Every girl (woman) knows that starting from a certain age girls start menstruating. Alas, often many mothers, at best, would tell their daughters something like “You will have bleeding. This is how it happens for everyone, it's normal, ”at the very moment when puberty began.

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Unfortunately, due to lack of special literacy regarding this issue, few of them generally understand what it is, why is this happening and how should all this look in the body of a healthy woman? When menstruation of brown color suddenly appears, it is completely incomprehensible why this is happening, can there be menstruation of this color and is it necessary to urgently consult a doctor?

Menstruation is part of the menstrual process, accompanied by bleeding. By nature, a woman is destined to produce offspring. In this regard, monthly (every 21-35 days) the body prepares for the conception of the fetus. Against this background, strong hormonal changes occur, and by the last stage of the menstrual cycle, the uterine cavity is lined with hormone-sensitive tissue - the endometrium. This is how the preparation for the implantation of the embryo inside the uterine cavity takes place, but if this does not happen, then the tissue is destroyed and then removed from the uterus in the form of menstrual bleeding.

And again these days

Normally, profuse (about 150 ml in 3-4 days) bleeding of a saturated red color. However, due to various reasons, there may be deviations from this color (including odor). So, often women are worried about periods of a dark brown color. Why is this happening and should you worry if your period is dark brown?

Reasons for deviation from the norm

Brown discharge before menstruation is too general a concept. In order to understand the reason that caused them, it is necessary to consider this issue in more detail. The nature, color, amount of discharge can be associated with completely different reasons. So, what are the possible selection options:

  • scanty brown color at the beginning of menstruation (on the first day);
  • smearing dirty in the middle of the cycle (the second time in a month, or in a week);
  • brown at the end of menstruation;
  • dark brown and go instead of menstruation;
  • with clots;
  • light brown.

Two points out of five are a variant of the norm. We are talking about smearing brown discharge before menstruation and at the end. Sometimes this happens simply at the beginning of a cycle or due to hormonal changes. There is no doubt that a woman is an overly emotional being. Due to various kinds of stress, depression and other unpleasant emotional states, the body can undergo various changes. Initially, all this affects the hormonal background, and therefore the menstrual cycle (then the reasons for the monthly dark brown color are quite understandable). In this case, enough psychological therapy, or just "wait out", no special treatment is needed here.

It should be noted here that hormonal changes are not always a malfunction within the body, sometimes this is more than a normal natural phenomenon. During puberty, key changes in the hormonal system occur, which can cause the first periods to be brown. A similar situation can be observed in women with the onset of menopause.

On the red day of the calendar

The reason for the brown stain after your period is almost always simply the end of your period.

Important! Many people wonder why the blood is brown during menstruation? It is known that due to its iron content, blood oxidizes in air and turns brown. It is important here not to confuse the pathological process with a common occurrence.

When discharge appears in the middle of the cycle against the background of normal menstruation, as a rule, we are talking about some kind of pathological process. The main reasons may be:

  • pregnancy (normal or ectopic);
  • severe psychological condition, stress, depression;
  • inflammatory processes of the reproductive system;
  • injuries of the reproductive system;
  • the consequence of any medical procedures (for example, abortion);
  • malfunctions of the pituitary gland, ovaries.

If you have severe pain in the lower abdomen, you should take pain relievers

To understand why menstruation may go brown, it is important to understand if there are additional symptoms such as:

  • severe pain in the lower abdomen;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • dizziness;
  • temperature;
  • chills, etc.

In such cases, you should immediately see a doctor to identify the cause.

The endometrium is a mucous tissue, so it can contain small clots if it is rejected. Menses can come with brown clots. Moreover, a large number of clots may indicate the presence of diseases such as:

  • high body temperature;
  • endometriosis (a disease in which blood clots pass through the fallopian tubes into the abdominal cavity);
  • endometritis (inflammation due to infection of the uterus);
  • pathological proliferation of the endometrium;
  • anemia (lack of hemoglobin);
  • ectopic pregnancy.

In all of the above situations, the causes of menstruation of a dark brown color were considered. And what if the period is brown (light), what does it mean? As a rule, this indicates:

  • violation of the rules of personal hygiene;
  • the middle of the menstrual cycle;
  • taking oral contraceptives;
  • about taking abortive drugs;
  • postpartum period.

