What are the different colors of period blood?
Why period blood has different colors
- Pink period. When a period starts, your vaginal mucus discharge may mix with some fresh, bright red blood, which then gets diluted.
- Bright red period. As your uterus actively contracts, it sheds blood quickly. ...
- Dark red period. If you have a moderate period, it may take longer for the uterus to shed the lining. ...
- Dark red + blood clots. ...
- Brown period. ...
What is your period blood telling you?
What Your Period's Telling You About Your Health
- If your period blood is bright red... A bright red color—as in fire-engine-truck red—is no need to sound the, ahem, sirens. ...
- If your blood is brownish... After you’ve had your period for a couple days, the blood may start to transition from bright red to a darker, brownish hue. ...
- If you've got some clotting... ...
- If your cycle is irregular... ...
What is period blood supposed to look like?
What does the color of period blood mean?
- Black. Black blood can appear at the beginning or end of a person’s period. ...
- Brown or dark red. Like black blood, brown or dark red is a sign of old blood, and it may appear at the beginning or end of a period.
- Bright red. ...
- Pink. ...
- Orange. ...
- Gray. ...
- Color change during a period. ...
- Clots in period blood. ...
- When to see a doctor. ...
- Summary. ...
Why is period blood sometimes black?
Sometimes uterine polyps may be the reason why you have a black period blood. A uterine polyp can obstruct the cervix resulting in accumulation of blood in the uterus. This can cause blood to become dark while coming out of your vagina. 4. Hormonal imbalance
How long does it take for lochia to pass?
The duration of lochia varies from person to person, but it usually passes within the first few months after delivery.
Why does my vagina bleed pink?
During pregnancy, pink discharge that contains tissue and occurs alongside cramps may indicate a miscarriage. It is important for women who experience vaginal bleeding while pregnant to see their doctor or obstetrician.
What does the color of your period mean?
Summary. The color of a person’s period blood can relay vital health information. For example, orange or grey blood can sometimes indicate a vaginal infection. During menstruation, the body sheds tissue and blood from the uterus through the vagina. This bloody discharge can vary from bright red to dark brown or black depending on how old it is.
What does it mean when you have brown blood?
Brown blood or spotting can sometimes also be an early sign of pregnancy that doctors refer to as implantation bleeding. Brown discharge or spotting during pregnancy can indicate a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, which is when the fertilized egg implants in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
What does it mean when your period is black?
The color is typically a sign of old blood or blood that has taken longer to leave the uterus and has had time to oxidize, first turning brown or dark red and then eventually becoming black. Black blood can sometimes also indicate a blockage inside a person’s vagina.
Why does my period start with red blood?
Unusual spotting or bleeding between menstrual cycles may be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection , such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
What causes heavy bleeding?
Growths in the uterine lining, called polyps or fibroids, can also cause unusually heavy bleeding. Rarely, bright red bleeding may be a sign of cervical cancer. Other symptoms of cervical cancer include: heavier periods. periods that last longer than normal.
Where does the color in period blood come from?
It gets darker, usually maroon or brown. You’ve probably seen this phenomenon on a band-aid or pad.
What about texture?
When your period is heaviest, you may experience some blood clots. This can be completely normal or indicative of a hormone imbalance or nutrient deficiencies.
When should I see a doctor?
It is one piece of data that needs to be considered and then lab testing needs to follow with a competent and licensed provider.
What is it called when a fertilized egg implants into the endometrium?
Sometimes, when a fertilized egg implants into the endometrium, a small bit of blood is discharged — this is called implantation bleeding and is usually a brownish color.
Why is my uterus red?
As your uterine lining sheds faster, the blood exiting your body is brighter. Nothing at all to worry about if you have bright red blood at any time throughout your flow.
Why do period blood colors vary?
But they can be used to identify certain hormonal imbalances and nutrient deficiencies , or even infections . It’s a helpful piece of information physicians can use to determine what kind of labs and testing to order when trying to reach a diagnosis.
Why does my period blood turn purple?
Purple Period Blood. Sometimes, a deep purple tint creeps into period blood. It’s a possible indicator of excess levels of estrogen — which can be managed with a proper, hormone balancing diet like the one in this completely free meal plan. An overall increase in dietary fiber intake can also help to expel estrogen.
What does it mean when you have a heavy period?
Heavy clotting is usually prescribed to heavy periods. As blood is expelled, the body releases anticoagulants to keep it from clotting. If your period is heavy, sometimes the blood flow and speed doesn’t give those anticoagulants time to work, and clots are the result. Clots can occur in any color of blood, though they are more commonly dark in color. Frequent heavy clotting or clots larger than the size of a quarter can be a sign of a more serious problem and should be evaluated by your care provider.
What does a decidua look like?
Decidua is part of the mucus membrane of the uterus and is often described as looking like “chicken skin.”. It may come out as one uterus-shaped piece or in small, stringy chunks.
Why does my vagina have jelly-like blood?
Cervical mucus is always present in your vagina, even during menstruation. If your flow is light, it may be sufficient to alter the appearance of blood texture. You may also notice this after a bowel movement when more mucus is pushed from the cervix or if you’ve recently been pregnant. Blood with numerous small clots may also be described as jelly-like.
