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How The Blood Changes During Your Period/is My Period Blood Supposed To Change Colour
Yes, it is normal for your period blood to change colour throughout your cycle daily, month to month, or even throughout your lifetime.
During a period, the colour can vary in brightness, darkness, and hue, from bright reds to dark browns. This will depend on the flow and how new the period blood is. These often change on different days of your period e.g. on day one or two, your flow will be faster, the blood will be newer and therefore is likely to be bright red. Further into your period as your flow might slow or blood might be older, your period blood is likely to be darker in colour.
However, if you see a colour that isnt usually what youd expect, its always best to check in with your doctor, especially if youre experiencing other symptoms that are out of the ordinary for you.
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 .
Brown
What it means:
Brown discharge results from oxidized blood mixed with normal cervical mucus. Its common to see a brown flow at the beginning or end of your menstrual period. Brown discharge around the date of your expected period may indicate that menstruation has begun.
Sometimes, brown discharge is also an early sign of pregnancy resulting from implantation bleeding, especially if it happens 6-12 days past ovulation . Implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining, resulting in pregnancy.
The movement of the egg may cause a slight brown discharge. Take a pregnancy test on the day of your next menstrual period if you suspect you might be experiencing implantation bleeding.
Dark Brown
What it means:
The darker your brown discharge, the more oxidized blood is present in your cervical mucus. Extremely dark, or almost black, discharge most often occurs at the very beginning or very end of your menstrual period.
Tan/Light Brown
What it means:
Light brown discharge means that there is less blood present in your cervical mucus perhaps only a few drops. This can indicate an extremely light menstrual flow, especially if it occurs toward the beginning or end of your period.
Pink-Brown
What it means:
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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. This is because these methods make the lining of the uterus thinner. Theres less tissue in the uterus to shed.
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?
There are a few possible explanations, and they depend on what your baseline looks like and if youve made any major changes recently, such as going on hormonal birth control or beginning to train for a marathon. tend to worry when their period isnt exactly the same as usual, Raquel B. Dardik, MD, an OB/GYN at NYU Langone Medical Center, previously told Refinery29. But theres a large variety of whats normal.
Many people notice that the color and consistency of their period blood changes from day to day. That said, if yours is suddenly light and watery throughout menstruation, and it never was before, its a good idea to check in with your OB/GYN to see whats up. Here are some possible explanations.
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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.
This is because the hemoglobin in your blood turns brown when it’s exposed to oxygen and it can happen when blood stays in your uterus for a long period of time. “It is basically blood that is not as ‘fresh,'” Greves says.
This usually isn’t any cause for concern. Here are a few normal reasons why you might see brown period blood:
- Beginning of period. At the start of your cycle, you may be seeing leftover blood from your last period that stayed in your uterus and appears brown.
- End of period. At the end of your cycle, you may see brown blood because the blood has spent longer sitting in your uterus before leaving your body.
- Light period. If you tend to have light periods, you are also more likely to see brown blood during your period. This is because a light flow means that blood leaves your body more slowly, giving it more time to oxidize.
There are also a few other non-period related reasons why you may be experiencing brown blood flow:
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. There are a number of possible explanations for low levels of the hormone, including excessive exercising, eating disorders, and health conditions including hypopituitarism , autoimmune conditions, Turner syndrome, and chronic kidney disease.
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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
Occasionally, brown, bloody discharge accompanied by other symptoms can indicate a problem.
Tell your doctor right away if youre pregnant and experiencing brown-colored bleeding. This can mean that something is wrong with your pregnancy. You may need immediate medical care.
- periods that last longer than 7 days
- less than 21 days between periods or more than 35 days between periods
- not having a period for more than three to six months
- bleeding between periods
- multiple cysts on the ovaries
The cause of PCOS isnt known. It can be passed on genetically. If your brown discharge happens along with these other symptoms, ask your doctor to test you for it. Untreated PCOS can make you more susceptible to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, infertility, and cardiovascular disease. Getting tested and treated early on can help prevent these issues from developing.
Some causes of brown discharge, including menopause, arent a problem. However, discharge can be a symptom of a yeast infection or a sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, that requires treatment. Brown discharge can also be a sign of inflammatory conditions such as cervicitis or vaginitis. In rare cases, brown discharge can indicate cervical cancer. Talk to your doctor if you think you might have any of these issues. If you havent already done so, you may consider getting routine cervical cancer screenings or the human papillomavirus virus vaccine.
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Why Is My Period Blood Sometimes Brown
Brown blood can look alarming if youre expecting it to be you know, bright red. But if youve ever looked at a wound or cut thats a few days old, you can see that the blood has changed to a dark brown color. This is due to a process called oxidation, where oxygen binds with hemoglobin . This changes the color of old blood from red to brown. So, if your menstrual blood takes a few extra days to exit your vagina, it might be brown by the time you see it.
Is It Normal For The Color To Be Different At The Beginning And End Of My Period
Yes! Your period may change colors from the beginning to the middle to the end. You may even have different colors from month to month or at different times throughout your life. There are a number of factors involved, even when your periods are totally healthy.