Days of menstruation

Changes after taking hormonal drugs

As already noted, the presence of strange "menstruation" can be associated with the intake of hormonal drugs. Some reviews indicate the appearance of side effects in the form of very scanty brown menstruation. Duphaston is a chemically synthesized progesterone, a real panacea for many diseases, such as:

  • endometriosis;
  • irregular menstruation;
  • infertility;
  • the possibility of miscarriage due to progesterone deficiency, etc.

When such a side effect appears, as a rule, the dose of progesterone is simply increased, and the spotting bleeding stops. Of course, this must be agreed with the attending physician.

Diagnostic measures and treatment

  • examination by a gynecologist on a chair (including a smear);
  • hCG blood test;
  • ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity;
  • MRI and CT (to exclude cancerous tumors);
  • examination of the thyroid gland.

To eliminate discharge

Of course, the need for certain tests and the above list is determined by the attending physician, based on the examination and the collected anamnesis. After that, the reason is found out. Well, the treatment will already be aimed at eliminating it, since discharge is not a disease, but a symptom.

The gynecologist will inform you about the need for additional tests or examinations if this symptom is not associated with the reproductive system. Most likely, it will be necessary to write out referrals to an immunologist, gastroenterologist or other narrow specialists, or to undergo additional examinations (to pass tests).

It is important to monitor your body and listen to different sensations in time. As preventive measures, it should be noted that women lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes not only the absence of bad habits and healthy eating, but also a healthy emotional state. You should eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and be outdoors as often as possible while walking. It should not be forgotten that the vast majority of health problems are the result of psychological disorders. For women, this is even more serious and significant than for men. Therefore, it is so important to be in a good mood and not get upset over trifles. Then such unpleasant phenomena as unhealthy periods will either not bother you at all, or as rarely as possible.

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A new stage of life for girls begins with the onset of menstruation, which subsequently regularly accompanies all women every month, hence the name - menstruation. What vaginal discharge is normal? They are bloody in color, they contain vaginal secretions, cervical mucus and rejected mucous membrane.


The average period of this physiological process takes from 3 to 5 days. But sometimes girls have brown discharge during menstruation and this makes them alert: "Is there something wrong with me?" Let's not panic, but calmly deal with an unexpected problem.

Why is blood brownish during menstruation?

There may be several reasons for such a problem and everyone needs an individual approach, so we will consider them depending on the age of the girl or woman, the activity of her sexual life, the presence of surgical interventions and diseases, pregnancy, childbirth and the period of breastfeeding.

Even external factors can affect the nature and color of the discharge during menstruation:

  • climate and lifestyle change our body from the inside;
  • physical exercise;
  • taking medications;
  • trauma and stress;
  • food and poisoning.

Infections also do not pass without leaving a trace for the female body, especially those that affect the female genital organs.

Discharge during normal sex life

In the presence of regular intercourse, dark discharge can be observed during pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy and the threat of miscarriage.

If a girl plans to become pregnant and she has a delay in her period, after which brown blood appears, and then normal discharge occurs, this indicates hormonal disorders.

When menstruation does not occur after brown discharge, it is necessary to conduct a pregnancy test and pass an analysis to determine the level of hCG in order to exclude pregnancy.

The onset of pregnancy and weak periods indicate an insufficient amount of the hormone necessary for normal bearing of the fetus. On the days of the usual menstrual cycle, pregnant women with brown discharge are at risk of endometrial detachment and abortion due to low progesterone levels.

Why does age affect the color of the discharge?

Brown discharge during menstruation can appear in girls during puberty, at this time in adolescents the formation of the menstrual cycle occurs and ovulation may not be.

If the blood turns brown during menstruation in the first year of this physiological process, then there is no particular reason to worry. The excitement should be caused by the constant and long-term nature of such discharge, here you cannot do without consulting a gynecologist.

In adulthood, in women who have crossed the forty-year mark, a period of natural extinction of ovarian function begins, this is a preparatory stage before menopause, when the hormonal background decreases. But you should not make a reference to age, because every woman's menopause comes in different ways.

