My first period is brown. Brown discharge instead of menstruation: reasons for when to see a doctor

Often, women and girls may experience brown discharge during menstruation. The girl becomes a little older and moves on to a new life stage when her first menstruation begins. When the cycle is fully established, this phenomenon will wait for the girl every month, hence the name. What discharge is considered normal? They should be red in color, with a slight odor, possibly the release of blood clots.

Menstruation lasts differently for each girl, but in general, the cycle ranges from 3 to 6 days. It happens that along with menstrual blood, brown discharge is also noticed, just dark discharge, and not only young girls, but also adult women are worried about this. They begin to think and look for what is wrong with them. Some may even begin to panic about this and become seriously worried. To avoid this, you need to clearly know in which case such a phenomenon is considered normal, and in which it is worth alerting.

Why does blood turn brown during menstruation? This phenomenon must be considered individually in each case. This takes into account the woman's age, her participation or non-participation in sexual intercourse, their regularity; the presence of any chronic or hereditary diseases; whether there were facts of surgical intervention in her body, sexually transmitted diseases; whether a woman gave birth at least once in her life, whether she breast-fed a child.

External triggers

Some external factors can affect the flow of menstruation and cause dark discharge.. It is rare for a woman to have an organism that works like a clock and there are no disruptions in the menstrual cycle, the blood is always bright red and is not at all bothered by extraneous discharge.

If climatic conditions and time zones change too often, then in most cases this causes disruptions in the menstrual cycle and the appearance of brown discharge. Therefore, if a woman is forced to make frequent long-distance business trips or simply travels a lot, then she should keep in mind that this can happen to her and know a reasonable explanation for this phenomenon.

Strong physical activity affects menstruation. This applies not only to lifting weights, but also to sports training in any kind of sport - for example, volleyball or even ballroom dancing. A lot of professional athletes say that they observe problems with the cycle during the competition, when they have to do a lot and intensively. Of course, a healthy lifestyle and exercise is incredibly positive for any person. Therefore, if a woman goes in for sports and she has such problems, then in no case should you give up such activities.

If such a condition is associated only with this factor, there is nothing to worry about, the body will eventually get used to and adapt. But, if delays in menstruation and discharge are accompanied by pain or are otherwise disturbing, you should consult a doctor. Perhaps he will give advice not to do such strenuous training, or to change this sport to some other one that is more suitable for the female body and does not require so much effort.

Taking medications also affects menstruation. First of all, this applies to contraceptive pills based on hormones. Only a doctor should prescribe them, based on the individual characteristics of each woman, but not the woman herself. However, even if there are some problems with the cycle, then this is a temporary phenomenon. If after a few months the cycle has not returned to normal, you need to go back to the doctor and tell him the complaints again about the brown discharge.

The state of nervous stress and experiencing too vivid emotions can adversely affect the course of the menstrual cycle in a woman. This happens even when a woman or girl experiences too much joyful emotions, for example, when she gets married or when she graduates from school or university. If this happens once, then there is nothing wrong with that, but if emotions interfere with the normal course of the menstrual cycle, it is delayed for several days, then they need to be regulated in some way.

If the perineum or genital area has been damaged, you should immediately consult a doctor, as this can lead to disruptions in the menstrual cycle. This is especially true for girls, since some of them start their periods quite early, and they still remain active in their games.

In order for menstruation to pass normally, you need to eat right and balanced. This will have a positive effect on the entire body, without even taking into account women's health. You should also try to avoid all kinds of poisoning.

Possible pregnancy

If a woman is sexually active, then from the vagina they can say that she has a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, or just a pregnancy.

If a girl who plans to become pregnant and give birth to a child has a delay in the menstrual cycle, and after that brown discharge begins, this may indicate that there are some hormonal disruptions in her body. If after such discharge menstruation does not occur, then you need to think about a possible pregnancy. In order to confirm or exclude it, you need to purchase a special pregnancy test at a pharmacy and do it. Of course, the test is far from the ultimate truth, since it may well turn out to be defective. Pregnancy tests are now of high quality, but where is the guarantee that this can be said about absolutely all manufacturers of these products?

Therefore, in order to avoid any doubts, you need to go to the doctor and get tested for a special hormone that will accurately determine whether there is a pregnancy, or this condition is caused by some other factors. If pregnancy is confirmed, and before that there was brown discharge, then this indicates that the woman has a low level of the hormone progesterone. This is very dangerous for the fetus, because a miscarriage can occur during the detachment of the uterine mucosa. In this regard, you should definitely consult with your doctor.

Other reasons

How can the age of a woman affect the color of the discharge during menstruation? Brown discharge is often observed in teenage girls, as their cycle is just being established, and the same can be said about the hormonal background. This is especially true on the first day of menstruation and on the second. Such discharge should not cause concern, since ovulation is not possible at this age. But this should end in the first year of the formation of the menstrual cycle. If enough time has passed, and the discharge is still brown, instead of normal red, then you should consult a gynecologist.

This is also considered normal in women who are over the age of 40, at which time the function of the ovaries, and indeed the sexual function, is slowly fading away. But you don’t need to think that menopause occurs in every woman after 40. In each case, this is very individual. However, we can say with full confidence that brown discharge during menstruation in this situation should not be frightening.

The influence of diseases on the color of menstrual blood

If a woman is overcooled, then it may begin, almost black on the first day of menstruation. This suggests that the uterus or its appendages were damaged. At the same time, you can feel just discomfort, itching and burning in the vagina. There may be pulling pains in the lower abdomen, problems and discomfort when trying to go to the toilet in a small way. With menstruation, brown discharge will appear later.