In most cases, the variation from bright red to dark red to brown has something to do with the flow and time the blood has been in the uterus. Your flow may be faster at the beginning of your period and trail off toward the end. You may have dark red blood after laying down for a long time, too. You may see bright red blood on your heaviest days.
This doesnt mean that all changes in color are normal. If you see a shade thats unfamiliar or gray especially if you have other symptoms theres no harm in making an appointment to get checked out. And any bleeding during pregnancy is reason to touch base with your doctor.
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Postpartum Lochia Has Developed
Normal vaginal bleeding that continues six to eight weeks after childbirth is referred to as lochia. It starts out as a heavy flow thats reddish in color and contains small blood clots, then slows down after a few days. In the early days, abundant blood can become oxidized and turn so dark that it might seem almost black.
After a little while, the color gradually lightens, changing to yellow or creamy, before the flow stops altogether. Consult a health care provider if lochia is bright red, contains plum-sized clots, or if there is foul-smelling discharge in the weeks after delivery.
Why Is My Period Blood Brown On The First Day
Now you know why period blood is darker sometimes, but why is your period blood brown at the beginning? For lots of folks, the first and last days of their period are usually the lightest, and some people experience spotting for a few days after the end of their period.
Because blood flow during these days is slower and lighter, it takes longer to leave your uterus. This gives the blood plenty of time to oxidize and become brown, instead of the brighter red that is more frequent during the heaviest days of menstruation.
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Reaction To A Pap Smear Test Or Gynecological Exam
Its normal to experience some light bleeding or spotting after a Pap smear or vaginal exam. OB/GYNs work hard to be careful in these situations, but sometimes their tools can cause slight irritation inside the walls of your vagina or cervical lining. If you experience this without any other symptoms, you dont usually need to worry about it.
Get In Tune With Yourself
Lots of things about your period — like how often you get it, how long it lasts, and how heavy your flow is — can be different for every woman. Some of them can offer clues to what’s going on in your body. Pay attention to what’s normal and healthy for you so you can pick up on early signs of trouble.
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Brown Discharge: 11 Possible Causes And Symptoms
Sylvia Kang
Banafsheh Kashani
MD, FACOG
Experiencing brown discharge on your underwear or when you wipe can be concerning and you may feel scared or worried when you see it for the first time. However, brown discharge happens more often than you may think. Most of the time, brown discharge doesnt indicate any problem.
There are many possible causes for brown discharge, such as infections, period, vigorous sex, menopause, infection, or ectopic pregnancy. In this post, we will look at 11 potential causes as well as the symptoms you can expect from each.
Is Brown Discharge Normal Before Period
A common question and cause for concern for many girls experiencing their first or second year of menstruation is that their period blood is not always red.
The colour of your discharge changes over the course of your menstrual cycle due to fluctuations in your hormones, from red/brown during your period, to thick and white just after your period and clear, like egg white during the middle of your cycle. The middle of your cycle marks the time around ovulation.
If you have recently started your period, having a small amount of brown discharge is often nothing to be concerned about. However, if you are experiencing other symptoms along with brown discharge or if you are noticing brown discharge mid-cycle then you should talk to a parent or see a doctor as it might the sign of PCOS or an infection.
See also:Discharge Before Period: What Does it Mean?
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Firstly Lets Talk Menstrual Blood
So why is menstrual blood important? Paying attention to the colour and consistency of your menstrual blood is important, as it can tell you a lot about your cycle. And if anything changes from period to period, youll be able to tell pretty quickly because youll already be an expert on what normal menstrual blood is to you.
How much blood women lose on their period can vary its usually about two to three tablespoons each cycle , but for some women it can be more.
What Do I Need To Know About Period Cramps
Menstrual cramping, often known as period pain or cramps, is a pretty common PMS symptom to experience during your period. But telling the difference between whats a ‘normal’ period pain and whats probably not is important to know.
If you usually dread your period because of PMS weve put together seven easy ways to help ease PMS just for you.
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Why Is My Period A Weird Color
Q: My period isn’t red. I actually think there’s a green tint toit. I told my mom and she said it’s normal for the first time, butis has been almost a year since I started. Should I see adoctor?
A: The color of the menstrual blood you see depends upon how oldit is and how long it has been exposed to air , becauseblood oxidizes when exposed to air. The color changes from brightred to dark red, then to reddish brown, brown and brownish green.You didn’t say if you’re using pads or tampons, but many youngteens during the first year of their periods use pads. It is normalto see a greenish tint in the menstrual discharge on the pad itjust means that’s older, drier blood. If your period is light andyou change your pads less often, you are more likely to see thisdarker colored blood.
Some vaginal infections can cause greenish discharge but usuallyalso have stinging, burning and odor. If you are having thesesymptoms or if you’ve had sex, then you would need to see yourdoctor.
It’s always good to talk with your doctor when you havequestions about your health. Puberty and the beginning ofmenstruation is an excellent time for a checkup with your healthprofessional. If you haven’t had your 11- or 12-year-old visit, domake an appointment. Your doctor will be happy to discuss anyconcerns about your period with you.