The effect of diseases on the color of menstruation

Why, after severe hypothermia, black discharge appears instead of the usual menstruation? This may indicate a violation of the menstrual cycle, resulting from inflammation of the uterus, its neck or appendages.

If itching and burning sensation in the vagina, discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen, as well as during urination, join the dark discharge, it is worth looking for the cause in unprotected intercourse or with a dubious partner. Such symptoms indicate the presence of a latent sexually transmitted infection. It can be chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis and gonorrhea.


While taking birth control pills, hormonal disruptions can occur, which negatively affects the function of the ovaries, and endometrial atrophy can occur.

Any contraceptives should be prescribed by a doctor after consulting the patient, since the main problems are associated with improperly selected medications or contraindications to their intake. Repeated brown discharge over several cycles of taking the pills makes you think about changing this drug to another.

Vaginal discharge in the absence of regular intercourse

In this situation, pregnancy and genital infections can be excluded, but the hormonal imbalance does not disappear anywhere. Diseases of internal organs are also possible: endometritis, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, polyps. Dramatic weight loss or, on the contrary, unreasonable weight gain can cause the appearance of periods of a dark color.

Operations and brown blood

With surgical interventions, such as: removal of a part of the uterus, abortion, cesarean section, removal of polyps and cysts, diagnostic curettage, brown discharge may appear. But pay attention to their smell, note the pain and temperature, if you have such symptoms, immediately go to the doctor.

Childbirth and breastfeeding

The restoration of the menstrual cycle in women after childbirth and during lactation occurs gradually, so if several cycles proceed with brown discharge, but without pain, this is normal. Just note how long you have been observing this process in yourself, and if the usual menstruation does not come, be sure to visit a gynecologist.

Let's summarize and highlight those situations when brown discharge during menstruation does not cause concern:

  • before the onset of menstruation, this is a sign of the onset of menstruation
  • at the end of the menstrual cycle, this is getting rid of the last drops of blood
  • in the middle of menstruation, scanty discharge in some women is a symptom of ovulation
  • at the beginning of sexual activity, after losing virginity and some time later

In any other situation, especially if dark discharge lasts a long time or with the presence of pain, do not postpone the visit to the doctor and do not make independent decisions in terms of treatment, so as not to trigger a possible disease.

04.12.2017 Smirnova Olga (gynecologist, State Medical University, 2010)

Not every woman can boast of a stable menstrual cycle, but a slight delay of several days does not always imply pregnancy or a strong hormonal imbalance. When brown discharge is noted instead of menstruation, it is important to pay attention to its characteristics and accompanying symptoms, which we will talk about in this article.

Characteristics of the norm

When the discharge is exactly brown for up to three days, there is no cause for concern. For many women, the daub begins shortly before menstruation, gradually acquiring the features of natural bleeding characteristic of the regulations.

It is not worth suspecting pathology with the following secretion characteristics:

  • homogeneous consistency (small clots);
  • reddish or brown tint;
  • insignificant volume (enough daily);
  • lack of itching and burning;
  • there is no unpleasant smell;
  • occurs a few days before menstruation;
  • not every cycle is celebrated.

The main factor in the appearance of brown discharge with blood instead of menstruation is hormonal imbalance. The woman herself can provoke it. Certain conditions can affect the functioning of the reproductive system.

The effect of drugs

It is not only hormone therapy or birth control pills that provoke abnormal secretion at the very beginning of the cycle. Spotting instead of menstruation may result from taking the following medications:

  1. Antibiotics The drugs themselves do not directly affect the female hormonal background. But failure occurs due to exposure to the vagina. After prolonged use of antibiotics, beneficial microflora suffers, which can affect the functioning of the uterus, as well as the ovaries. Hence the insignificant one. The main reason is the delayed maturation of the egg.
  2. Antiulcer drugs. In most situations, they affect the stability of monthly bleeding. Often they provoke a change in the duration of the cycle, as well as a delay against the background of brownish traces on the daily.
  3. Hemostatic agents. Doctors prescribe similar drugs for heavy monthly bleeding. But a violation of the dose or non-observance of the instructions often causes pseudo-monthly, and sometimes a complete absence of menstruation.
  4. Antidepressants. The drugs reduce the intensity of menstruation. With a significant duration of the course of treatment, a situation arises when there is brown discharge for three days, and there is no menstruation. Against the background of antidepressants, a delay of up to three to four days is allowed.