This condition can also speak of a sexually transmitted disease.

Therefore, if the fidelity of a partner is questioned, or a woman herself often changes sexual partners, then the use of a condom is strictly necessary, since only it can prevent infection from entering the vagina. It is necessary, if possible, to exclude from your life all unprotected sexual intercourse, and ideally - to find a permanent partner, in whose fidelity you can be sure.

If something like this nevertheless penetrated into life, dark discharge appeared on the days of menstruation, then you should immediately seek help from a doctor, since then it may be too late!

Vaginal discharge changes during the entire menstrual cycle, which is the absolute norm. Such changes in a woman's body occur due to hormonal fluctuations, which affect almost all the fair sex. A change in consistency, slight deviations in the shade of the secreted secret from the norm, and even the acquisition of a barely noticeable smell by secretions should not frighten a woman. Such discharge before menstruation is considered the norm. But if the so-called brown daub begins before menstruation, which worries for several cycles, and there is also itching, soreness, an unpleasant pungent odor and other unusual symptoms, a woman needs to visit a gynecologist.

Important: a visit to the doctor with the appearance of brown discharge before menstruation is required! Only a doctor can exclude the presence of pathologies in a woman that can harm her health.

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When are such manifestations not dangerous?

Before you understand whether there is a threat, you need to clarify what kind of discharge can be before menstruation:

White discharge before menstruation means the absolute norm. It is allowed to separate a transparent mucous secretion that does not have a smell.
Also, the discharge can be light or dark brown, but this does not always indicate the presence of pathological processes in the body.
Sometimes brown spotting is observed in absolutely healthy women. It happens that it is a brown daub a week before menstruation that is the beginning of menstrual bleeding, respectively, the day of its appearance is considered the beginning of the cycle.
Also, the norm is brown discharge a week before menstruation, which began in a woman after suffering psycho-emotional shocks. This is explained by a hormonal imbalance that develops against a background of stress. As a rule, such a disorder of the menstrual cycle lasts no longer than 1 month.

A sharp change in weight, both up and down, also contributes to hormonal imbalance, which leads to a change in the color of discharge before menstruation.

Another reason for the appearance of a daub before menstruation, which does not pose a threat to a woman's health, is the use of oral contraceptives. At the very beginning of hormonal contraception, a woman's body adapts to changes, and the lower the concentration of estrogen in the drug taken, the more likely it is that brown discharge will disturb the woman before menstruation. The norm is adaptation, which lasts no longer than 3-4 months. It can be applied both before and after menstruation. If the daub before menstruation does not go away after this period of time, then it is necessary to consult a gynecologist-endocrinologist to cancel or replace the drug.

Causes of brown discharge instead of menstruation - is there any reason for concern?

Relationship with a woman's age

During puberty, many girls note the presence of a brown daub before or instead of menstruation. The fact is that in girls in adolescence, the menstrual cycle is just beginning to form, and slight brown discharge before menstruation or instead of them can go for about 12 months from the moment the menstrual function is formed.

Important: such a condition is not considered a pathology only if the girl does not experience any discomfort, and the daub before menstruation bothers her for no longer than 1 year.

If the appearance of brown discharge is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, general malaise, menstruation is irregular, and the daub lasts longer than 1 year, you should consult a doctor.

In women over 40, the fading of the hormonal background begins. During this period, the first symptoms of menopause appear, one of which is the presence of dark vaginal discharge 1-3 days before the onset of menstruation. In the future, dark scanty discharge can replace menstrual bleeding.

Pathological causes

Brown spotting before menstruation can be a symptom of various diseases that require detailed diagnosis and mandatory treatment. Only a doctor can determine the presence and causes of such pathologies, therefore, if any of the signs of such conditions appear, a specialist consultation is necessary.

Symptom of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease in which the cells of the endometrium, which lines the inside of the uterus, grow outside of it. Endometrial cells can "attack" the fallopian tubes, the outer layer of the uterus, the ovaries, the abdominal cavity, the cervix, etc.

In addition to the appearance of brown discharge before menstruation, there is a secretion after and between menstrual bleeding.

The main signs of pathology are:

bloody, pale or dark brown copious discharge before menstruation;
soreness in the lumbar region, in the lower abdomen during the entire cycle, aggravated during menstruation;
an increase in the volume and duration of menstrual bleeding.

Diagnosis of the disease is made using laparoscopy and ultrasound of the pelvic organs. Also, if endometriosis is suspected, a woman is recommended to be tested for tumor markers.

The treatment is carried out with the help of hormone-containing drugs and surgically.

Surgical treatment consists in the excision of certain areas of the endometrium during laparoscopy. In case of ineffectiveness of this method or the rapid course of the disease, a complete removal of the uterus is performed.

endometritis

Inflammation of the basal and superficial layers of the endometrium in a chronic course. The causes of endometritis are associated with inadequate or incomplete treatment of an acute inflammatory process in the internal uterine cavity. Often, endometritis is the result of surgical interventions, such as curettage.

Chronic inflammation leads to disturbances in the process of rejection of the endometrium, which leads to the appearance of red or brown discharge before menstruation. But, as with endometriosis, such spotting can disturb a woman both between menstruation and after them, after intercourse.

Other signs of endometritis include:

aching pain in the sacrum, lower back, lower abdomen;
purulent discharge from the vagina;
fever (up to 39.5 degrees in acute course and up to 38 in chronic);
an increase in the duration of menstrual bleeding up to 7-10 days;
occasional chills, especially at night.

