Why Is My Period Blood Brown

A Quick Period Refresher

Even if it’s been a while since you’ve given it much thought, your menstrual cycle actually can tell you a lot about your overall health, says Dr. Jill Purdie, OB-GYN and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group. So if you need a quick refresher on the 411 behind menstruation and why it changes color, no shame or worries here.

“Every month, the endometrium grows and thickens in preparation and expectation of pregnancy,” Purdie tells Scary Mommy. “An embryo needs a thick lining in order to implant and grow. If no pregnancy occurs and no embryo implants, the body triggers the endometrium to shed,” a process which kickstarts your period.

Hormonal birth control methods prevent ovulation to prevent pregnancy, so you won’t have a “true” menstrual period when you use a hormonal contraceptive, such as the pill, patch, ring, and some IUDs. The blood you experience during the inactive period is your body’s reaction to the lack of synthetic hormones more on this in a sec.

While periods surely can suck, your body is doing a lot throughout your menstrual cycle, and changes in blood and discharge often reflect that, says Purdie. “The endometrium does not all shed at one time,” which is why your bleeding likely occurs over the course of several days. “The amount that sheds varies throughout the period, which changes the consistency of the flow. The period blood changes in color as the amount of shedding changes.”

Can Brown Discharge Occur Due To Infections

The abnormal brown discharge accompanied by several other complications and symptoms may be something you need to consult with your gynecologist.

There may be certain infections that cause abnormal brown discharge. If you observe brown discharge for several days and it does not stop on its own, it is wise to visit a professional and get help. Certain infections or diseases that cause brown discharge are:

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Brown discharge that occurs due to any of the aforementioned issues has other symptoms as well. Here are the other symptoms that accompany brown discharge in case of serious infection:

• Fishy or Foul smell from the discharge
• Itching or irritation in or around the vaginal area
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Burning sensation or pain while urinating
• Abdominal Cramps or tenderness
• Mild or heavy fever

You should not take these symptoms casually, as they can get severe with time. So, waste no time and consult a gynecologist to the soonest when you observe discomfort or pain accompanied by brown discharge during pregnancy.

*Disclaimer: The content is written and reviewed as per the expertise and knowledge of the author and reviewer. For a final call related to ailment, we highly recommend people to Consult with a Specialized Doctor and take necessary decisions as per the Doctors suggestions.

Is Brown Discharge Normal

Brown discharge is extremely normal and should not cause you any alarm in most cases.

If the bleeding is confined to the beginning or end of your period, its most likely due to the slowing of your menstrual flow the blood takes more time to get from the cervix to your pad or tampon, so it may oxidize in the meantime.

If you experience brown spotting between periods while using hormonal birth control, its most likely a side effect. Talk to your doctor if you become concerned, but know that it is probably nothing to worry about.

If you are trying to conceive and have brown discharge after ovulation, it may be a good sign! Brown discharge could be due to implantation bleeding. Take a pregnancy test on the first day of your expected period to make sure.

Rarely, brown discharge may signify a problem with the reproductive tract. Visit your doctor if you have concerns about brown discharge. It never hurts to be safe.

Also Check: What Does Birth Control Do To Your Period

Its Probably Nothing To Worry About

You look at your underwear and notice some small brown spots. Its not time for your period yet whats going on here?

Its likely spotting, which refers to very light bleeding that happens outside of your usual menstrual cycle. Its not enough to fill a pad or a tampon, but its often visible on toilet paper or underwear.

Spotting can range in color from light pink to dark brown. Brown spotting gets its color from old blood, which can start making its way out of your body one to two weeks before the start of your period.

For some, this is just a normal part of their cycle. For others, it may be a symptom of an underlying health condition.

Heres a look at the potential causes of brown spotting and other symptoms to watch for.

Brown spotting is often just sign of ovulation or your actual period starting. This is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about.

What Birth Control Shot Side Effects Should I Expect

The hormones in the birth control shot may cause side effects in some people, but this doesnt happen to everyone many people use the shot with no problems at all.

The most common depo shot side effects are changes in your periods, especially during the first year. These include:

• Bleeding more days than usual

• Not getting your period at all

About half of people stop getting their period while theyre on the shot .

Other possible side effects include:

• Slight bruising where you got the shot

• A small, permanent dent in the skin where you got the shot

Negative Depo shot effects usually go away after 2-3 months, once your body gets used to the hormones in the shot.

If you dont like the way the shot makes you feel, talk with a nurse or doctor, like the ones at your local Planned Parenthood health center. They may suggest a different birth control method. Many people try a few different types of birth control before finding the right one for them. Keep in mind that if you stop getting your shots and dont use another birth control method, its possible for you to get pregnant right away.

The hormones in the shot and other types of birth control have been around for decades, and millions of people have used them safely. Depo side effects arent dangerous . You can always call a nurse or doctor, like the ones at your local Planned Parenthood health center, if you have any concerns. And you can keep track of any side effects with our birth control app.

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Diagnosis Of Period Problems

âYour doctor will review your medical history and medications and conduct a physical examination to identify the causes of abnormal periods. The physical examination may include a pelvic exam as well as a pap test. Other tests your doctor may order include:

• âBlood tests to check if you have anemia or other medical conditions
• Vaginal cultures to check for possible infections
• âA pelvic ultrasound to check for fibroids , polyps , or cysts .
• âAn endometrial biopsy where a small sample of tissue is taken from the lining of the uterus and is examined under a microscope to check for cancer or other cell abnormalities.

âYour doctor will recommend the right course of treatment based on the cause of your abnormal periods.

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Why Does Period Blood Smell

symptoms of urinary tract infection in pregnancy**, why does period blood smell**

• Sweet this smell can be caused by the presence of yeast or bacteria in the vaginal flora.
• Body Odor sweat can combine with bacteria, especially after exercise.
• Fishy this odor is a sign of an infection like bacterial vaginosis or an STI and should be evaluated by your physician.

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What Does Brown Discharge Mean

Brown vaginal discharge is brown because it’s tinged with dried blood. That means some blood took a little extra time to come out of your uterus. See below for some reasons you may have brown spotting, brownish discharge, or brownish-pink discharge. Most commonly, it can happen at the beginning or end of a period, after a pelvic exam, after strenous sex, during implantation, around ovulation, and when you’re taking birth control pills.

What If I Just Have Brown Discharge Instead Of My Period

You may just be having some slight irregularities in your cycle. When someone starts a new hormonal treatment or birth control, sometimes their period is replaced with brown discharge or light spotting for the next several months as their body adjusts.

Brown discharge instead of menstruation could also be a sign of implantation bleeding in early pregnancy. If youve recently had unprotected sex and start experiencing mild cramping, nausea, fatigue, and sensitive breasts, its worth getting a pregnancy test.

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Serious Causes Of Brown Discharge

There are a few reasons that brown discharge is concerning. It is usually just one of many symptoms, however, so keep track of what else is going on when you talk to your doctor. Most of these issues are accompanied by 5 symptoms:1) Brown discharge continues for several weeks, or a period for longer than seven days.2) It usually happens after sex3) The discharge is really smelly4) Pain and a lot of cramping5) Vaginal itchingSo, if you have one or more of these symptoms along with brown discharge, speak to your doctor. She might help you identify the problem as one of the following:

While brown discharge can be a cause for concern, for most women, it is normal. Remember to watch for other accompanying symptoms, and then youll know if its something you should bring up with your doctor. For the most partyoure just experiencing that normal flow that comes with being a woman. For further protection, try our breathable, moisture wicking, buttery-soft microfiber leak proof undies for the day-to-day leaks and shop our complete collection of panties at Proof.com to find your style!

Why Is My Menstrual Blood Brown

If you are worried, asking yourself, why is my menstrual blood brown or why do I have brown period blood for a week do not worry! Dark blood is typically a sign of old blood or blood that takes longer to leave the uterus. Blood changes from the standard bright red menstrual blood to brown blood or discharge when it has had time to oxidize. Brown period blood is usually normal, but there are a few cases that may require evaluation by your physician. You can stop wondering why is my menstrual blood brown with these things in mind:

Also Check: Does Your Period Make You Lose Weight

Is Brown Blood Normal

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. Its normal for your periods to vary in length, heaviness, and level of discomfort.

Brown blood is usually present toward the end of your cycle. As your body sheds the uterine lining in the first few days of your cycle, the blood is normally red. However, near the end of your cycle, the discharged blood is older and can be discolored.

Sometimes, spotting or brown discharge occurs in the middle of your cycle, during ovulation. This is more common in younger girls who are just starting to have their periods, women starting birth control, or women nearing menopause. When you experience bleeding between periods, you should see a doctor or nurse practitioner to make sure its not a symptom of a problem.

Certain types of birth control can cause brown discharge during your period, or even between periods. These include birth control implants such as Nexplanon, known as the bar. Birth control affects your hormone levels, so in many cases brown discharge is normal, even at the beginning of your period.