What does it mean when your blood is red?
It is often bright red in color and accompanies a light to moderate flow. Fresh blood will appear thinner, as will blood that is light and mixed with cervical fluid. In the latter case, it may also seem watery.
What does it mean when you pass a decidual cast?
Decidual cast passage can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy or hormonal imbalance. It’s more common in those using hormonal birth control. If you have continued pain after passing a decidual cast, you should seek medical attention. You can do an online image search for both types of tissue to get an idea of the difference. Due to their graphic nature, they won’t be shared here.
What happens if your period blood is stringy?
If your period blood is stringy or there is what appears to be actual tissue within your period blood, it is possible you suffered an early miscarriage. It could also be part of your uterine lining.
Why is my blood red?
It could have been part of the uterine lining and so had more time to break down, begun to coagulate in the vaginal canal, or been exposed to air. Many women notice darker red blood when they first wake up in the morning. This blood may also be clotted.
Why is my period red?
You normally won’t experience bright, red period blood toward the end of your cycle because your flow begins to slow down, allowing more time for blood to oxygenate and turn darker.
What does red blood mean?
Bright red period blood means your flow is heavy and consistent. It isn’t sitting in your uterus for a long time; your body is actively removing it. This color is the most common color of period blood, and almost everyone who menstruates will see it during their cycle.
What color is old blood?
Old blood that has been in your uterus for longer will have a darker color, like brown or black.
Why does my period turn brown?
Towards the beginning and end of your period, your progesterone levels may be lower, which can give your period blood a brown color.
How many colors of period blood are there?
There are at least six colors of period blood that are identifiable on their own. Between these colors are variations of the six shades.
Why does my period blood change color?
Changes in your hormones may also cause your period blood to change colors. This can happen during the week you are on your period.
What does it mean when your period is red?
Bright red period blood that accompanies a particularly heavy period can mean you have a uterine fibroid or polyp. These are benign and can be treated with medication.
Is it normal for the color to be different at the beginning and end of my period?
Your period may change colors from the beginning of your period, the middle, and at the end. You may have different colors from month to month. Women at different times of their lives may notice various changes. Several factors affect period blood color, even when your periods are healthy.
What does brown blood mean?
Brown blood, in particular, is often seen at the start or end of your period. At these times, your flow may be slow, which slows down the process of the blood leaving the uterus. The blood may also be left over from your last period.
What does it mean when your period is different colors?
Different Period Blood Colors: What it Means for Your Health. When you have your period, your uterus sheds its lining. Menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the cervix and passes out of the body through the vagina. Through the duration of your period, the blood might change color, ranging from black to orange to pink to deep red.
Why does blood turn orange?
Still, any abnormally colored or unusual discharge may also be a sign of bacterial infection or sexually transmitted infection.
What does it mean when you see red blood?
Dark Red Blood. You may see dark red blood upon waking during your period or after you’ve been lying down for a while. The deep color may merely mean that the blood has been in the uterus for a while but hasn’t oxidized yet. Dark red blood is associated with the end of your period.
Why is my period pink?
This lighter shade usually means that the blood has mixed with your cervical fluid.
How long does it take for a woman to bleed after delivery?
Your blood may stay this way your whole period or may darken as your flow slows. After women deliver a baby, they experience bleeding for four to six weeks, which is called lochia. Lochia bleeding begins with a heavy flow and bright red blood. After around day four, lochia may be pinkish or brownish in color.
How much water flow is considered heavy?
At this rate of flow it is infrequently felt, just maybe when you get up after sitting for a long time, or when you get up in the morning. Anything over 80ml is considered heavy. There are a couple of ways of collecting data about your flow:
Why is period blood stretchy?
Period blood is stretchier than regular blood and it has clots. This is because it also has vaginal discharge in it. I don’t like it stretchy and clot-filled so I dip the blood in water and drink it like that.
What would happen if I coughed up from a seating position?
Personally, I would be able to feel my blood flow as ‘bubbles’ of loss. This would happen if I coughed, got up from a seating position, got up in the morning.
What does it mean when your period is purple?
The purple color means it is more concentrated. If it is thick, that is no cause for worry either, as you are shedding the uterine lining which is mucal tissue, so it’s not just blood but blood with tissue.
Why is blood red?
In your veins and arteries, It’s red coming away from your heart, freshly instilled with oxygen, and blue or purple coming back to your heart after delivering that oxygen to your tissues. If you get cut, the blood you will see will tend to be red, because it quickly absorbs oxygen from the air.
Is menstrual blood a dead tissue?
Menstrual blood essentially is dead inner lining of the womb (endometrium) and blood, so no big deal, don’t think apart from being gross you’d get sick from it. After all the meat we eat is dead tissue too, maybe less degraded, but menstrual blood isn’t infectious or so.
Can you feel a lot of blood loss?
If you can feel you are loosing a lot of blood it is worth taking one of these charts to your Doctor. Heavy loss can be symptomatic of a problem, some of which can be treated. Also worth noting a mooncup will take much heavier flow before needing to be changed. (1 mooncup = 3 tampons)