Diagnosis of endometritis is reduced to the collection of anamnesis, gynecological examination and examination of a smear from the vagina. In addition, the method of general blood examination and ultrasound of the uterus is effective, in which, in pathology, compacted areas are found on the mucosa of the organ.

Treatment is carried out with the help of antibacterial drugs, vitamin complexes. In some cases, the walls of the uterus are scraped. Hormone therapy, treatment with the help of physiotherapy is also often prescribed.

endometrial hyperplasia

Hyperplasia refers to the overgrowth of endometrial cells and an increase in the endometrial layer in the uterus. Normally, the growth of the endometrium occurs only in the first phase of the cycle and is associated with an increase in the level of estrogen in the blood. The pathological process develops with a deficiency of progesterone and an excess of estrogens.

The main symptoms of the disease are spotting before and between periods and an increase in the duration and volume of menstrual bleeding.

Diagnosis is carried out with the help of a gynecological examination, instrumental studies, as well as ultrasound. It should be noted that ultrasound examination shows the presence of the disease only in 80% of cases. For more accurate data after the ultrasound, it is recommended to undergo an aspiration biopsy followed by an aspirate study.

Also, a woman may be prescribed a series of blood tests for hormones.

Treatment is carried out with the help of hormone-containing agents, a course of at least six months.

Surgery is indicated for women during menopause, as well as when it is impossible to use hormonal therapy and with a complicated pathology.

Endometrial polyps

The occurrence of premenstrual spotting can be caused by the growth of endometrial cells in the form of a separate formation - a polyp. As with hyperplasia, the cause of polyp formation is an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen. Inflammatory diseases, infections, frequent surgical interventions can also contribute to the growth of polyps.

Signs of the presence of a polyp in the endometrium are:

violation of the menstrual cycle;
the release of a brown secret before the onset of menstruation (most often a thick secret is separated);
increased secretion of whites;
cramping pain in the pelvis.

For accurate diagnosis of the disease, ultrasound of the pelvic organs and hysteroscopy are performed. The last diagnostic method is to introduce a special device with a camera and optics into the uterine cavity, which allows you to detect a polyp and immediately remove it.

Important: all diseases associated with the endometrium can lead to infertility and, sometimes, to the development of cancer in women. Only timely diagnosis and treatment will help prevent the development of negative consequences.

Tumor processes

Spotting before menstruation can be observed in women with uterine fibroids. Myoma is a benign neoplasm, which, as a rule, does not cause any inconvenience to a woman. A woman can suspect fibroids only by the presence of bloody premenstrual discharge.

With malignant neoplasms, whites before menstruation become dark brown or black and can be not only premenstrual, but also permanent.

infections

Infections and diseases that are transmitted through sexual contact often appear in women with brown vaginal discharge before menstruation. Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the genital tract and begin to move up the cervical canal into the uterus, where they affect its walls. Most often, dark discharge before menstruation is caused by the following infectious diseases:

1. Chlamydia.

A disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and transmitted through sexual contact. The main symptoms of pathology in women are:

pain when urinating;
intermenstrual bleeding;
green or yellow vaginal discharge;
dark brown discharge before period (smear);
lower abdominal pain.

To diagnose the disease in women, a smear study is performed. Treatment includes antibacterial and immunological therapy, as well as physiotherapy.

2. Gonorrhea.

The causative agent of pathology is the microorganism gonococcus. Sexual contact is considered the main route of infection with gonorrhea. Symptoms of pathology in women include:

pain and burning in the urethra (not always associated with the process of urination);
frequent, unproductive urge to urinate;
pus from the vagina;
pain, discomfort and severe itching in the vulva;
lower abdominal pain.

When the uterus is affected by a pathogenic microorganism, the following symptoms are noted:

mucopurulent discharge from the vagina;
spotting before the onset of menstrual bleeding;
enlargement of the uterus.

Diagnosis of gonorrhea is made by analyzing a smear for the pathogen (bakposev) and polymerase chain reaction.

Treatment includes the use of antibiotics of the penicillin group, fluoroquinolones and immunomodulators.

3. Candidiasis.

Candidiasis, or thrush, is considered the most common infectious disease in women.

The main symptom of thrush is abundant white curdled discharge, itching and inflammation of the internal and external genital organs. However, under some circumstances, the disease can lead to the appearance of spotting before menstruation. For example, such secretions can be a side effect of taking antifungal drugs. Also, thrush can be the result of a hormonal imbalance, one of the manifestations of which is the appearance of a dark secret before menstruation, as well as at any period of the cycle.

Brown discharge before menstruation is a symptom indicating the presence of a disease in the female body. Experts recommend seeking advice and medical help as soon as a symptom appears, and not waiting for the development of complications. Only a doctor can determine which discharge is dangerous and why a woman has it before menstruation. Proper and timely treatment will help maintain a woman's health.

It is very important to find out the reasons for the dark discharge on the first day of menstruation, otherwise even the most competent and experienced gynecologist will not be able to help the patient solve her problem.

Physiological causes

So why is there brown discharge on the first day of menstruation, and is it dangerous for a woman's health? Before panicking, a woman should remember that conditionally the causes of such a phenomenon can be divided into 2 groups: physiological and pathological. In parallel, certain external factors can also have a negative impact on the functioning of the reproductive system.

Therefore, if dark brown discharge has gone on the first day of menstruation, this may not be related to the presence of pathological processes. Often such a “frightening” phenomenon has purely physiological causes.