Women who take diuretics, psychotropic, anabolic (steroid) drugs are also at risk.

Wrong way of life

Loss of monthly menstruation can be due to:

  • smoking;
  • drinking alcohol;
  • drug addiction;
  • prolonged intoxication;
  • work in hazardous production;
  • great physical exertion.

At first, a slight delay may appear, but with a breakdown in strength and immunity, bloody discharge during the period of the alleged menstruation is not excluded. It is possible to solve the problem only with a complete rejection of bad habits, a change of job and the beginning of a correct lifestyle.

Abrupt climate change

A banal move can provoke an abnormal bloody secretion. Most often, women suffer from this after a long flight to another climatic zone. It is necessary to go to the hospital if pseudo-menstruation lasts more than a week, and against their background, the general state of health worsens.

Poor food

Such a load on the body in the form of a lack of essential trace elements in most cases provokes a delay of several days. With a sharp decrease or increase in weight, menstruation sometimes disappears completely. A failure of 2-3 days with a brownish meager secretion indicates that the body lacks iron. Its deficiency causes the blood to darken.

Stress and overexertion

Large physical exertion, nervous shocks provoke problems in the work of the central nervous system, which is responsible for the course of the entire monthly cycle. The problem manifests itself individually. Some women suffer from profuse brown discharge instead of the planned period, while others generally have no menstrual bleeding.

Against the background of physiological factors, the appearance of brown discharge instead of menstruation per week is allowed only if there is no pain and discomfort. It is extremely important to see a doctor in the absence of menstruation and in the second month.

Age changes

The appearance of scanty brown discharge instead of monthly is often associated with puberty or the extinction of the reproductive system (menopause):

Teenage feature

With puberty, the monthly cycle is just beginning to stabilize, so ovulation is not constant. Because of this, there are no menstruation, and instead of them the girl notices insignificant ones. Can be observed for the same. This situation is the norm only in the first 12 months after menarche.

Climax

At about 40 years of age, women gradually lose the ability to bear children. The functions of the ovaries fade away, provoking a smearing secretion, which has nothing to do with menstruation. Premenopause does not have a rigid time frame, so its appearance is possible even earlier - at 35 years old.

Diagnostics is necessary for girls and women who, in addition to the unusual secretion, suffer from painful sensations in the lower abdomen, genital discomfort and other unpleasant symptoms.

Probability of pregnancy

It is also necessary to consider the appearance of a brown discharge instead of menstruation as a sign of pregnancy. Therefore, if, first you need to do a test or check the blood for hCG. And then look for other possible reasons.

With the onset of fertilization, a smearing character may appear, a brown, dark shade with a delay. Conception can only occur during ovulation, but it must be borne in mind that sperm remain active in the vagina for up to 7 days.

It is possible to assume an early pregnancy if, instead of menstruation, there are brown discharge and the lower abdomen slightly aches or the mammary glands hurt.

With two strips on the test, it is necessary to estimate the duration and volume of secretion. Normally, the brown spot should disappear by the third or fourth day if the woman is pregnant. Duration more than a week indicates an acute shortage of progesterone, and a scanty bloody secret for 10-14 days indicates a real threat of miscarriage.

In the presence of such a sign, it is very important to pass an analysis for hCG and exclude an ectopic pregnancy.

Some patients may experience not only aching pains in the lower abdomen. Sometimes the chest hurts, and there is brown discharge, which indicates negative processes in the womb.

After childbirth

Postpartum recovery occurs in different ways for patients, but this cannot happen too quickly. If there is no breastfeeding, then menstruation may appear after several cycles. And before this period, the appearance of brown-red discharge instead of menstruation is quite allowed.

After giving birth, during lactation, there may not be monthly bleeding even for a year. This is how the body protects the woman from pregnancy so that she can fully feed the baby. The reproductive system sometimes secretes not abundant, when the baby gradually switches to complementary foods and lactation decreases.

