Period FAQs

why is period blood brown

by Dr. Reynold Herzog Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The beginning or end of your period
The flow of blood is slower at the start and end of your period, meaning it takes longer to exit your body. The longer it sits in your body, the more time it has to oxidize, causing it to turn brown. In some cases, brown blood could even be left over from your previous period.

Full Answer

Why is there brown blood when you start your period?

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...

What can cause period blood to look brown?

What does brown period blood mean?

  • The beginning or end of your period. When your flow is slow, the blood may take longer to exit your body. ...
  • Lochia. The bleeding women experience for the first four to six weeks after delivering a baby is called lochia.
  • Pregnancy. If you experience spotting during pregnancy, some of it may be brown if the active bleed has stopped.
  • Missed miscarriage. ...

What does it mean if you have brown period blood?

Very often, brown blood appears at the end of your period when your body is shedding old blood that has accumulated. Or, it could be that you mistake brown spotting for brown period blood if ovulation is late or you have signs of implantation bleeding.

What to do if your period blood start looking brown?

  • Brown period blood is normal when it's at the beginning or end of your period.
  • But you should see a doctor if you also experience unusual pain, a foul smell, or blood clots.
  • If you have brown blood between your periods, then this could be a sign of PCOS.
  • Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.

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Why is my discharge brown?

Getting tested and treated early on can help prevent these issues from developing. Some causes of brown discharge, including menopause, aren’t a problem. However, discharge can be a symptom of a yeast infection or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, that requires treatment.

What does it mean when you have brown discharge?

Brown discharge during pregnancy can be a sign of early miscarriage. If you see brown discharge, note whether you have other abnormal symptoms, such as tissue or heavy pink fluid coming out of your vagina. Other warning signs related to early pregnancy include: abdominal pain or cramps. shoulder pain.

Why does my vagina hurt after IUD?

pain in your vagina or lower abdomen. fever that could indicate an infection. fatigue. heavy bleeding beyond your normal period flow. brown discharge after the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) seeing brown discharge when you’re taking tamoxifen, a breast cancer treatment.

Why does my uterus discharge?

However, blood and discharge can be related to inflammation of your vaginal lining ( atrophic vaginitis ), noncancerous polyps in your cervix, or other issues in your uterus or cervix including cancer.

How to tell if you have a miscarriage?

Brown discharge during pregnancy can be a sign of early miscarriage. If you see brown discharge, note whether you have other abnormal symptoms, such as tissue or heavy pink fluid coming out of your vagina. Other warning signs related to early pregnancy include: 1 abdominal pain or cramps 2 shoulder pain 3 feeling dizzy, weak, faint, or lightheaded 4 not experiencing nausea or your normal pregnancy symptoms

What to do if you have brown blood?

Talk to your doctor. Brown menstrual blood is usually nothing to be concerned about, but talk to your doctor if you feel that your bleeding is abnormal. Also call your doctor if you are troubled by other symptoms that feel out of the ordinary. Last medically reviewed on July 21, 2016.

What to do if you have a bleeding period?

When you experience bleeding between periods, you should see a doctor or nurse practitioner to make sure it’s not a symptom of a problem.

Why is my period blood brown?

Pain during intercourse. Frequent urination. Constipation and/or bloating. Pain in your pelvis or lower back. Increased menstrual cramping. Stomach swelling. Below, we will discuss some of the potential reasons why your period blood is brown, along with additional symptoms to be on the lookout for.

What to do if you have brown period blood?

First and foremost, you should know that any unusual vaginal discharge, including brown or dark brown period blood, should be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. We suggest that you take notes on when it occurs during your cycle.

Why Do Fibroids Cause Brown Discharge?

When the blood passes the fibroid, it may be brown because it is older and has oxidized.

Why is my period abnormal?

One potential reason for abnormal menstruation is the presence of uterine fibroids, a common type of non-cancerous tumor that can develop in or on the uterus. Fibroids vary in size and number, and can result in a range of painful, uncomfortable, and inconvenient symptoms.

What is the term for the condition where the lining of the uterus breaks through the muscular wall?