At the beginning of menstruation, the uterine endometrium is strongly affected by sex hormones. Under their influence, it is actively rejected, and the uterus secretes a rather large amount of menstrual blood, which contains dark, brown clots.

These secretions are nothing more than her internal mucous layer, so a woman should not be scared or worried - her internal genital organs are working normally and are completely healthy.

If the menstrual flow is brown on its own and there are no blood clots, this may indicate that there is too little blood and it oxidizes and coagulates before the vagina has time to secrete it. But such a phenomenon is considered normal on the last, and not on the first day of menstruation. And although it does not always speak of pathologies of the organs of the reproductive system, nevertheless, it should not be ignored. Consultation of a qualified gynecologist will never be superfluous!

The most common factors

If brown discharge appeared on the first day of the onset of menstruation, this may be due to:

experienced stress or nervous shocks;
excessively intense physical activity;
recent diseases (moreover, they may not be related to the organs of the reproductive system);
uncontrolled use of medications;
age-related changes;
"colored" pregnancy;
postpartum period;
hormonal disorders;
anomalies in the structure of the uterus.

In this case, a woman can immediately identify several reasons why dark discharge could go on the first day of the onset of menstruation. Often, special treatment is not required - it is necessary to understand why the failure occurred and eliminate the factor that provoked it.

COC as a cause of brown menstrual flow

If on the first day of menstruation brown discharge occurs for several months, and at the same time the woman takes oral hormonal contraceptives, the reason is clear: it was the birth control pills that caused the occurrence of such an anomaly.

In addition, the menstrual cycle may fail, which is also due to the effect of hormones contained in tablet preparations aimed at preventing unwanted pregnancy.

But we should not forget that the occurrence of brown discharge during menstruation, due to COCs, is permissible only during the first 3 months from the start of their use. If the anomaly has become a constant companion, it cannot be ignored - you need to consult a doctor.

Brown menstrual flow may also appear after the installation of an intrauterine device. It has the property of retaining menstrual blood inside the uterus, which leads to its darkening and thickening.

Age changes

Brown discharge on the first day of menstruation is often observed in young girls who have just begun menarche. Moreover, this phenomenon does not last 2-3 months - it can continue for 1-2 years. And this is absolutely normal, because the girl's body is growing up, and the hormonal background is gradually getting better. Consequently, there are fluctuations in the levels of estrogen and progesterone - the main female sex hormones.

The eve of menopause also cannot but affect the work of the organs of the reproductive system. This also applies to the nature of menstrual flow. With a decrease in the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, when the level of estrogen is constantly falling, on the first day of the onset of menstruation, a woman may have brown blood. Sometimes it may not stand out at all.

The onset of pregnancy

If a woman has brown discharge, this may be a sign of pregnancy. However, their presence is permissible only at the beginning of this period, when the fetal egg is attached to the wall of the uterus. In this case, the day of the onset of menstruation does not play a role. But if brown discharge appeared exactly when menstruation should have come (according to the schedule), besides, they are quite intense (during pregnancy they are spotty and scarce), this should be the reason for an immediate appeal to the gynecologist. Such an anomaly threatens miscarriage.

Brown discharge, reminiscent of menstruation, can also appear during an ectopic pregnancy. This is an extremely dangerous condition that requires mandatory medical intervention, otherwise the consequences can be extremely serious.

Brown periods in the postpartum period

If after childbirth on the first day of menstruation brown discharge appears, you should not worry - the body gradually returns to the full performance of its functions, which were previously in a "sleepy" state. First of all, it concerns the work of the reproductive system.

Intensive changes in the hormonal balance begin, in addition, the prolonged absence of menstruation also has a significant effect on the color and intensity of the discharge.

Anomalies in the structure of the reproductive organ

Brown discharge at the beginning of menstruation is a fairly common occurrence in the presence of deviations in the structure of the uterus. It may occur with:

hypoplasia;
saddle-shaped uterus;
unicornuate or bicornuate uterus.

So, violations of the normal structure of the reproductive organ lead to the fact that the blood and endometrial areas cannot fully reach the vagina and remain in the uterine cavity. This explains not only the appearance of dark-colored secretions on the first day of menstruation, but also their scarcity. Sometimes menstrual blood can even acquire a black tint, and this should seriously alert a woman. Anomalies in the structure of the uterus can not only cause darkening of the discharge during menstruation, but also lead to more serious and dangerous consequences.

Excessive weight loss

In women who are overly fond of diets, brown discharge in the first days of menstruation is a common thing.

This phenomenon also occurs in girls who deplete their body with unbearable physical exertion aimed at reducing body weight.

Sudden weight loss turns on the body's defense reaction, since too intense bleeding during menstruation can cause serious harm to a woman. Under such conditions, the periods will be brown, spotting, scanty, and sometimes they may not come at all.

Dark discharge in gynecological diseases

Often, brown discharge at the beginning of the menstrual cycle appears due to the development of various gynecological diseases. If the matter is really in the presence of pathological processes, one should not hesitate: many of them can lead to extremely serious consequences (cancer, infertility, damage to neighboring organs, etc.).

The most common diseases associated with the reproductive system that can cause brown discharge on the first day of menstruation include:

Endometritis. This pathology is characterized by the development of an inflammatory process in the epithelial tissues lining the mucous layer of the uterus (endometrium). As a result, dark menstrual discharge occurs, which has an unpleasant odor.
Endometriosis. This pathology is characterized by the growth of the mucous layer of the uterus - the endometrium. As a rule, brown vaginal discharge appears not only on the first, but also on any other day of the menstrual cycle.
Uterine polyposis can also cause dark vaginal discharge.
Inflammatory processes in the genitals can also lead to a change in the nature of menstruation.