Hormonal drugs and contraceptives

Modern contraceptives contain hormones. Therefore, the female body needs a certain time to get used to new conditions. Dark browncan be characterized by an adaptation period, which lasts several months.
If blood continues to flow for more than three months, you should visit your gynecologist.

A secretion with blood clots, strange in duration, and delay can be caused by:

  • lack of a dose of the hormone;
  • violation of instructions;
  • skipping a pill;
  • excess dose;
  • drug intolerance;
  • the presence of bad habits or diseases.

Most often, hormonal, Postinor or Agesta are noted in women. These are popular emergency contraceptive drugs. The girl begins to suspect pregnancy, but conception did not occur. The cycle should be restored, but for this it is necessary to exclude repeated intake of such pills for several months.

The intrauterine device also requires habituation of the body. But sometimes it causes abnormal secretion due to:

  • incorrect installation;
  • exfoliation of the product;
  • introduction of infection.

Therefore, preventing this type of pregnancy requires medical supervision. It is highly undesirable to buy drugs on your own.

After operations

In most cases, an incomprehensible blood secret and delayed menstrual bleeding are characteristic of patients who have undergone surgery on the following organs:

  • uterus;
  • ovary;
  • cervix;
  • fallopian tubes.

And also accompanied by the release of a small amount of blood can:

  • having an abortion or incomplete miscarriage;
  • laparoscopy for ectopic pregnancy.
  • the amount of surgery;
  • duration of the procedure;
  • the proximity of the intervention zone to the reproductive organs;
  • the age of the patient;
  • the presence of complications;
  • general health;
  • recovery speed.

Operations that do not affect the main female genital organs (abdominal cavity) can affect the reproductive system. It is worth expecting menstruation after surgery with full recovery and healing.

Signs of pathology

Sometimes the delay occurs due to serious hormonal disruptions and the development of gynecological diseases. It is worth highlighting the following reasons for spotting brown discharge instead of the usual menstruation:

  • inflammation of the pelvic organs;
  • getting an infection;
  • neoplasms (benign and not);
  • ectopic pregnancy;
  • spontaneous abortion;
  • other negative processes.

Symptoms that indicate pathology:

  • soreness in the lower abdomen;
  • increased body temperature;
  • redness of the external genital organs;
  • discomfort during intercourse;
  • long delay (from 10 days);
  • absence of menstruation for two months or more.

Many women who are serious about their health are concerned about the phenomenon of dark brown discharge. Sometimes they appear suddenly, between periods, and sometimes during or immediately after them. What does this discharge mean? Could they be a sign of a pathological process in the female body? Let's take a closer look at this.

Is dark discharge always a sign of illness?

It is probably understandable that the brown color of the vaginal discharge is given by the blood. Sometimes this is found in perfectly healthy women. For example:

  • natural dark brown discharge before menstruation, a few hours or days before the start (this is the first sign of their approach);
  • normal discharge even after menstruation for several days;
  • when taking hormonal-based contraceptives, they can "decorate" the middle of the menstrual cycle;
  • after violent sex, dark discharge is usually caused by trauma to the vaginal mucosa;
  • the same can occur with insufficient release of lubricant during sexual intercourse;
  • at the very beginning of sexual activity, spotting appears not only at the moment of deprivation of virginity, but also during several subsequent acts;
  • in adolescent girls, before the start of their first menstruation, dark discharge may also be observed for some time, which signals the girl's transition to a new rank - "girl".

When should a disease be suspected?

But dark brown discharge can also be a sign of a disease. If they are not associated with the intake of hormonal drugs and appear in the middle of the cycle or occur every time after sexual intercourse, this is a reason to be wary. If the discharge is accompanied by an increase in temperature, aching pain in the abdomen (its lower part), itching in the vagina, dryness and painful sensations during emptying of the bladder or sexual intercourse, and also if a lady over 45 years old has not had periods for a year before, a woman should suspect something was wrong and consult a gynecologist. Next, we will consider the pathological processes, the signs of which may be the indicated discharge.

