In most cases, brown blood during your period is normal. The color and consistency of blood can change throughout your menstrual cycle. It may be thin and watery one day, and thick and clumpy the next. It may be bright red or brown, heavy or light. It’s normal for your periods to vary in length, heaviness, and level of discomfort.
What is the Brown stuff before your period?
When there is no pregnancy, brown discharge may be caused by:
- old blood leaving the uterus a few days after the end of a period
- a period just beginning to start, where the flow is very light
- ovulation spotting, which may be pinkish-brown
- a reaction to a Pap smear test or vaginal exam
- a reaction to having sex, especially if vigorous
Is it normal to have brown discharge before your period?
Though normal discharge is often clear to white in color, brown discharge may occur in the days leading up to and following a period, as old blood is cleaned out of the vagina. Though brown discharge is usually normal, it may also be an indication of problems like infection, an ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus), or a foreign object left in the vagina.
What causes brown spotting before my period?
What is brown discharge?
- When not pregnant. A doctor should be consulted if brown discharge causes concern.
- During pregnancy. Pink or brown discharge or spotting before a period may be an early sign of pregnancy. ...
- Approaching menopause. For those people in their 40s or 50s, brown discharge before a period may be a sign of perimenopause.
Why is my period Brown and very light?
Why is my period so light this month?
- Pregnancy. This is a common cause of very light period in women. ...
- After your first period or years before menopause. If you are less than 20 years or more than 40 years, then its possible you may have very light periods ...
- Weight loss or obesity. ...
- You are on birth control pills. ...
- You have Eating Disorders. ...
What does it mean when your period is brown?
When that happens, the blood goes through a process called oxidation, which turns it brown—hence your brown period blood. Often, you’ll find brown period blood at the very start of your cycle, when there might be a little bit of blood left over from your previous cycle, says Braaten.
Why does my period blood turn brown?
If you have consume a lot of iron—either from supplements or eating a lot of red meat or leafy vegetables —your period blood might skew brown. That's because having more iron in your blood can enhance the oxidation process, says Dana Hunnes, Ph.D., R.D., a senior dietitian at Ronald Reagan-UCLA Medical Center.
Why does my uterus bleed brown?
Birth control options that contain no estrogen (or low-dose estrogen), can make the uterine lining less stable, which can lead to breakthrough bleeding during your cycle—and, because breakthrough bleeding is typically light, it can also appear brown, again, because of oxidation. But keep in mind, this too is totally normal when related to your menstrual cycle.
Is brown blood old blood?
Simply put: “Brown blood is just old blood,” explains Kari P. Braaten, M.D., an ob-gyn at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. As the blood and tissue lining your uterus breaks down and leaves the body, it gets exposed to air. When that happens, the blood goes through a process called oxidation, which turns it brown—hence your brown period ...
Is period blood normal?
First: Dial it back a bit—period blood can come in a range of different colors and consistencies and still be totally normal. But if you're still kind of curious (and you know you are), here's what's really going on if your period blood looks a bit more brown than red.
Why does my period have brown blood?
Brown blood is also more common when your flow is lighter, since that blood takes longer to leave your body.
What color is period blood?
Some people have mostly (or only) bright red or cranberry-colored discharge. But many also have some days when the blood is brown, or even black-ish.
What to do if you have a burning feeling when you pee?
If you have abdominal pain, a burning feeling when you pee, pain during sex, or extra-weird smelling discharge, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. You should also see a physician if: the discharge is also yellow, green, or thick and white; if you start to spot (meaning some very light bleeding) when it’s not your period AND this spotting is unusual for you; if you have to change your tampon or pad more than once an hour; your period lasts more than 7 days; or you have intense period pain that over the counter painkillers (like Tylenol or ibuprofen) don’t help.
What happens when an egg isn't fertilized?
you get pregnant). When an egg isn’t fertilized, your body sheds this uterine lining —that’s what your period is!
What is brown discharge?
Brown discharge is old blood that’s been hanging out in your uterus for a while before being expelled. It’s most common toward the end of your period, but can also occur in the beginning or middle.
How to treat dark brown blood?
You can treat this dark brown blood just like other period blood. Use a pad, tampon, menstrual cup or period underwear.
Is brown blood normal?