Dark discharge during critical days may be the result of the formation of tumors in the uterus or ovaries. But to determine the causes of the anomaly on your own is not something that is difficult - it is practically unrealistic, since, as you can see, there are quite a lot of them.

To understand why dark discharge appeared on the first day of menstruation, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist and go through all the necessary procedures to make a correct diagnosis. Only complex diagnostics is the key to prescribing the right treatment and, as a result, preventing consequences that are dangerous to a woman’s health, because the menstrual cycle is a delicate system that under no circumstances should be trifled with!

Menstruation is an indicator of a woman's reproductive health, various deviations from the norm in its course always cause concern. It is quite natural that the fair sex begin to worry when they have smearing brown discharge instead of menstruation.

In this article, we will answer the question of why there is menstrual flow with a brown tint, is this a sign of pathology, and whether such a condition requires medical intervention.

Menstruation is normal

Go from 3 to 7 days, while it is dark red or very close to burgundy. This coloration is caused by clotted blood from the vessels that were damaged during the separation of the inner mucous layer of the uterus. The composition of the secretions, in addition to blood, includes mucus produced by the glands of the cervix, and dead epithelial cells.

Normal menstrual flow, even when dark in color, has the following characteristics:

uniform structure (small clots are allowed);
red or brown tint;
the volume of allocations is minimal;
no itching and burning in the vagina;
there is no strange and unpleasant smell;
can start a couple of days before the regulation;
does not appear in every cycle.

Among the most likely factors for the appearance or so-called hypomenorrhea is a hormonal imbalance, which can be provoked by both the woman herself and external conditions.

brown secret

Normal brown menstruation should not have an unpleasant odor and. If such discharge is observed monthly, this is a serious reason to think about your health and consult a doctor.

If there is a spotting of a brownish tint or discharge in the form of clots, this means that there are some disturbances in the woman's reproductive system.

smears

On the first day, when menstruation began, a woman should have about 50 ml of menstrual flow. Due to any violations, a daub appears, and the prescribed amount of discharge does not come out. Additionally, you should pay attention to the symptoms associated with the regulations:

pain in the head and in the genital area;
heaviness in the chest;
pain in the back;
nausea.

If, in addition to spotting leaks that have a brown tint, the listed symptoms also appear, this may be a sign of serious abnormalities:

normal or ectopic pregnancy;
ovarian and pituitary dysfunction;
endometrial dysfunction caused by operations, inflammation or tuberculosis of the genital organs;
improper contraception;
genital trauma;
stressful state;
sharp weight fluctuations;
physical stress;
hormonal disorders caused by endocrine pathologies.

meager discharge

Hypomenorrhea can be primary or secondary. In the first case, brown periods begin to go from the very first day. Their cause is the underdevelopment of the genital organs and congenital anomalies of the genital area. Secondary brown colors up to a certain point do not bother a woman, but can only begin when there are disturbances in the activity of the female body.

In this case, there are such causes of hypomenorrhea:

heredity;
infections in the genitals;
hormonal failure due to beriberi, moving, climate change and other reasons.

On the first day of the cycle

Some women have no idea why the first day of menstruation begins with brown discharge. Experts say that this is quite normal, but only if the color and consistency of the discharge returns to normal in the following days. If there is brown discharge at the beginning of menstruation, all 3-7 days and end with brown discharge, this is a signal that the female body needs the help of a doctor who can determine the cause of such deviations.

Smell

Normally, menstruation has a metallic sour smell and a reddish tint. By the end of menstruation, less and less liquid is released, and its color gradually becomes darker, so it’s natural for a wave when a daub comes out at the end of the regulation, but it should go no more than 1-2 days. If this daub has a strong putrid odor, you should immediately consult a doctor.

natural causes

In some periods of a woman's life, the release of a brown secret instead of menstruation is normal, we will consider each of these cases in more detail.

Unsteady cycle

After they went at the age of 12-13, the hormonal cycle stabilizes for another 1.5-2 years. This process is accompanied by fluctuations in the consistency and color of monthly discharge. Since the ovaries have not yet fully matured at this age, the level of sex hormones will also vary, which means that it is quite natural that for several years after menarche a brown spotting will occur instead of regular. After 2 years, the cycle should normalize, if this does not happen, a specialist consultation is required.

Pregnancy

At the very beginning of pregnancy, brown spotting may appear during the implantation of the fetal egg to the inner layer of the uterus. The attachment of the zygote is accompanied by trauma to the small vessels of the endometrium, which are the source of small blood smearing against the background of a secret released from the vagina. The presence of pregnancy can be confirmed by a special test. If the test is positive, and the brown daub does not stop going, then the woman’s body has an insufficient level of progesterone, which is necessary for the full bearing of the fetus. In this situation, a daub may signal a threat of spontaneous abortion, in order to avoid this, you need to donate blood for hormones and undergo treatment.

Postpartum, breastfeeding

After the birth of the baby and after the cessation of breastfeeding, the woman's body gets used to the new hormonal background gradually, the menstrual cycle also normalizes only after a few months. It is quite natural that during the adaptation period, instead of menstruation, a smearing brown secret may appear. If such discharge occurs in each cycle and is accompanied by pain and an unpleasant odor, you should definitely contact a gynecologist.