Cervical erosion

The named disease is one of the most common diagnoses in gynecology. It is a defect in the mucous membrane of the cervix, which is caused by various reasons: frequent and rough sexual intercourse, sexual infections, trauma during childbirth or abortion, etc. In most cases, this pathology is asymptomatic, it is detected only during examination by a gynecologist. But sometimes the disease is accompanied by dark brown discharge after sexual intercourse, and sometimes for no apparent reason. Often such discharge has an unpleasant odor, which, by the way, indicates the presence of inflammation. Distinguish between congenital, true erosion and ectopia (pseudo-erosion). Depending on the size of the pathology and concomitant infections, the therapeutic tactics will be different, but in any case, this disease requires regular monitoring by a specialist.

Ectopic pregnancy

When dark brown discharge instead of menstruation is accompanied by strong pain and a repulsive odor, such a phenomenon can signal an ectopic pregnancy. By the way, if pain of any strength appears and it is localized in the genitals, accompanied by atypical discharge, then you should immediately consult a gynecologist! The diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy can be made only after examination by a specialist and an ultrasound scan, and in order to ensure its timely interruption, you need to seek medical help as early as possible.

Vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina) and cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix)

Regardless of whether a woman is sexually active or not, her genital tract can be affected by inflammation. For example, candidiasis (thrush) causes an inflammatory process in women of any age, while women in menopause also have dark brown discharge. In women, in this case, they are associated with thinning (atrophy) of the vaginal mucosa, due to which even small damage can provoke discharge of varying intensity. An active sex life with unprotected sex can lead to sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis). They are accompanied by itching, burning and dryness in the perineum, as well as brown, yellow or green discharge. These diseases can cause inflammation not only of the vagina, but also of the cervix. They must be treated!

Polyps

Pathological proliferation of the mucous layer lining the uterus or its cervix, which has the form of a protrusion, is defined in medicine as a polyp. The exact reasons for the appearance of such a pathology are still unknown. These include infectious diseases, and inflammatory processes, and hormonal disorders. As a rule, polyps are benign growths, but in some of them precancerous changes are found. If the appearance of the polyp is accompanied by dark brown discharge, it is large, and the biopsy and tests for cytology indicate the risk of developing cancer cells, then the polyp is removed.

Endometritis

The endometrium is the lining of the inside of the uterus. Violation of its integrity, coupled with a decrease in local immunity, leads to an inflammatory process. It is often accompanied by an increase in temperature and the appearance of pulling pains in the lower abdomen, to this are added purulent or brown discharge instead of menstruation, and all this is already a serious sign of pathology that requires immediate referral to a specialist. Acute endometritis not diagnosed in time becomes chronic, which can affect a woman's fertility.

What is endometrial hyperplasia?

Hyperplasia in medicine is called tissue overgrowth. That is, endometrial hyperplasia is an increase in the volume of the inner layer of the uterus, which has a benign character. This state is caused by the increased reproduction of the stromal and glandular elements of this layer. Most often, such changes occur during hormonal changes in the body (in the premenstrual period in girls and premenopausal in women). One of the main signs of hyperplasia is bloody dark brown discharge, which can appear during the intermenstrual period, and after a short delay in menstruation. As a rule, these allocations are moderate and smearing. True, with hyperplasia occurring in adolescence, breakthrough profuse bleeding with blood clots is also possible. If they become lingering, they can lead to anemia.

Cervical cancer

The named diagnosis is in third place in the world among oncological diseases in women. What causes this pathology is unknown. Although it has recently been discovered that almost 100% of patients with this diagnosis have human papillomavirus (HPV) in their bodies, not all those infected with this virus develop cancer. It occurs at any age, but the group at greatest risk is women over forty. One of the main symptoms of this pathology is spotting. By the way, why brown discharge from such cancer patients appears after sex or in the middle of the cycle is also not clear. If pain in the lower abdomen also joins them, then this symptom is attributed to the symptoms of cancer, which has managed to spread to neighboring organs.

Why does brown discharge appear during menstruation?

During menstruation, brown discharge can be both a symptom of one of the gynecological diseases listed above, or a consequence of stress, acclimatization, or the result of taking hormonal contraceptives. But it often happens that such a phenomenon is a sign of a future addition to the family, since for some women, their periods continue to go during pregnancy, especially in its first trimester, however, becoming very scarce and short. Be sure to take a pregnancy test and visit a gynecologist!

