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 do I have brown discharge after my period?
What can cause brown discharge after a period?
- Dry period blood. Blood that takes longer to exit your body becomes darker, often brown. ...
- Polycystic ovary syndrome. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. ...
- Perimenopause. Perimenopause is when your body begins to make the natural transition to menopause. ...
- Birth control implant. ...
- Sexually transmitted infections. ...
What causes brown blood before period starts?
Brown discharge before your period may be due to starting birth control, implantation, uterine fibroids, vaginal infections, or menstruation. Also called a period, menstruation occurs when the lining of a female's uterus is shed through a flow of blood. It's a crucial part of the menstrual cycle, which is a normal and healthy process that ...
What does brown discharge mean before period?
Sometimes, the brown discharge between your periods can be accompanied by nausea, pelvic discomfort, or cramping. In rarer occasions, brown discharge before your period can mean that there is something more serious. Thyroid dysfunction, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, or cancer can all cause unusual brown spotting before your period. Advertisement
Why is my period brown?
While brown discharge may be a normal part of the menstrual cycle, it could be a symptom of an underlying condition. There are several potential causes of brown discharge or spotting. While it is very common leading up to and immediately following a period, it does have other possible causes. These can be benign or may require medical attention.
Why does my period have brown discharge?
Hormonal imbalances may cause spotting or bleeding between periods , which can cause brown discharge. Certain factors can change hormone levels and cause abnormal bleeding from the uterus. These include:
How long does menopause last?
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. According to the North American Menopause Society, it can last for 4–8 years. Perimenopause symptoms can include night sweats, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes.
What to do if you have brown discharge during pregnancy?
If a person notices brown discharge during pregnancy, they should talk to their doctor.
Why is my baby's discharge brown?
In later pregnancy, brown discharge could be a sign of issues with the placenta or preterm labor.
How long does it take for a baby to bleed after birth control?
Certain birth control methods may cause spotting or some brown discharge. For instance, a person may experience irregular bleeding or spotting for about 3–6 months following the placement of an intrauterine device (IUD).
When does brown discharge occur?
It is common for a person to have brown vaginal discharge a few days before their period, as well as a few days after it. When it occurs before, it is likely a light, early flow.
Why is my discharge brown?
The first cause for brown discharge could be early menopause. Spotting after your period is part of the transition from regular menstrual cycle to menopause. As long as it is not accompanied by cramping and heavy bleeding, you don't have to worry about anything serious.
What does brown discharge mean?
One area of concern regarding brown discharge is that it could be blood from some kind of damages to one of the reproductive organs. You may have had a polyp or an abrasion that occurred on the uterus or the cervix.
Is brown discharge after period serious?
Most of the time, brown discharge after period is not anything serious to worry about. So in dealing with a brown discharge, sometimes waiting for a short time will help to eliminate this condition.
Is it normal to have brown discharge after your period?
It is normal to find some brown spotting after your period, especially if your period is late. After your delayed period, your body has to clean the remaining shedding of uterus lining, which could cause brown discharge. There is no need to worry but if it continues and appears to get heavy, contact your physician.
Why is my discharge brown after my period?
Some of the reasons for spots of brown discharge after your period can be due to ovulation, stress, or taking birth control. In some cases, implantation bleeding can cause rust-colored discharge a couple of weeks after your period has finished.
Why does my period have brown spots?
Perimenopause. As you approach the menopause, your periods become less regular and this can cause some brown discharge after your period. Irregular periods or a light menstrual flow can mean that blood isn’t expelled quickly. This can cause brown spotting at the end or after your period.
What is Brown Discharge?
Because regular vaginal discharge is clear or milky white, many women are worried when they notice brown discharge or dark spotting before or after their periods. Even thick white discharge is normal for many women as long as there is no discharge odor with it. Thankfully, brown discharge doesn’t usually mean anything is wrong.
Why does my lower back hurt after my period?
Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that along with spotting between periods, uterine fibroids can cause heavier than usual menstrual bleeding, frequent urination, and pain in your lower back.
Why does my underwear turn brown after my period?
However, if you notice brown discharge on your underwear after your period with other symptoms like abdominal cramping or an irregular period, this can be a sign of another health problem like ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids. Advertisement.
How long does it take for a brown discharge to occur?
Brown discharge that occurs 7 to 14 days after your period could mean that you are ovulating. Usually, the menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, and about 2 weeks after the start of your monthly cycle your body will release an egg. However, the menstrual cycle may be shorter or longer depending on what is regular for you.