Climax

When a woman enters, she may appear for 2-3 years. The level of sex hormones decreases, ovulation no longer occurs in every cycle, so the intensity of menstrual flow fluctuates from cycle to cycle. The closer the menopause, the less menstruation becomes. Over time, they begin to look like a brown daub, and then completely disappear.

Pathological causes

If menstrual flow becomes scarce and has a smearing character, most often women of reproductive age think that they have a pregnancy. But if menstruation does not go as usual, but is smeared, and the test is negative, this means that there are other reasons for abnormal discharge. Most often, gynecological pathologies, infections and hormonal disorders are to blame, especially if the brown daub is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, fever and other unpleasant symptoms.

Hormonal disorders

Hormonal disruptions in a woman's body directly affect the nature of menstruation. If progesterone is not enough, then the endometrium cannot fully form, because of which its normal rejection does not occur, therefore, instead of regulation, there is a brown daub. With a lack of estrogens, the mechanism of rejection of the endometrium is not fully triggered, which also leads to the release of a dark, smearing secret. Hormonal imbalance can be the result of stress, poor nutrition, improper daily routine and endocrine diseases.

Ectopic pregnancy

If a woman passed a pregnancy test, and it showed a positive result, but at the time when she had her period before pregnancy, now there are brown spotting discharges, you should immediately consult a doctor. The cause of brown spotting may be an ectopic pregnancy, namely, due to the fact that the embryo is not attached to the uterus, but in the tubes. This is a dangerous condition for a woman's health, it can only be eliminated with the help of surgical intervention, and this should be done as early as possible to prevent rupture of the fallopian tube.

infections

If a smearing brown secret is secreted instead of regular due to disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries, then this may be caused by infections and inflammatory processes in the reproductive system. Among latent infections, such symptoms are caused by Trichomonas, gonococci, gardnerella, genital herpes virus, etc. Inflammation can begin due to the pathological growth of microflora, fungi, streptococci, and staphylococci.

Surgical operations

If instead of menstruation there is a brown daub, this may be a consequence of abortion, caesarean section, partial removal of the genital organs and other surgical interventions that cause hormonal imbalance in the woman's body. If the operations went without complications, then only the first regulations can be changed, the next cycle should go normally.

Oncology

In the initial stages, tumors in the reproductive system develop asymptomatically. It is rather difficult to determine their presence by the patient's well-being, only with the growth of education in a woman menstruation delays begin, which are replaced, in which brown blood may contain impurities of pus. In the later stages of cancer, the stomach may hurt, pulling the lower back and thigh.

Sudden changes in weight

If you combine fasting with intense physical activity, then instead of the usual menstruation, a brown smearing secret will go. This disorder causes beriberi and iron deficiency in the body. Similarly, a sharp increase in weight acts, which can also be the cause of brown daub.

Influence of drugs

The brown color of menstruation can be caused not only by hormone-based drugs, but also by some other groups of medicines. Dark daub instead of regulation may appear after preparations of the following varieties:

antibiotics. After prolonged use of antibacterial agents, the microflora of the vagina changes, which negatively affects the work of the uterus and its appendages, and slight brown discharge appears in the form of a daub. They can be caused by a slowdown in the maturation of the egg;
anti-ulcer drugs. These drugs almost always cause menstrual disorders, they change the duration of the cycle and cause the appearance of a dark daub, even between periods;
. These medicines are prescribed to stop uterine bleeding and heavy periods. If you violate the dosage or do not adhere to the prescription, you can provoke a daub instead of critical days or amenorrhea;
antidepressants. Taking drugs of this group is indicated for too heavy menstruation, but prolonged treatment can lead to the fact that there may be a delay of 3-4 days, and instead of critical days, a brown daub begins.

There is a high probability of an abnormal course of menstruation in women who drink diuretics, psychotropic and steroid medications.

Hormonal drugs and birth control

Hormones are the basis of modern oral contraception, so the female body gets used to each drug for some time. Brown discharge during menstruation during the period of adaptation to a new type of contraception for several months is a variant of the norm. If the daub continues for more than three or four cycles, you should definitely consult a gynecologist.

There may be the following causes of brown spotting when using oral contraception:

insufficient dosage of hormones;
deviation from instructions;
untimely taking the pills;
individual intolerance to the drug and its components;
bad habits and diseases.

Very often, hormonal disruptions occur in women who resort to emergency contraception (Agest, Postinor, Escapel). Usually, by the next cycle, the balance of hormones is restored, the main thing is not to use such pills too often.

After installing the intrauterine device, a brown daub may be released during the period of adaptation, as well as in case of its incorrect installation or rejection of the contraceptive by the body. For these reasons, the use of this method of contraception should be under the strict supervision of a physician.

Wrong way of life

The following factors can change the nature of menstrual flow:

smoking;
alcohol abuse;
poisoning the body with harmful substances;
work in hazardous production;
excessive physical activity.

With prolonged exposure to these factors, a small one may initially be observed, but against the background of a deterioration in well-being and a decrease in immunity, instead of menstruation, spotting may begin. In this case, only a complete rejection of bad habits and a change in lifestyle can cope with the problem.

climate change

Spotting can replace regular menstrual bleeding even after a normal move. More tangible changes in a woman's body occur when changing climatic zones. If such spotting continues for more than a week and the state of health worsens significantly, you should definitely contact a medical institution.