Is discharge dangerous during pregnancy?

During the period of the menstrual cycle, each woman's progesterone level drops to almost zero, and the endometrium begins to detach, which leads to the appearance of menstrual flow. In the expectant mother, the body sometimes does not leave old "habits" and, despite the successful fertilization, the level of progesterone that preserves the fetus, in those days when there should be menstruation, decreases. This is how brown discharge appears, which signals that the endometrium is still partially exfoliated. Do not panic, but this symptom may also be a symptom of the existing threat of interrupting the development of the fetus or, as already mentioned above, of its ectopic location. See your doctor!

What to do if brown discharge appears?

As you have probably already seen from the above, the appearance of discharge of an unusual color, especially accompanied by pain, weakness or fever, requires a mandatory visit to a gynecologist. You should not wait for the unpleasant phenomenon to pass by itself - it may periodically disappear, but subsequently develop into a serious pathology! You should not try to diagnose yourself - you are not an expert! Do not take risks, do not be lazy and urgently consult a doctor: it is possible that your worries will be in vain, and the discharge will be only temporary, but if you find the disease in time and start treatment, then the risk of being childless or getting a serious chronic disease will be minimal. Be healthy!

For the female body, discharge is a healthy and normal phenomenon. Thanks to them, the body removes bacteria, dead cells, protects the vagina from infections.

Progesterone and estrogen, hormones responsible for a woman's fertility, affect the female body the most. It is they who change the color and amount of discharge in the menstrual cycle.
When pregnancy occurs, menstruation stops, but the discharge does not always disappear. Having correctly identified the patient's diagnosis, having analyzed the color, consistency and amount of fluid released, one can not only assess the woman's health, but also notice a dangerous disease in time.

Pregnancy always manifests and proceeds in different ways. However, brown discharge is most often a sign of early pregnancy. They are one of the earliest responses to changes in a woman's hormonal background. However, you should look closely at the discharge in any situation.

If your period is delayed and you have brown discharge instead, you are pregnant. At the beginning of pregnancy, they talk about the attachment of a fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus. Discharge usually begins on the seventh day after fertilization and lasts 3-4 days, and its color varies from pink to dark brown.

Minor bleeding may also appear - this is blood that was in the womb before fertilization. Bleeding can be accompanied by small cramps in the lower abdomen - these are muscle cramps of the uterus. Gynecologists note that too much bleeding and very severe pain can be a signal of a possible miscarriage.

If you had only colored discharge instead of menstruation, and after a few days full menstruation began, this is a sign of hormonal disorders. In this case, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist to normalize hormonal levels.

How to distinguish regular periods from discharge

It is necessary to distinguish between menstrual bleeding with the release of chronic endometrium and discharge. In the first case, old blood or old tissue left in the uterus during the previous menstruation comes out (which is why they turned brown). Allocations can be called "daubs": there are fewer of them, the consistency of the secretions is more viscous.

Everything here is as individual as with pregnancy. In some women, brown discharge may come out as abundantly as blood during menstruation. Moreover, they can coincide with the cycle, thereby completely confusing the woman.

If you are not sure if this is a pregnancy, answer two simple questions:

  • Have you had unprotected sex?
  • Were there any errors in taking oral contraceptives?

If in doubt about any of these points, be sure to take a pregnancy test.

Coitus interruptus (having sex without any contraceptives but with the penis removed from the vagina just before ejaculation) is considered unprotected sex.

There are no periods during pregnancy. The body of a pregnant woman switches to a different mode, in which the egg cell is no longer produced in the ovary, which means that the need to remove an unfertilized egg disappears (this is the main function of menstruation).

If a pregnant woman observes bleeding from the vagina, this is not menstruation, but bloody discharge. In early pregnancy, 25 percent of women experience such discharge.

You can identify false periods by several signs:

  • Menses are not as abundant as usual;
  • Menses appeared earlier than usual;
  • Your periods are over earlier than usual;
  • An unusual color of discharge (pink to black).

If you are sexually active, any change in your cycle could be a sign of early pregnancy. Remember that there are no contraceptives that can protect a woman 100 percent from fertilization.