Unless you’re experiencing pain or your discharge smells extra unusual, you don’t need to see a doctor. Brown period blood is actually very normal. Unfortunately, period stigma and shame can often keep us from talking about the gory details of periods.
Why is my period blood brown?
Brown period blood is oxidized, which means the chemistry of its proteins have changed after being exposed to the outside environment.
What does brown period blood mean?
The most likely reason why your period blood is brown is because your flow is light or slow.
Why is period considered a fifth vital sign?
Periods are considered a fifth vital sign because they indicate if our bodies are working like they should. The color of your period blood, its timing and consistency, and whether or not it comes with painful cramps or PMS symptoms all help tell the story of your hormonal health.
What does it mean when your period changes?
Any significant change in period color, timing, consistency, or symptoms may indicate a change in the hormones that made your period happen .
Why is my period flow slower?
Your flow is naturally slower on the first and final days of your period because the uterus isn’t able to shed its lining all at once. Rather than an immediate start and hard stop, it needs some time to transition, resulting in lighter flows and browner blood in the beginning and end of your period.
What does dark brown mean in blood?
Dark brown period blood is simply older blood—it’s been out of the body for a longer period of time. The longer blood is exposed to the outside environment, the darker it will be.
Is it normal for blood color to change during your period?
It’s normal for your blood color to change throughout the days of your period, with more brownish hues during the first and last days when your flow is lighter and more spotty, and more reddish hues during the days in the middle when your flow is heavier and more steady.
What It Can Look Like
Brown discharge doesnt always look the same, especially when it comes to color. The color of brown discharge may vary from very dark brown to light brown to pink-brown. Different shades of brown discharge can indicate different things .
You Recently Began Hormonal Birth Control
Generally, people who use hormonal contraceptives have less heavy periods, so if you recently started taking the pill, for example, you may notice a change. As Bedsider, an online birth control support network, explains, The hormonal IUD, the implant, the shot, the pill, the patch, and the ring will all make periods lighter.
If Your Period Seems Watery This Might Be Why
Lets face it: Periods can be weird. At various times they might be clumpy, brown, and, yes, smelly and usually this is all totally standard. But what does it mean if your menstrual blood is thin and watery?
Brown Period Blood Can Be Normal
We usually think of blood as bright red, but “blood becomes darker when it has time to oxidize,” says Christine Greves, MD, a gynecologist at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.
Your Estrogen Levels Are Low
Low estrogen can lead to a lighter period that may also appear pink and watery, according to a Greatist article medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD. This may be accompanied by other symptoms, including lack of vaginal lubrication, fatigue, headaches, and mood swings.
Orange Period Blood : Possible Infection
Bright red blood mixed with cervical fluid can appear an almost orange color with red flecks or look a bit rusty in color. Bright orange period blood can also be a sign of infection, though. If you see it frequently, it has a foul odor, or it doesnt also have a slippery consistency, see your care provider.
When Its Not Normal
Brown Period Blood | PCOS, STDs, Ovulation | Is Brown Discharge Normal?
Why is my period blood brown?
The problem with brown period blood is that it is typically thicker than the flow you have during other times of the month. It may seem more like discharge than blood. As such, it can be hard for your regular period care products (like tampons) to absorb.
What to do when your period is brown?
Relax and take a deep breath–a little brown period blood is usually nothing to worry about. We’ll talk about why it happens and what it means.
What does it look like when you start your period?
You first start your period. At the beginning of your period, you may shed blood from the uterus that is leftover from your last period. This is normal, and the blood will typically look brown.
What color are clots?
Clots may also accompany Brown period blood. Clots can be brown or dark red to purple in appearance.
Why is my discharge brown?
If you are experiencing other symptoms like pain, itching, burning, or discomfort, you could have an infection. Some infections, like pelvic inflammatory disease, can cause you to have brown discharge .
Is brown period blood normal?
Yes. Brown period blood is normal, although it might not look like it. There’s no cause for alarm unless you experience other symptoms. Here are some instances when you’d want to call your doctor and let them know you’re having brown period blood.
Do you need to see a doctor for brown discharge?
Your doctor doesn’t need to see you if you’re experiencing normal, period-related brown discharge. However, certain circumstances and other symptoms can indicate a more significant issue.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Why is my period pink?
Using hormonal birth control can lower estrogen levels in the body, which can lead to a lighter flow with a pinkish hue during periods .
