Dark discharge in women and treatment. When is brownish discharge normal?

Brown vaginal discharge may not be a dangerous symptom of any disease. If such discharge characterizes the end of your period, then most likely this is the norm for you. The thing is that the color and consistency of menstrual flow is a purely individual matter. For example, brown discharge indicates that menstrual fluid comes out slowly and has time to come into contact with air, which naturally leads to its pigmentation.

But what to do if brown vaginal discharge appears a few days after the end of menstruation? Could this be a sign of a disease? Let's look at the cases in which brown discharge after menstruation poses a health hazard.

Chronic endometritis

The cause of brown vaginal discharge is often a disease such as endometritis. Its chronic form is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity. The disease can be caused by intrauterine interventions during the prenatal period or the process of inflammation after an abortion. Brown discharge with endometritis can occur either at the beginning, at the end or in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Moreover, in the latter case, the discharge is accompanied by aching pain in the lower abdomen.

Endometriosis

Nodular, small cystic formations or growths in the cervical area cause virtually no pain and are difficult to diagnose in a timely manner. An alarming symptom of the disease is brown vaginal discharge. They usually appear a few days after menstruation. They have an unpleasant odor and sometimes contain small blood clots.

A collective name for various pathological processes in the uterus. The inner mucous membrane of the uterine body is susceptible to a huge number of diseases, from delayed embryonic development during pregnancy to fibroids and. In any case, if you suddenly have brown discharge outside the menstrual period, this is a good reason to consult a specialist.

Inflammatory diseases of the vagina

Drugs to stop bleeding

Often young (and sometimes not so young) people, having read women’s forums on the Internet, resort to independently purchasing drugs that stop bleeding in any phase of the menstrual cycle. It should be remembered that drugs such as dicynon, vitaxol or transekam should be used only as prescribed by a doctor. Some hemostatic agents, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, can cause irreparable harm to health. So for any bloody discharge, be it brown or bright red, first see a doctor - and then go to the pharmacy!

And finally...

The gynecologist often does not care what color your vaginal discharge is. The light or dark brown color of the discharge indicates the presence of blood in it. And if you have spotting, bloody brown discharge that is not associated with menstruation, this is already a reason to think about its cause. So don’t self-medicate and wish you good health!

Dmitry Belov

This time on the website Shtuchka.ru we will consider a question that most women face: what to do, if you have brown discharge– this is natural or a serious cause for concern.

From elementary to complex

Daily vaginal discharge is normal. During the menstrual cycle, their appearance, consistency, quantity and smell change. This is due to the formation and release of the egg.

If you have spotting brown discharge during pregnancy

If you notice brown discharge early in your pregnancy, don’t be alarmed right away. This is the final stage in the restructuring of the body. Such discharge, as a rule, is insignificant and appears at the moment when menstruation should have started. If the discharge continues for more than three months, contact a specialist.

The light brown discharge that appeared after the examination is the result of damage to the mucous membrane, which is very sensitive during this period.

A more serious reason for the appearance of such discharge is a frozen pregnancy (fetal death).

The threat of miscarriage can also cause brown discharge. If the bleeding intensifies and blood clots begin to come out, it means that fetal rejection has begun. In such a situation, it is impossible to maintain the pregnancy.

At later stages, such discharge indicates placental abruption. To maintain pregnancy, bed rest is recommended until the end of the term. Otherwise, there is a chance of losing not only the child, but also the mother due to severe internal bleeding.

We hope that our article helped you understand what to do, if there is spotting, brown discharge.. advises you to contact a gynecologist to fully understand and find out the cause.

Bruslik Maria – especially for the site Shtuchka.ru

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A brown tint to the discharge indicates that there is blood in it. But this does not necessarily indicate health problems. Sometimes a brownish color appears in the discharge for completely natural reasons. The course of physiological processes in the female reproductive system is influenced by many different factors. If the discharge is not accompanied by any unpleasant symptoms, then there is no need to worry. But only a gynecologist can help you find out exactly why. If you have pain, this is not normal. Serious diagnosis and treatment are required.

Content:

When is brown discharge normal?

The processes of the menstrual cycle in its different phases occur in accordance with changes in hormonal levels. An increase in the amount of estrogen promotes the maturation of eggs in the ovarian follicles and the development of the endometrium in the uterus, and an increase in the content of progesterone leads to loosening of the mucous membrane and its detachment in the case when pregnancy does not occur.