"Menstruation" during pregnancy does not override the results of a pregnancy test or a positive hCG test. If your blood or urine shows pregnancy, you are bleeding, not full menstruation.

At the very beginning of pregnancy, spotting indicates the attachment of the embryo to the uterine wall. Discharge may appear at a later date: this is due to the greatest sensitivity of the vagina and cervix. The blood flows much more abundantly, and any damage to the mucous membrane responds with discomfort.

The most common mechanical injuries include sex and gynecological examinations.

Sex

During pregnancy, sex is safe, and classic sex is even beneficial to the health of a pregnant woman. However, brown discharge is a common "side effect" of intercourse.

The increased blood flow makes the mucous membrane as sensitive as possible to any irritants, including for the penis. Small injuries appear - they are not dangerous, but it is still necessary to consult a gynecologist.

If the gynecologist does not find complications or deviations from the norm, you can resume sex life. Keep in mind that you cannot have sex from the moment the discharge appears until you go to the gynecologist. If the discharge appeared during intercourse, it must be stopped immediately.

Use pads so you can control the color and amount of discharge. The gynecologist will definitely ask about this at the next examination.

Pregnant women, especially in the early stages, pass all possible tests, including smears. Taking a smear and any other medical penetration into the vagina easily provoke spotting. They are not dangerous.

You will have to give up sex for a while and use personal hygiene products ("dailies" are also suitable if the spotting is not very abundant). Discharge from mechanical damage lasts no longer than two days.

Danger to pregnancy

The discharge itself is safe and even beneficial. Healthy discharge does not have an unpleasant odor, appears with a uniform consistency and is not accompanied by pain.

Bad smell is the first sign of inflammation. Do a mucosal analysis (smear) and consult with a gynecologist. Any inflammation threatens the health and development of the embryo.

Other hazards include lumpy discharge, emerging pieces of tissue, and a bright scarlet color. Dizziness, fainting, severe pain, vomiting. In these cases, urgently call an ambulance.
These symptoms indicate serious complications: ectopic pregnancy (the fertilized egg did not reach the uterus), cystic drift (the embryo does not develop correctly), frozen pregnancy (the embryo has finished developing), miscarriage.

Discharge as a threat of miscarriage

After confirming pregnancy, keep monitoring your menstrual cycle.

With a confirmed pregnancy (positive test and analysis for hCG), the discharge instead of menstruation takes on a tinge of danger. This means that a woman's body cannot cope with the production of enough hormones to carry an embryo.

The period of menstruation is most dangerous for the fetus in the early stages. When the body has not yet had time to switch to the "mode" of pregnancy, the concentration of progesterone is greatly reduced, and the uterus can remove the allegedly unfertilized cell. There is a high risk of miscarriage.

Diseases manifested by brown discharge

Brown discharge is usually harmless, but it can also be a signal of serious illness. Please note if you have satellites such as:

  • Severe itching;
  • Foul odor from discharge;
  • Tingling;
  • Swelling or pain in the vagina;
  • Painful sensations during sex.

You need to immediately contact your gynecologist. These can be sexually transmitted diseases, which are usually treated with antibiotics; polyps of the uterus - they can be stopped with hormonal drugs (or in case of complications - surgery to remove the uterus); cervical cancer.

In addition, brown discharge instead of menstruation can signal menopause or atrophic vaginitis (hormone deficiency that accompanies menopause). Menopause cannot be cured, but the symptoms of age-related changes in the body can be stopped.

When brown discharge appears, instead of menstruation, it is recommended:

  • Change the gaskets regularly throughout the cycle;
  • Do not use tampons during pregnancy;
  • Wear cotton underwear of a suitable size;
  • Do not rinse the vagina! This will disrupt the natural flora and infection.

To correctly determine the cause of the discharge, first of all, it is necessary to find out the fact of the patient's pregnancy - the choice of treatment depends on this.

During pregnancy, any deviation from the norm must be taken seriously. Here, not only the health of the expectant mother, but also her child can suffer.

Although pregnancy and menopause are common causes of brown vaginal discharge, you shouldn't neglect your health. See your gynecologist as soon as you experience any unusual sensations.

Video - brown discharge instead of menstruation is a sign of pregnancy