Food

An unbalanced, meager diet does not saturate the body with the vitamins and microelements necessary for it, as a result of which menstrual flow can linger for quite a long time. If a woman suddenly gains or loses weight, then menstruation may disappear altogether. If the critical days are delayed by 2-3 days, and at the same time a meager brown daub is released, this indicates a lack of iron in the body. Deficiency of this trace element leads to a darkening of the color of menstrual blood.

Stress and overexertion

Excessive stress and nervous shocks cause problems in the work of the central nervous system, which is responsible for the regularity of the menstrual cycle. These factors can provoke completely different reactions in women. If some have a brown daub instead of critical days against the background of stress, then others may begin uterine bleeding. If at the same time there are no other symptoms, such as pain and general weakness, then you should not worry about this, after getting rid of stress and overstrain, the cycle normalizes.

Symptoms of pathology

Sometimes smearing dirty discharge occurs against the background of a delay - this can be a sign of hormonal disorders and serious pathologies. Brown daub instead of menstruation is typical for the following women's health problems:

inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive and urinary systems;
infection in the genital area;
benign and malignant tumors;
ectopic pregnancy;
miscarriage;
other pathological processes.

If instead of critical days a dark daub is released, you should pay attention to the accompanying symptoms:

pain in the lower abdomen;
increased body temperature;
redness of the external genitalia;
discomfort during sex;
etc.

To determine the exact cause of spotting, you should seek the help of a doctor.

Deepening into shade

Not only the color and consistency of the liquid that stood out instead of menstruation can tell about the pathology in the body. To make a more accurate diagnosis, you should pay attention even to the shade of the discharge.

Light brown

The presence of an inflammatory process in the body can be indicated by light brown discharge instead of regular. In order to more correctly establish the cause and prescribe treatment, you should pay attention to the presence of additional symptoms:

itching and burning;
pulling pains in the lower back and lower abdomen;
cramps during urination;
temperature rise;
pain during intimacy;
impurities of pus and copious clots in the discharge;
delay of menstruation by more than a month.

The same symptoms, accompanied by daubing, may indicate the presence of an infection in the body. A light brown secret can be caused by such diseases as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, they can also be provoked by trichomonas, ureaplasma and mycoplasma.

Dark brown

A long absence of critical days is almost always a sign of disturbances in the functioning of the reproductive system. If, after a delay, menstruation went dark brown, and their consistency and shade did not change for about 4 days, this may indicate the presence of the following pathologies:

inflammatory processes in the uterine mucosa;
erosion;
focal growth of the endometrium;
endometriosis.

If curdled discharge is also mixed with bloody discharge, then candidiasis can be diagnosed.

Diagnosis and treatment

If brown discharge appears instead of normal menstruation, you should immediately go to the gynecologist. To find out the cause of such an anomaly, the doctor, in addition to a gynecological examination and smears on the microflora, can conduct a number of additional studies:

Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs;
Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland;
general blood test and hormones;
if the doctor suspects the presence of oncological neoplasms, he may prescribe a CT scan and MRI.

Based on the results of the examination, an accurate diagnosis is established, in some cases, with brown menstruation, you may need to consult an endocrinologist. If the cause of the violations is stress and psycho-emotional disorders, you will need to visit a psychotherapist. Only after the exact cause of the brown daub is established, the doctor will be able to prescribe adequate treatment. If there are hormonal disorders, then a course of drugs is prescribed, the intake of which should be combined with diet and lifestyle changes.

Prevention

The only means of prevention against brown daub are systematic gynecological examinations. Quite often, the initial stage of inflammatory and infectious diseases is asymptomatic, so they can only be detected during regular visits to the gynecologist.

Smirnova Olga (gynecologist, GSMU, 2010)

The regularity of the menstrual cycle is the main indicator of women's health. Each representative of the weaker sex needs to control not only the start date of critical days, but also monitor their characteristics. If menstruation begins with brown discharge, both physiological and pathological changes can be assumed. This article will tell you how to distinguish these processes and when you need to seek help from a doctor.

Symptom characteristic

Normally, menstrual flow has a scarlet or dark red tint. Their volume ranges from 30 to 60 ml per day. In the first days, under the influence of hormones, the endometrium is strongly rejected, and at this time the uterus secretes the largest amount of blood, often with dark clots, which is its inner mucous layer.

The appearance of brown discharge indicates that there is little blood and it coagulates, oxidizes and darkens in the local environment before the vagina has time to secrete it. Naturally, this phenomenon is characterized at the end of menstruation, when the main part of the endometrium stood out. This is also acceptable 1 or 2 days before the critical days, which is explained by swelling and the readiness of the mucous layer to be torn off.

When the menstruation itself began with such brown discharge, we can talk about physiological changes in the woman's body. These do not always mean pathology, but you should not lose control of the situation either.

These discharges at the beginning of menstruation are scanty, often spotting, in nature and are not bleeding. They include a natural mucous secretion with an admixture of blood.

Progesterone is responsible for preparing the endometrium for conception after ovulation. It is he who, in the second half of the menstrual cycle, contributes to the compaction and loosening of this tissue, which is programmed to accept and introduce a fertilized egg into the uterus. When this does not happen, the endometrium is shed in the form of menstruation. If this does not happen, then in most situations everything indicates a hormonal disorder.

The symptom has causes of another kind:

Transferred stresses, loads and diseases.
Taking hormonal contraceptives and other medications.
Age changes.
Normal and pathological pregnancy.
postpartum period.
Little weight.
Anomalies in the structure of the uterus.
Pathologies (endometriosis, polyps, fibroids, other neoplasms, endometritis, infections).