Cyclical changes

The ratio of hormones changes smoothly, so already before menstruation a woman may experience light brown discharge when the endometrium just begins to exfoliate. The amount of blood entering the vaginal mucus and the intensity of the color depend on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body (the composition and coagulability of the blood, the state of reproductive and general health). One thing is important: the appearance of such discharge before the onset of menstruation may well be the norm.

At the end of menstruation, particles of mucous membrane and a small amount of blood stagnant in the folds may remain in the uterus. Therefore, the appearance of brownish mucus from the vagina after menstruation is also not a frightening sign. There may even be small clots of coagulated blood in it.

In the middle of the cycle, ovulation occurs - the rupture of the dominant follicle and the release of a mature egg. This causes damage to small vessels. Therefore, during ovulation and a few hours after it, a woman has droplets of blood in her discharge. In this case, the appearance of light brown viscous discharge is also normal. Such discharge is called ovulatory.

Warning: Particular attention should be paid to the appearance of bleeding during this period in a practically healthy woman. As a rule, this condition is preceded by a sharp pain in the lower abdomen, followed by dizziness, nausea and other painful symptoms. In this case, urgent medical attention may be required, since the cause of bleeding is most likely ovarian apoplexy (rupture of the follicle along with the membrane and tissues of the ovary).

Hormonal changes

If a woman takes hormonal birth control pills, she experiences a hormonal shift within 2-3 months, and the body adapts to the new background. Changes affect the condition of blood vessels and uterine contractility. As a result, in addition to menstruation, a woman develops light brown or dark pink leucorrhoea. After installation of the intrauterine device, not only the production of sex hormones is suppressed, but also a mechanical effect on the mucous membrane. This may also result in light brown discharge. If a similar phenomenon is observed at 4 months, then the woman should consult a doctor about choosing a different contraceptive.

You should not be surprised by the appearance of brown discharge after sex, especially in the period preceding the onset of menopause. An age-related decrease in the amount of estrogen in the body leads to thinning of the vaginal mucosa and deterioration of the vascular walls, as a result of which it becomes possible for drops of blood to enter the discharge. The occurrence of painful symptoms may indicate a disease.

Note: Do not forget that older women have an increased risk of malignant tumors of the uterus. The appearance of blood in the discharge should definitely alert you and force you to immediately go to the doctor.

Discharge during pregnancy, after childbirth

If a woman becomes pregnant, her next period is delayed, and after a few days, spotting light brown discharge appears instead. They are called implantation, since the appearance of blood impurities is due to minor damage to the capillaries of the endometrium at the time the embryo is introduced into it.

A pregnant woman may experience faint brownish discharge on the days when her period usually comes. For 3-4 months, she may not know that she is pregnant until she feels the fetus move. This phenomenon is rarely observed, but is not considered a pathology, since it is all due to the individual characteristics of hormonal changes during this period.

At the same time, the appearance of any bloody discharge during pregnancy may indicate a threat of miscarriage (due to detachment of the fertilized egg or placenta). Therefore, a pregnant woman should be especially attentive to this sign at any stage of pregnancy.

After childbirth, in the first days, bleeding is possible, which turns into lochia, first in the form of brownish discharge, and then in the form of yellowish mucus. Common signs of normal discharge are:

small volume;
no unpleasant odor;
absence of large clots, lumps, foam;
absence of abdominal pain, back pain, and other unpleasant symptoms.

Video: Causes of normal and pathological discharge

Causes of pathological discharge

The pathology of light brown discharge is indicated if a woman has menstrual irregularities, diseases of the uterus and appendages, as well as the thyroid gland and other organs of the endocrine system, kidneys, liver, and mammary glands. All these pathologies are directly related to hormonal disorders in the body. Often such discharge occurs on any days between menstruation.

If the light brownish discharge is accompanied by an "acute abdomen" and looks more like bleeding, this may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or a ruptured ovarian cyst.

You should consult a doctor if brown discharge has the following symptoms:

continue for a long time in the middle of the cycle or on any days between menstruation;
associated with fever, pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, burning or pain in the vagina;
accompanied by urination disorder, a feeling of fullness or pressure in the abdomen;
scanty light burgundy discharge occurs instead of menstruation or turns into heavy bleeding that is not menstruation;
The discharge has an unpleasant odor, admixtures of pus, foam or large dark brown clots.

The cause of the appearance of pathological light brown discharge may be inflammatory and infectious diseases of the vagina, uterus, and appendages. Discharge with blood appears during erosion and other diseases associated with damage to the surface of the cervix.

