Women’s menstruation is a monthly phenomenon that occurs due to the detachment of an ovum that has not been fertilized, that is, it occurs when there has not been a pregnancy. The rule depends on many factors such as good emotional and physical health and also hormones. All of these factors work together to ensure that the woman has a good supply of mature eggs ready to be fertilized at the time of ovulation. Being alert about the changes taking place in your body is important, so you may have been worried if you have seen some brown discharge. Here we tell you why you have this type of rule.
Vaginal discharge: what is it
- Vaginal discharge is a viscous fluid secreted by the cervix and the walls of the vagina. This discharge is different in each woman and each one of us should know what her normal discharge looks like in order to easily detect when it presents some type of change. In general, it is usually transparent or whitish and its consistency can range from very liquid to very pasty and it usually does not have a bad odor. All these variations not only occur from one woman to another, but during each one’s own menstrual cycle, vaginal discharge tends to change. In this way, during the days of ovulation (approximately in the middle of the cycle) the flow is much more abundant and transparent., while in the days before and after the period comes down it becomes something thicker and scarcer.
- What is vaginal discharge used for? Its functions are various. In addition to being a mechanism to moisten and lubricate the area, it also helps keep it clean. Another of its fundamental tasks is to keep the bacterial flora of the vagina in balance, thus avoiding the presence of infections.
Brown vaginal discharge
- Despite the slight variations that vaginal discharge can present throughout our menstrual cycle and even throughout our lives, there are certain occasions in which we can come to notice that its smell, color or texture is not normal. One of them is when we suddenly see brown or brown spots.
- On certain occasions, there is a small amount of menstrual blood that remains in the uterus for a day or two before being expelled from the woman’s body. This blood, which becomes “old” blood since it has not been eliminated during the last period, takes on a darker brown tone than usual when it is expelled.
The reasons for brown vaginal discharge
In a normal situation, this phenomenon does not have more importance since it is something totally natural. If there are no other associated symptoms or other complications, there should be no cause for concern. The causes for which this type of dark-colored rule occurs can be various and if you notice that it is a recurring problem, do not hesitate to go to a health professional for advice.
- Brown discharge due to the remains of menstruation
As we have already mentioned, on many occasions, when a woman has her period, she does not completely expel all the cell remains generated in that period. This causes a subsequent expulsion that can cause the vaginal discharge to turn brown as it has been retained for a while in the uterus.
- Brown discharge from implantation bleeding
This brown spotting is quite common in pregnancy and is often indicative of conception. It usually occurs a few days after a new life has been conceived and lasts between 1 and 4 days, although it is very little spotting known as “implantation bleeding” when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus.
- Brown discharge from ovulation
Sometimes brown blood can be passed in the vaginal discharge between periods, usually around day 14 and 16 of the last period (before reaching 28 days of the cycle). This can be caused by ovulation and is called spotting, which is when the mature egg is released from the ovary.
- Brown discharge for emotional disorders
Emotional disorders such as stress or depression can cause brown discharge. In this case, there are hormonal changes that can cause non-ovulation, and these changes are what prevent normal menstrual bleeding.
- Brown discharge due to an obstruction of the menstrual cycle
Anything that can make it difficult for the normal flow of menstrual blood from the uterus through the cervix and vagina can cause problems, so the color and thickness of your period blood can be affected.
In addition, an object such as a forgotten tampon can cause abnormal bleeding due to retention in the vagina.
- Brown discharge due to contraceptive methods
If you’re taking oral contraceptives like the pill, brown discharge may be due to hormone disruption. In the case of contraceptive methods that require implantation inside the woman’s body, they can cause this type of brown menstruation when placed.
- Brown discharge due to eating disorders
Our body needs nutrients that help it have good defenses, so not eating an adequate diet can cause very harmful effects on the body. Among them, it can affect menstruation, causing brown vaginal discharge, making it uncontrollable and even making it disappear.
- Brown discharge from polyps
The presence of benign polyps in the uterus can also cause menstrual blood disturbance between periods.
- Brown discharge from polycystic ovaries
In Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) it is very common for a dark discharge to occur as a result of the presence of uterine blood. This pathology also produces other symptoms such as irregular menstruation, excess hair and acne.
- Brown discharge from a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
On many occasions, STDs manifest in the woman’s body by altering her vaginal flora. That is, the set of bacteria that protect the female genitalia from possible infections are completely nullified. This causes the production of vaginal discharge to also suffer an alteration, being able to transform into a brown color.
- Brown discharge from menopause
Another reason why you may have brown periods is as you approach menopause, as the cervical canal narrows due to reduced estrogen levels in a woman’s body.
When is brown vaginal discharge normal?
We can consider that the brown discharge is normal in the following situations:
- In adolescence.
- After having maintained intimate contact during pregnancy.
- When the woman experiences hormonal changes.
- Change of contraceptive or intake of hormonal medications, such as for the thyroid.
When should I worry and go to the gynecologist?
- It is recommended that you see a gynecologist if your brown discharge:
- If it appears after menopause.
- It lasts more than four days.
- It occurs accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, weakness, fever, menstrual disturbances, foul odor or itching.
- It is interspersed with deep red bleeding.
Brown vaginal discharge is usually due to benign and temporary causes, however you will need to take into account the exact time in your menstrual cycle when it occurs to help your doctor find and diagnose the exact cause.
These are some causes of why you can have a brown menstruation, do you know more causes that cause it? Have you ever had brown periods, why did it happen to you?