Endometriosis: This common reproductive condition occurs when the lining of the uterus breaks through the muscular wall. Uterine tissue can then develop on the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, or intestines. This type of tissue growth can cause significant pain or discomfort, along with abnormal periods and brown period blood.

What does it mean when a woman bleeds during her period?

Ovulation: A small percentage of women experience bleeding each month when an ovary releases an egg. When this happens, it is typically mid-cycle and can appear as brown or dark brown period blood. Some women also experience implantation bleeding when they first get pregnant.

Can brown period blood be a sign of something wrong?

At USA Fibroid Centers, our specialists want you to be aware that period abnormalities –– such as heavy bleeding and severe cramps –– can be a sign of something wrong. If you experience brown period blood along with other related symptoms, we recommend talking to your doctor to determine the underlying cause.

Why is my period blood turning brown?

Your period blood may also turn brown if you have a lot of iron in your diet, which enhances the speed at which period blood oxidizes once it contacts air. Also, if you have birth control with a low-to-zero dose of estrogen, it can destabilize your uterine lining and lead to breakthrough bleeding in the middle of your cycle. But again, this blood is merely brown because of oxidation.

Why is my period black?

If the period blood is even older than this, it can sometimes turn black. Both brown and black blood colors are generally no cause for alarm. Your period may be black or brown at the very beginning or end when the flow is lighter. Heavier, faster flow is likely to be a darker or brighter red color.

What happens when the lining of the uterus breaks down?

When this doesn’t happen, the lining tissues start to break down and descend the uterus to be ejected out of the body. However, the tissues and blood begin to get exposed to air at this point, causing the blood to oxidize. Specifically, there is an oxygen-carrying protein in each red blood cell, called hemoglobin. This protein has iron molecules that bind to oxygen, giving it a bright, rich color.

What does brown blood look like?

A good example is that it’s just like when the topmost layer on an old iron gate will oxidize and turn to rust, which can be a similar shade of brown.

Is brown period blood normal?

We hope we’ve put your fears at ease with this post. Brown period blood, when occurring naturally as part of your cycle, is usually normal.

Is it normal to have red blood during your period?

Period blood can have a range of different colors and consistencies while being completely normal. It’s normal to see orange, dark red, bright red, brown, or even black blood, and each color signals something different about the way your uterine lining is shedding itself.

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 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 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 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 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 .

Why is my period blood darker?

This is because older blood gets released as the deeper parts of the uterine lining get shed and the bleeding slows. Typically the color of menstrual blood is a shade or two darker than normal bleeding.

What does it mean when you see blood during your period?

The blood that you see during your period is similar to but not exactly the same type of blood that you see when you cut your finger. What you see on your pad or tampon or in the toilet bowl is a mixture of both blood and tissue from the lining of your uterus. How much of each, along with other factors, will influence what your period blood looks like.

What is the difference between menstrual blood and blood that you cut?

The fact that menstrual blood contains cells from the lining of the uterus is only one of the things that makes it different from the blood that you see when you cut your finger. Another, very important, difference, is the way that the blood clots—or becomes solid.

Why is my period red?

The brighter red the blood the more recent the bleeding and the quicker the blood is passing through the cervix and into the vagina. Bright red blood is most likely to be present at the start of your period. You may also see brighter blood at times when you have cramps. That's because cramps occur when the uterus contracts, ...

Why is my menstrual flow thicker than normal?

Typically, menstrual blood is a little thicker than normal bleeding because of the tissue it contains.

How long is a period?

Periods come in a wide range of normal. How wide a range? Doctors consider the following things to all be normal: 2  1 Having a menstrual cycle that lasts anywhere from 24-38 days 2 Having a cycle length that varies as much as 20 days over the course of the year 3 Bleeding for anywhere from four and a half to eight days at a time 4 Losing anywhere from 5 to 80 milliliters (ml) of blood over the course of your period

How many women have abnormal uterine bleeding?

Around the world, up to a quarter of reproductive-age women experience some type of abnormal uterine bleeding. 2 Abnormal uterine bleeding takes on a variety of forms including periods that:

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