Hemorrhage occurs when polyps form in the mucous membranes of the reproductive organs. Uterine fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis - all these pathologies are associated with damage to the vessels of the epithelial layer inside the uterus.

Brown discharge may be a sign of malignant tumors of the genital organs, which, as a rule, do not have any other manifestations in the early stages. Early detection of any pathology will help prevent complications, as well as choose the most gentle treatment methods.

Women's health is a fragile thing. It seems like you dress for the weather and don’t freeze outside, and you follow your daily routine, and you try to control your stress level, but for some reason the reproductive system reminds you of itself. It happens that brown discharge appears in the middle of the cycle. Is such a symptom always a reason to worry about your health, or can this manifestation be a physiological norm? Let’s figure it out.

Why do I have brown discharge in the middle of my cycle?

What happens in a woman’s reproductive system is characterized by a clear periodicity. The cycle begins with the first days of menstruation, when during menstruation the functional layer of the endometrium is torn off and, along with blood, is excreted from the body. Meanwhile, under the influence of estrogen hormones, another egg begins to mature in the ovarian follicles. About two weeks after the start of menstruation, she ovulates - leaves the follicle, and the ovaries begin to produce the hormone progesterone.

Such a change in hormonal levels in some cases provokes intermenstrual bleeding in the middle of the cycle, and since each organism is individual, they often only reflect normal physiological processes in a particular woman. There is no need to be immediately alarmed by the brown color of the secretion, since this color is acquired by the hemoglobin protein (part of the blood) after contact with oxygen molecules and oxidation by them. But if the color of vaginal discharge changes, you need to consult a gynecologist to prevent the development of pathology.

Based on color saturation, bloody discharge is conventionally divided into:

dark brown - sometimes appear when starting to take hormonal contraceptives as a reaction to the components of the drugs;
light brown - also characteristic of taking contraceptives, often occurs with menstrual irregularities and inflammatory diseases;
bloody discharge of a red-brown color - indicates that the blood has been released recently and has not yet had time to clot; it often occurs after violent sexual intercourse due to microcracks in the walls of the vagina.

What discharge is considered normal?

It is normal for vaginal discharge to change throughout the cycle, provided that it is odorless and color-free. Immediately after the end of menstruation, the discharge should be transparent and scanty, only occasionally leaving a mark on the underwear. By the middle of the cycle, when the body is preparing for ovulation, the secretion released from the vagina becomes mucous, viscous, thick, reminiscent of egg white; on such days, to maintain a feeling of cleanliness and dryness, you cannot do without using panty liners.

After the egg has left the follicle, the amount of discharge decreases again, it becomes less transparent, white in color, reminiscent of diluted milk, sometimes with clots resembling small curdled lumps, with a characteristic sour milk smell. If such discharge does not cause itching and irritation of the vulva, and after menstruation the discharge returns to normal, then this is a normal physiological phenomenon of the female body. You should know that the constancy of discharge throughout the cycle is a pathology.

Causes of brown discharge in women

The appearance of brown discharge in the middle of the cycle is uncharacteristic of its normal course, but is not always a pathology. Discoloration is often caused by physical impact, for example, microtrauma of the vagina due to its insufficient lubrication during sex; such discharges disappear immediately after eliminating the actions that caused them. To establish the reasons for the change in discharge, a competent consultation is needed, because such a restructuring of the body indicates that new physiological or pathological factors have begun to operate in the body.

Ovulation

During this period, the hormonal background of the body changes, the ovarian follicle ruptures, a mature egg is released into the abdominal cavity and the body prepares for its possible fertilization. Bloody discharge during ovulation appears due to rupture of the follicle; it is observed in a large percentage of women. If light spotting with bloody spots appears on a woman’s underwear at this time, which does not last more than 3 days, such discharge is not a pathology.

Pregnancy

A slight discharge of blood is often observed when fertilization of the egg has occurred and the fertilized egg is attached to the uterine cavity. This action occurs without pain, but sometimes such a bloody trail indicates implantation of the egg. In the future, during the normal course of the period of bearing a child, there should be no red or brown discharge; their appearance is a reason for immediate contact with a specialist.

Light brown discharge during pregnancy often indicates a lack of the hormone progesterone, which causes endometrial rejection, placental abruption and threatens spontaneous miscarriage. Another cause of such discharge is ectopic pregnancy. If the test confirms fertilization, but the fertilized egg has not descended into the uterine cavity, but remains in the fallopian tube, this situation requires immediate surgical intervention, since this is a real threat to the woman’s health and life.