Hormonal disorders

Failure occurs due to certain factors:

Progesterone deficiency prevented the endometrium from forming to the right extent, due to which the latter could not prepare for rejection, or it is simply not enough for this.
The excess of the hormone mentioned above did not allow the reproductive system to start a full menstruation.
The lack of estrogens affected the fact that the mechanism of endometrial rejection did not start completely, but was indicated only by spotting during menstruation brown.

Such failures occur due to stress, which gave complications to diseases of other systems, endocrinological disorders, malnutrition and lifestyle, excessive use of drugs containing hormones, and increased stress.

Read also what they are talking about, since the signs are quite close in their characteristics.

Contraceptives

Hormonal drugs are designed to correct a number of problems, but their main task is to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Their reception is aimed at correcting natural hormonal processes by changing the level of progesterone or estrogen at different periods of the menstrual cycle. These manipulations with the natural functioning of the reproductive system are often manifested by violations of the usual course of the cycle.
That is why it is so important to start taking these drugs after a complete diagnosis and under the strict supervision of a doctor.

Some deviations from the usual menstruation are acceptable, including brown daub at their beginning, in the first 3 months from the moment you start using the drugs. Later, a similar symptom is cause for concern.

When installing a contraceptive such as a spiral, critical days can also come in brown. This device retains blood, which subsequently comes out in clots. Find out more about by clicking on the link.

This sign can be the result of taking some general medicines, as often happens with strong antibiotics.

Age changes

Within a year or two after menarche (first menstruation), the designation of brown discharge during menstruation is normal. During this period, the hormonal background is improving, the level of progesterone and estrogen is constantly fluctuating, as evidenced by deviations in the regularity of the female cycle.

Completion of the reproductive function also does not go unnoticed. When menopause comes, estrogen production decreases, which provokes significant changes in the female reproductive system. Due to the deficiency of this hormone, menstruation becomes more moderate, and sometimes does not occur at all.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, discharge with the presence of blood, even in small quantities, is permissible only at its very beginning, at the time of conception. So the fertilized egg is implanted in the wall of the uterus.

Sometimes at an early date, there is the appearance of brown discharge at the beginning of menstruation, which did not take place, but should have happened in time. This is a dangerous moment that threatens to disrupt the pregnancy. Such a symptom is a cause for concern and an urgent visit to the doctor.

Often a situation arises when a woman observes such a beginning of menstruation in herself, unaware of future motherhood. With such a phenomenon, it is important to take a test or see a gynecologist so as not to miss such a significant event.

Sometimes such a symptom indicates an ectopic pregnancy that requires immediate medical attention. The growth of the fetus outside the womb can lead to rupture of the fallopian tube, and subsequently even to death.

Find out in one of our articles what they mean.

postpartum period

After childbirth, the body goes through a lot of stress. A sharp and intense hormonal restructuring begins, the reproductive system tends to gradually return to its previous mode of functioning.

When a woman breastfeeds a baby, the menstrual cycle does not return to the usual rhythm for a long time, or bleeding is simply absent under the influence of the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for uterine contractions and milk supply.

With the end of lactation, menstruation returns quite quickly, and in the first months it may begin with a brown daub.

Anomalies in the structure of the uterus

There are such anomalies in the development and structure of the main female organ:

Unicornuate, bicornuate uterus.
Saddle shape.
Hypoplasia.

Violation of the structure prevents the normal excretion of blood and endometrium, delaying it in the folds. As a result of this, a rather small amount of blood reaches the vagina, as indicated by the described symptom.

This problem explains the presence of dark brown discharge on the first day of menstruation. Stagnant blood acquires a dark color, oxidizing in the local environment, sometimes being indicated.

The existence of such disorders should be monitored by a gynecologist, since stagnation of blood and rejected endometrium can lead to inflammatory processes, as well as infertility or miscarriages. Most anomalies can be treated surgically.

Little weight

Being underweight often affects menstruation. This is noticed by women who exhaust themselves with strict diets and heavy loads. With a sharp weight loss, the body turns on protective mechanisms, because menstrual blood loss can be critical for it. Menstruation in this case comes in the form of a brown daub, begins in a similar way, or is absent altogether.

Gynecological diseases

The reasons for the appearance of brown discharge on the first day of menstruation are not always due to the physiological state. Pathological cases are also common. They are distinguished from normal secretions by an unpleasant odor, and they are also accompanied by discomfort, pain or cramps in the lower abdomen, itching, and fever. The most common diseases that are characterized by this symptom:

Endometriosis is a pathological growth of the inner layer of the uterus. appear at any time of the cycle, but most often - at its beginning, which falls on the first day of endometrial rejection.
Endometritis is an inflammatory process of this tissue caused by infection in the uterus. In addition to menstruation disorders, there is a pulling pain in the lower abdomen, the temperature rises, purulent mucus mixed with blood is rarely found.
Polyps are a possible cause of abnormal periods.
Inflammation of the pelvic organs in most cases leads to a change in the nature of the discharge on critical days.
Neoplasms of different etymologies.

Important! To avoid the development of gynecological problems, you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene, lead a healthy lifestyle, protect yourself in the absence of a permanent partner, regularly visit a gynecologist and monitor the hormonal background and the nature of the discharge.

Quite often, women try to find the answer to the question of why menstruation begins with uncharacteristic discharge in the network. Information sites will help to get a general idea of the functioning of the reproductive organs and suggest the likelihood of deviations, however, they cannot replace a full-fledged gynecological examination. Therefore, with the designation of a symptom, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor in order to receive correct and timely treatment in case of a pathology.