Why does my vagina bleed brown?
In rare cases, abnormal vaginal bleeding between your periods that looks like brown discharge could be a sign of cancer in your reproductive organs.
Why is my period brown?
You can blame this weird one on chemistry. Brown discharge is the result of blood that has been exposed to oxygen for a long enough time to change color. This can happen for a few different reasons. First, let’s go through some quick period 101.
Why is my discharge brown before my period?
As for that brown discharge? “Brown discharge before a period is usually just due to a little bit of bleeding, ” Christine Greves, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, tells SELF.
Why does my uterus grow during my period?
This can happen for a few different reasons. First, let’s go through some quick period 101. During your menstrual cycle, the lining of your uterus grows and thickens to support a possible pregnancy. If a fertilized egg latches onto that plush uterine lining, it can begin to receive the nutrients it needs to grow.
How long does it take for a spotting to occur?
This could be something called implantation bleeding, which is spotting that takes place one to two weeks after a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus, per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
What to do if you have brown discharge?
But if brown discharge is new to you, it can be a good idea to flag it for your doctor, Dr. Greves says. Especially if it’s happening between your regularly scheduled period.
What happens when blood turns brown?
In a chemical process known as oxidation, that oxygen can turn your usual red blood brown, Dr. Shepherd explains. On its way out of your vagina, this brown blood will mix with your usual discharge, which is a mix of cervical mucus and vaginal fluids and cells, depending on the time of the month.
Can a brown discharge be a sign of pregnancy?
In some cases, brown discharge could even be a sign of early pregnancy.
Why is my vagina brown?
Brown vaginal discharge can be a sign of perimenopause, especially if you’re in your 40s or 50s. As your cycle becomes more irregular, brown discharge and spotting are more likely to occur. Keep an eye out for other perimenopause symptoms, such as: Hot flashes. Vaginal dryness.
Why is my discharge brown after sex?
Sometimes brown discharge after sex can be a sign of a cervical polyp or sexually transmitted infection.
What is brown vaginal discharge?
Finding brown discharge in your underwear or when you wipe can be disconcerting. The first time it happens, you might feel scared or wonder if it’s a sign that something’s wrong.
What may cause brown discharge?
There are many reasons why you could be experiencing brown vaginal discharge. These range from perfectly normal causes to reasons for concern. That’s why you also need to be aware of any symptoms that accompany the brown discharge. Some of the most common reasons why your discharge is brown may include:
Is brown discharge a period?
Many people experience brown discharge before a period, when their flow is still very light and not much blood is coming out. It’s especially common to have brown discharge around two days before your period.
What does brown discharge after sex mean?
Some bloody brown discharge after sex could simply be a sign of vigorous sex. In some cases, your partner’s penis or sex toys can make your cervix bleed a bit while having rough sex. This can result in some light brown discharge. If you’re worried or feel sore afterwards, ask your partner to be gentler next time or try to find a position that prevents deeper penetration.
Can brown vaginal discharge be a sign of pregnancy?
Brown discharge may be a sign of implantation bleeding. This occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. As it does, it creates a small amount of bleeding. You might notice implantation bleeding as brown discharge when wiping after urination.
What Is Brown Discharge?
Brown vaginal discharge differs in color from normal discharge, which is typically clear to white in color.
What Is Normal Discharge?
It is normal for the body to begin producing discharge at puberty. Discharge plays a role in keeping the genitals clean and healthy by removing dead skin cells found in the lining of the vagina. 4 It is made up mostly of water but also contains microorganisms.
Common Causes of Brown Discharge
There are a number of reasons why brown discharge may occur. It may be related to the menstrual cycle or perimenopause, or also related to problems like ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage.
Causes of Brown Discharge That May Require Treatment
In some instances, brown discharge may be a sign of a condition that requires treatment by a healthcare provider.
When to See a Doctor
You should speak with your healthcare provider any time you have unusual changes to your discharge. However, you should contact them immediately if you have vaginal discharge accompanied by:
Summary
Brown discharge can be caused by a number of factors, including regular menstrual activity, perimenopause, and the use of birth control, all of which are normal. However, it may also be an indication of a more serious problem, like an infection, ectopic pregnancy, or a tampon left in the vagina.
A Word From Verywell
Seeing brown discharge may be cause for worry, but it is likely due to normal menstrual activity. If you are concerned about your discharge, especially if it changes or persists, contact your healthcare provider for more information or an examination.