Endometriosis

Regular spotting brown discharge in the middle of the cycle, sometimes even black, is a common sign of this insidious disease. With endometriosis, cells on the lining of the uterus grow and spread outside of the uterus. Since they react to the cyclical hormonal levels, both inside the uterus and where endometrial cells enter and develop, small monthly bleeding occurs, which causes inflammation of the surrounding tissues.

Since this is a very serious disease that threatens complications and even infertility, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor when, in addition to dark vaginal discharge, a woman observes other signs of endometriosis:

the stomach pulls, the pain radiates to the lower back, there is an increase in pain before menstruation;
menstruation became more abundant;
there was pain during sex;
pain is felt in the lower abdomen when emptying the intestines or bladder.

Cervical erosion

Intermenstrual bleeding, indicating this disease, occurs not only in the middle of the cycle. Cervical erosion should be suspected when bleeding or ichor appears after each sexual intercourse or gynecological examination, that is, when there was contact with the cervix. The diagnosis is confirmed during a gynecological examination using a colposcope - a special optical device that allows the doctor to examine the identified change in the cervix with a magnification of 20-25 times and take a photo for observation during the treatment process.

Formations in the uterus

Brown spotting in the middle of the cycle is often one of the signs of neoplasms of the genital organs - both benign (fibroids) and malignant (uterine cancer). The formation and growth of fibroids is accompanied by intermenstrual bloody-brown, heavy discharge, sometimes turning into bleeding. This diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasound, and subsequently requires constant monitoring, and sometimes, depending on the rate of tumor growth, surgical intervention.

Uterine cancer is the most dangerous disease, one of the symptoms of which is brown discharge. Oncology that begins in a woman’s reproductive system can spread to other organs. Women over 50 years of age are more susceptible to this disease. With malignant tumors in women during menopause, the discharge is spotting, irregular, becomes scarcer over time, and menstruation, which has almost stopped, suddenly resumes. Timely diagnosis of the disease gives a good chance of recovery and continuation of a full life.

Formation of the menstrual cycle

When a girl's periods just begin, as a rule, they are unstable in date, amount of discharge and often, in addition to normal menstrual bleeding, have the character of bloody spotting. Such inconsistent menstruation is acceptable in the first 2 years of the formation of the cycle, but in this case it is necessary to periodically consult with a specialist so as not to miss possible inflammatory processes.

Scanty bleeding occurs for physiological reasons with amenorrhea - the absence of menstruation for more than 6 months. You should know that the physiological norm is the absence of menstruation only during pregnancy and lactation, before the establishment of a constant monthly cycle in teenage girls and after menopause. Other cases of amenorrhea are a deviation from the norm. Since this is not an independent disease, but a condition that is a symptom of other diseases, amenorrhea requires observation by a specialist.

During premenopause, when hormonal levels gradually decrease, menstruation becomes irregular, sometimes occurring as brown spotting. If a woman who is in the menopause phase and her periods have completely stopped suddenly begins to experience spotting, regardless of its quantity, color intensity, duration and frequency, you should immediately consult a doctor so as not to miss the initial stage of cancer.

Sexually transmitted diseases

When a woman is sexually active and has several sexual partners, if bloody brown discharge appears, she needs to be checked for diseases transmitted through direct unprotected contact. If uncharacteristic intermenstrual discharge of different colors (gray, brown, brown), with a fishy or rotten odor appears, and appears against the background of a deterioration in the general condition of the body, there is every reason to suspect an infection of the body and go to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment .

Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs

When spotting in the middle of the cycle is accompanied by a deterioration in general health, nagging pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the back, painful sensations during sexual intercourse, and sometimes an increase in temperature is observed - then it is time to suspect inflammation of the genital organs, rectum or bladder. With such a combination of symptoms, it is very important not to self-medicate, but to establish an accurate diagnosis by visiting a specialized medical facility.

Use of oral and vaginal contraceptives

If a doctor selects contraceptive hormonal drugs for contraception in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy, at first, spotting and even breakthrough bleeding in the middle of the cycle are allowed as a side effect. Normally, such phenomena should go away after 3 months of use, but if after this period they are still observed, such contraceptives must be changed. The presence of brown discharge in the middle of the cycle is typical if an intrauterine device is used as a method of contraception.

In what cases should you visit a doctor?

