organ involved. When the Spleen is weak, it fails to perform properly its function of transforming and transporting Body Fluids. Therefore Dampness accumulates and it also create Heat or Fire. The Damp Heat not only harms the Directing and Penetrating Vessels but also provokes the Blood and cause bleeding during mid-cycle. The Liver is another organ involved because it stores the Blood. 

Irregular diet is responsible for weakened Spleen function, such as excessive consumption of dairy or greasy foods. The treatment principle is to clear the Liver, fortify the Spleen, remove Dampness and stop bleeding. 

Read more about Damp-Heat here

The mid-cycle bleeding between periods is characterized by scanty and scarlet-red blood. Normally there is no abdominal pain or clots. 

Liver and Kidney Yin can be seriously damaged if a woman works excessively without sufficient and proper rest or gives birth to many children very close to each other. It can lead to Empty Heat in the sense that this Heat exists due to lacking of Yin which is a natural cooling element of the Body. This Heat agitates the Blood and impairs the Directing and Penetrating Vessels, including their ability to control Blood during ovulation. This causes the Blood to leak out unwantedly around mid-cycle. This condition is more common among older women.

The treatment principle is to nourish both Liver and Kidney Yin, clear Empty Heat, strengthen the Directing and Penetrating Vessels and finally try to stop bleeding. It is very important to first address the fundamental reasons of the unwanted mid-cycle bleeding rather than simply trying to stop the bleeding itself.

Read more about Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood here

Mid-cycle bleeding under this pattern is characterized by red color menstruating Blood without clots. Normally there is no abdominal pain and the volume can be scanty or heavy. 

The Kidneys store the Essence and the Spleen controls the Blood. When these two Organs' Yang is Deficient, no sufficient Qi, which is a Yang element, is created to hold Blood in its vessels. It also injures the Directing and Penetrating Vessels. Thus unwanted bleeding is the result. 

Excessive physical activities, from work or sports, can harm the Kidneys and the Spleen and cause Yang Deficiency in the Lower Burner. It can lead to Cold in the Uterus. The treatment principle is to strengthen the Spleen and Kidneys, tonify Yang, warm the Uterus and contain Blood.

Read more about Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency here