Why do I have brown blood on my period?

Everything you need to know about brown blood during your period.

Brown bleeding is a normal part of a menstrual period. It is a mixture of blood and vaginal secretions. It appears during ovulation (release of an egg) or towards the start or end of the menstrual cycle. However, brown blood at any other time should be viewed with suspicion and reported to the gynaecologist.

The nature of bleeding during the period, however, varies from woman to woman, with some women experiencing heavy bleeding and severe symptoms while others may experience lighter symptoms and mild discharge. Moreover, the menstrual cycle is far from clockwork, and there may be variations even in the women experiencing regular cycles.

This article will explain the causes of brown blood and discuss when you should be worried and need to consult a doctor. 

Why does the blood turn brown?

Blood is the medium of life that has a role in almost all essential life activities. An adult body can have 1.2-1.5 gallons (4.54-5.67 litres) of blood which is around 10% of the adult body weight. Its most important role is the transportation of nutrients and oxygen to the body and removing metabolic wastes. Its red colour is due to the haemoglobin in the red blood cells, which is the pigment that carries oxygen.

What causes the otherwise bright red blood to turn brown? Let me explain. The blood in the vessels remains in a stable state of homeostasis. However, as it leaves the blood vessels, it gets exposed to the oxygen in the air. The iron in the haemoglobin is oxidized to produce iron oxide, which has a darker brown colour (the same compound is also responsible for rust's brown colour).

So, the older blood will look brown, while the fresh blood from a wound or freshly ruptured blood vessel will be lighter in colour. Brown bleeding is expected at the start and end of the period when the bleeding is not so heavy and blood spends some time in the body. The bleeding is heavy and will be bright red during the middle of the period. However, there could be brownish discharge sometimes, even in the middle.

Why is there a brown discharge?

The brownish colour indicates the presence of old blood in the discharge. A healthy vagina continues to produce discharge daily for a lifetime. This discharge cleanses the vagina and also provides lubrication during sexual intercourse. The colour of discharge varies throughout the menstrual cycle, including the period, and these changes are expected.

The regular discharge is however clear to white and thin in consistency. In some situations, it changes colour, and brown discharge means old blood is present. 

Less severe causes of brown period blood

Some causes of brown blood during the period are typical and are seldom a cause of concern. These include;

You are pregnant (implantation bleeding)

The pinkish or brownish discharge (also known as spotting) before an expected period, could also be an early sign of pregnancy. However, this so-called 'Implantation bleeding' will not be experienced by all women. It occurs during the implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus.

Why it occurs? When this embryo burrows deep into the uterine tissues (implantation), the local blood vessels may rupture, causing bleeding. Typically it is experienced 1-2 weeks after fertilization. So, if you have unprotected sex and experience a brown discharge after some time, you must take a home pregnancy test.

However, it shouldn't be there for long. You need to consult the gynaecologist if the brown discharge persists in the pregnancy as it could be due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or any other conditions that may need immediate attention.

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Menopause is approaching

Menopause is when the menstrual cycle stops, and the woman is no longer functional. However, it is not an abrupt process, and there is a perimenopausal phase of variable length (around four years). Brown discharge is one of the signs of this perimenopausal phase.

Therefore, for women in their late 40s or early 50s, a brown discharge before the expected period could also mean approaching menopause. Besides a brown tinge, its consistency can range from clumpy thick to thin and watery.

However, look for other signs of the premenopausal phase, including vaginal dryness, disturbed sleeping patterns, decreased fertility, loss of bone strength, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings etc.

Other non-serious causes:

Sometimes, a brown discharge can also occur without pregnancy. It mostly happens due to physical injury to the reproductive organs. The following conditions can cause a brown discharge without pregnancy;

• Vigorous sex, particularly if you have vaginal dryness and no lubricants were used

• Injury due to the instruments used during vaginal examination

• Mild spotting during ovulation usually is light pink or bright red. However, sometimes, it can also become dark brown.

• During the initial phase of the period when there is less bleeding, and blood doesn't ooze out too rapidly

• Towards the end of the period, when the old blood is leaving the uterus

However, you should consult the gynaecologist for any unexpected bleeding or discharge, as abnormal bleeding could signify serious issues.

Reproductive diseases and other serious causes of brown discharge

More serious causes of brown discharge can occur at any age, regardless of the pregnancy status. They will, however, also accompany other symptoms which can help in diagnosis and include;

Cervical cancer

In some rare situations, the brown discharge can also indicate cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a significant cause of concern, and according to Cancer Research UK, there were 850 deaths due to cervical cancer per year (2017-19), and it is the 19th most common cause of cancer-related deaths.

The brown discharge is a rare sign, and you need to identify other signs, e.g.,

• Excessive bleeding and pain during and after sex

• Longer and heavier periods

• Bleeding without a period (inter-menstrual bleeding)

• Postmenopausal bleeding

• Variety of any other type of severe vaginal discharge

These signs mean you should visit a reproductive health clinic. The doctor will take samples from the vagina to detect the presence of cancerous cells. Sometimes, a tissue sample through biopsy may also be required for detailed analysis through histopathology.

The grade and stage of the tumour will also be determined using radiography. After the diagnosis, the doctor will go for the treatment options, which may be chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical tumour removal.

Retention of foreign bodies inside the reproductive system

The retention of foreign bodies, accidental or during medical procedures, can result in a brownish discharge with a foul smell. The common objects lost include contraceptive sponges, rings, cervical caps, diaphragms, condoms, tampons etc. A uterine examination will reveal the presence of foreign bodies, which can then be removed.

However, you need to be careful during these devices' implantation and removal and continue tracking their presence.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

This condition develops due to hormonal imbalances and results in light, irregular bleeding with or without a brownish discharge. The situation is common as, according to NHS, it affects around 10% of women in the UK. However, exact estimation is problematic as not all these women develop noticeable signs.

The other symptoms are patches of discoloured and dark skin, difficulty in achieving pregnancy, oily skin, acne, pelvic pain, excessive hairs on the body or face, heavy period, irregular period or complete cessation of the period.

If you suspect polycystic ovary syndrome or another related condition, polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), you should speak to your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. After thoroughly reviewing symptoms and other health issues, the doctor will decide on the best medicine. PCOS can be a problem if you are planning a pregnancy.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

It is an infection of the uterus and cervix. It can also cause a brownish discharge along with other symptoms, e.g., burning sensation during urination, foul-smelling discharge from the vagina, painful sex, fever, and pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis.

It is due to the development of an infection in the female reproductive system. If you suspect this condition, you should consult the doctor, who will prescribe the treatment, including antibiotics.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

These diseases pass from one person to the other during sexual intercourse and include HIV, hepatitis B, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea, syphilis etc. Some of them, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can cause a brownish discharge from the vagina before the onset of a menstrual period.

However, also look for other symptoms, e.g., painful sex and urination, bad smell from vagina and vaginal discharges, and sensation of burning during urination. However, all people will not experience all symptoms of an STI. So, it would help if you undergo routine testing for STIs in your reproductive years. The treatment of most STIs is easy, and some may require both partners to receive treatment.

Our All-in-One STI Test is an excellent option for the routine monitoring of STIs. It detects the presence of the six common STIs (trichomoniasis. HIV, hepatitis B, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and chlamydia) through a single blood test. Click here for more details and order your kit.

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When should you consult the doctor?

Brownish discharge is not unexpected. However, the following situations require you to consult a doctor.

• Very unpredictable and irregular cycle

• Severe symptoms of postmenopausal syndrome, e.g., mood swings, bloating, headaches, vomiting, nausea etc.

• Too earlier or too late period

• A too-short or too-long period

• Yellowish or orange period blood (a sign of infection)

• Any abnormal discharge, e.g., frothy, thick, foul smelling, green, grey, white, yellow etc.

Bottom-line

The presence of brown vaginal discharge reflects the presence of older blood. It is expected during early pregnancy, early or late periods. Some reproductive disorders can also result in brown discharge. A doctor will identify the cause of any unnatural and unexpected discharge and provide the necessary treatment. 

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Reproductive health is too important to be ignored, and you need professional advice and help with any issue. At Welzo.com, our healthcare professionals are always available for this job. Click here for online consultation.