When you notice changes in the color of your vaginal discharge and the appearance of blood in it, which was not the case before, it is always better not to self-medicate, not torment yourself with fears and worries, but to immediately go for a gynecological examination. In order for the diagnosis to be of high quality, it is better to visit the same doctor who knows your medical history, the characteristics of your body and whom you trust. Such a specialist will dispel groundless worries and, if necessary, help choose adequate treatment.

Video about spotting during the menstrual cycle

The appearance of brown-colored traces of vaginal secretion on your underwear is not a reason to panic. From our video you will learn competent and detailed explanations from a specialist about the reasons for the appearance of such discharge, hear how a woman’s hormonal background affects the nature of intermenstrual discharge and whether it necessarily needs to be corrected:

Should a healthy woman have brown or bloody vaginal discharge? Is this normal, a sign of a disease or other disorder in the body?

Prices for services

About normal discharge

Normally, a woman's vagina should release fluid. But not all discharge is normal. “Good” discharge includes clear, not abundant (from 50 mg per day), odorless mucus. Normal discharge does not cause discomfort, it does not cause itching, burning or irritation of the vagina. If you take a smear for microflora, it should reveal a normal number of leukocytes with a predominance of lactobacilli. Mucus discharge gradually increases in quantity until the day of ovulation (approximately 14 days after menstruation). During this period, the mucus changes its properties. The feeling of moisture in the external genital area at this time is absolutely normal.

But you need to be very careful about brown discharge! A brown, brownish tint to the liquid clearly indicates bloody or bloody additions to the mucus. And this, in turn, may indicate disorders of the female genital area. Further on such violations and their causes.

Endometritis

Brown discharge may be a sign of chronic endometritis - inflammation of the endometrium, the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity. Brown discharge with endometritis appears before and after menstruation and often has an unpleasant odor. Sometimes brown mucus appears in the middle of the cycle and is combined with aching pain in the lower abdomen. Chronic endometritis is dangerous during pregnancy; it can lead to miscarriages at different stages. This pathology is due to the fact that the process of attachment of the fertilized egg in the uterine cavity and its further development are disrupted.

Chronic endometritis can result from:

acute postpartum or post-abortion endometritis that has not been completely cured;

intrauterine interventions;

imbalance between the body's hormonal and immune systems;

hidden infections.

Endometriosis

Brown or bloody discharge are also the main symptoms of endometriosis of the cervix or uterine body. This does not necessarily cause pain. Endometriosis of the cervix is nodular, small cystic formations or growths in the form of red or purplish-blue stripes. Dark bloody and brown discharge may appear from individual lesions. Endometriosis of the uterine body is the growth of endometrial cells in the myometrium (muscular layer of the uterus). Pathological discharge decreases in size after menstruation, and its color becomes lighter.

Endometrial hyperplasia

Spotting, bloody, brown discharge at the end of the cycle before menstruation or for a long time after menstruation may indicate endometrial hyperplasia. The causes of hyperplasia can be of different nature. Most often, this pathology develops due to hormonal imbalances, as well as carbohydrate, lipid and other types of metabolism. An important role may be played by hereditary predisposition, the presence of uterine fibroids, cancer of the genital organs and breast, hypertension and other diseases, manifestations of damaging effects during the prenatal period of development, diseases during puberty and the disorders of menstrual and subsequently reproductive function caused by them. The appearance of hyperplasia in adulthood is often preceded by previous gynecological diseases, abortions, and genital surgeries.

Polyp

Brown discharge may be a sign of a polyp in the uterus. The cause of a polyp may be a pathology of the uterine mucosa or cervical canal against the background of a chronic inflammatory process. The cause of uterine polyps is most often hormonal disorders.

Detachment of the ovum

Brown discharge during pregnancy - spotting, bloody - is the first sign of abruption of the ovum or placenta, which happened several days or even a week ago. Often such discharge is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and lumbar region, reminiscent of “mild” contractions.

Ectopic pregnancy

Sometimes brown discharge with ichor indicates an ectopic pregnancy. At the same time, a woman may feel a decrease in blood pressure, periodic or constant pain in the lower abdomen, increased heart rate, and dizziness.

Hormonal contraceptives

Cinnamon discharge may appear in the first months of taking hormonal contraceptives. In this case, this is the norm. But if this phenomenon continues for the 3rd month or longer, it means that the drug is not suitable and the selection of a new method of contraception is required.

Don't expect trouble

If any discharge that bothers you appears other than those described above, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will determine the cause of the discharge, prescribe the necessary treatment and save you from further development of the disease.