Why Your Period Blood Is Brown On The First Day

All of your signs and symptoms tell you a story about whats happening inside your body. As someone with a female body you get an extra health report card every month, which is your period. By far the most common period issue I see with clients is brown bleeding at the beginning of your period. A lot of them have a clear feeling that this isnt a good sign but theyve been experiencing issues with their period for so long they almost dont believe it can be fixed. Comment below if youve ever felt that way.

Heres what I want you to know. It doesn’t matter if youve been seeing brown for 6 months or 6 years, you can have a normal period. There is a reason for everything. We figure out the reason and we can make the right changes, and your body can heal.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Your Period Back After Weight Loss

Why Is My Period

While working with womens reproductive health one of the first things we look at is the period. How long is the cycle? How many days of bleed? Are there cramps? What colour is the blood?

This last one often stumps our patients because:

a) its not something we often talk about with our friends and

b) its blood, its red.. Duh!

How Can I Stop Brown Discharge

In most cases, brown discharge before or after your period is completely normal and is not a cause for alarm. All you need to do is wear a panty liner to stay fresh and then go about your day as usual. However, if the brown discharge is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be a sign of a possible health condition.

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Can Late Period Cause Brown Discharge

If you miss a period, you may have brownish discharge in place of a regular period or have it sometime after your period would have ended. PCOS and perimenopause are common causes. You may also experience missed periods followed by brown discharge if youve recently started using a new hormonal birth control.

Why Is My Period Blood Brown All Of A Sudden

Should that be coming out of me, or…

Listen, you’re not exactly new to getting your periodby now, you know the ins and outs of your cycle .

But TBH, it still might freak you out a bit when that blood all of a sudden starts looking…brown.

First: Dial it back a bitperiod blood can come in a range of different colors and consistencies and still be totally normal. But if you’re still kind of curious , here’s what’s really going on if your period blood looks a bit more brown than red.

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Read Also: How Long Is A Woman’s Period

Top Things To Know About Period Blood Color

• Changes in period blood color are normal

• Dark red, brown, or black period blood is simply blood that has reacted with oxygen

• Talk to your healthcare provider if you have grayish or pink watery discharge, as this can be a sign of an infection or something more serious like cancer.

You may notice the color of your period blood varies. Sometimes itâs a bit brown, or almost black, to later turn to bright crimson.

Understand whatâs going on in your body. Track your period in Clue to learn about your menstrual cycle.

Underlying health conditions are more likely to affect the timing and length of your period than its appearanceâbut there are some reasons why your period blood may vary in color.

Minimally Invasive Fibroid Treatment At Usa Fibroid Centers

If youre wondering whether your brown period blood, heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and other symptoms may be due to uterine fibroids, we are here to help. USA Fibroid Centers is dedicated to helping women find relief from their symptoms before they get worse. We believe no woman should suffer painful fibroid symptoms without knowing her treatment options. Although many women believe that a hysterectomy, the complete surgical removal of the uterus, is the only available fibroid treatment, and that just isnt true.

At USA Fibroid Centers, we offer an outpatient, non-surgical fibroid treatment called Uterine Fibroid Embolization . UFE can eliminate your symptoms, preserve your uterus, and quickly get you back to normal activities. The procedure takes only 30 to 45 minutes and does not involve a hospital stay or lengthy recovery in fact, you can go home the very same day. Most women are back to their full daily schedules within one to two weeks.

Also Check: How To Slow Down Period Bleeding

Now That Weve Covered The Times When Brown Period Blood Is Normal Lets Talk About When Its Not Normal

Weve already talked about the causes of brown period blood on the first day of your period and near the end. While this is normal, it is NOT normal for your blood to be brown throughout your whole period, consistently. This could be a sign of a greater issue such as low progesterone levels. Progesterone is released by the ovaries during ovulation, and its function is to thicken the uterine lining and prepare it for a potential pregnancy. Low progesterone levels may result in your uterine lining being not as thick leading to less blood flow. If you suspect that this could be the case, definitely speak to your doctor! In the meantime, check out our en-cycle-pedia that shows you how estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate through the cycle.

Not only can low progesterone cause brown period blood, it can also cause premature shedding of the uterine lining leading to spotting between periods. Why does this happen? Progesterone not only thickens the uterine lining but it also holds it altogether until your period begins. Therefore, low progesterone can cause instability in the lining causing some parts to shed before your period is due.