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Dark fluff in women's discharge. Dark brown discharge: causes, signs of disease. What diseases cause brown vaginal discharge?

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When faced with such a manifestation as brown discharge in women, it is important to understand all the nuances of the processes occurring in the body. Much depends on the menstrual cycle or pregnancy. But, if brown discharge appears for no apparent reason, then this is a sign of one of the dangerous diseases.

Causes

First of all, it is worth identifying the reason why brown discharge appeared in women without odor or with a characteristic odor. Itching and brown discharge may also be present - all these are alarming symptoms signaling a malfunction of the reproductive system.

The manifestation also varies depending on the cycle and pregnancy, which cannot be ignored when diagnosing. It is advisable to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible if any alarming symptoms occur.

Pathologies

The following list of pathologies is characterized by the presence of atypical leucorrhoea in its symptoms.

After reading this list, you can understand why a woman had brown discharge at one time or another:

  • endometritis (chronic form). The disease is characterized by the active development of inflammation on the mucous membrane in the uterine cavity. The disease can be triggered by surgery or abortion. The disease can manifest itself at any period, for example, in the middle of the cycle or towards the end, while the woman often has abdominal pain in the lower part;
  • endometriosis. The disease is characterized by the appearance of small cysts and nodules on the patient’s internal genital organs. This disease does not have any characteristic symptoms because it does not cause pain. You can detect dark brown discharge from the vagina a week after your period. The discharge is also characterized by a pronounced, unpleasant odor. Small blood clots can be seen in them;
  • endometrial hyperplasia. The name disease combines several pathological processes localized in the uterus. The list of pathologies is very large: it can be either abnormal development of the embryo, fibroids or uterine cancer;
  • inflammation. Any disease that is characterized by an active inflammatory process, for example, vaginosis, trichomoniasis and others, has in its symptoms manifestations in the form of leucorrhoea with blood or a brown color. If the diseases are those that are transmitted through sexual intercourse, then they are characterized by light brown or yellow-brown discharge. Additionally, the disease is characterized by itching, burning sensation and pain during intimacy;
  • implantation bleeding. This is especially true if the patient experienced a delay in menstruation before the brown leucorrhoea began. This phenomenon indicates pregnancy. The nature of the discharge is light brown and does not stand out for a long time. If similar symptoms occur during pregnancy, then there is a risk of miscarriage;
  • long-term use of medications containing hormones. In particular, brown leucorrhoea begins to occur in the middle of the cycle or before menstruation. It is considered normal if such outflows last 3 months or less. Otherwise, you need to contact a gynecologist to review the prescription of the drug, since the current one is not suitable.

Menstruation cycle

Symptoms such as brown discharge in women should be considered in relation to the menstrual cycle:

  • before. It is considered normal if (irregularly) menstruation begins a day or two earlier, and manifests itself in the form of spotting light brown discharge. Before menstruation, this phenomenon can be observed due to a change in climatic living conditions, stress, physical activity or abortion. However, it is worth understanding that no other symptoms are typical for the normal state of the body;
  • middle of the cycle. For the normal state of the body, during the period of ovulation there is a sharp jump in the concentration of hormones in the blood. This phenomenon can provoke a brown discharge in the patient, however, to exclude more serious pathologies in the body, you should contact a gynecologist for an examination;
  • after menstruation. If in the last two days during menstruation, spotting brown leucorrhoea began instead of bleeding, then there is no need to worry - this is a normal state of the body. If such a phenomenon lasts more than a seven-day period after menstruation, then there is a possibility that mechanical damage to the cervix or vaginal lining has occurred, a malfunction of the hormonal system has occurred, or a polyp has formed.

Pregnancy

In this case, you do not need to immediately consult your doctor, since there is a risk that the woman’s reproductive system is not in order and the fetus is at risk of underdevelopment or miscarriage. There are also situations in which vaginal discharge during gestation is normal. The fetus is not in danger if a woman has brown discharge in the first trimester in accordance with her menstrual cycle.

If the color of the leucorrhoea in the first weeks after conception is red or brown, then there is a possibility that these are symptoms indicating developing erosion of the cervix. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy there is an increase in blood flow to the uterine structures, resulting in bleeding.

Subsequently, the uterus takes on the appearance of an ulcer. The phenomenon is also characterized by accompanying symptoms in the form of a pronounced pain syndrome, which occurs and goes away spontaneously.

If the bleeding is minor or dark red in color, then the cause is probably the formation of a polyp, which is a harmless tumor. There is no need to carry out any therapeutic measures or surgically scrape it out. However, some situations still require its removal. Only a qualified specialist can make a decision about this.

There are also other reasons why a pregnant woman experiences dark or red vaginal discharge.

These include:

  • ectopic pregnancy;
  • the presence of pathological processes occurring in the uterus;
  • cervical lesions;
  • tumor formation in the reproductive system;
  • entry of pathogenic, actively developing microflora;
  • dilation of blood vessels in the reproductive system (similar to varicose veins).

Treatment

A symptom such as brown discharge in women is often very alarming. If you are not sure that this is a normal condition for the body, then it is recommended to go to a gynecologist as soon as possible. There is no way to cure the disease on your own, at home, or to diagnose it correctly.

In some cases, the doctor only recommends adjusting your lifestyle, diet and replenishing the lack of vital macro and microelements. It is also important to drink more fluids, since in some cases this problematic condition appears due to a lack of water in the body.

If a specialist discovers a more serious reason why brown vaginal discharge began, then you will need to take a course of special medications. It is impossible to determine which medications you should take on your own. Many of them are purchased using the recipe provided. Some problematic cases require, in addition to medication treatment, surgery, dietary supplements or chemotherapy.

Conclusion

This is especially true for situations where, in addition to bloody, brown discharge, there is pain, burning, itching and odor from the secretion.

Photo: imagepointfr/depositphotos.com

Vaginal discharge is normal. Their frequency and density depends on the day of the woman’s cycle. After ovulation, the body produces much less mucus than before. Aging tissue inside the uterus leads to brown discharge. If there is a delay in the cycle, they will most likely be dark. This shouldn't be scary.

But it can also be a symptom of a serious illness. Proper treatment depends on timely consultation with a doctor.

Causes of brown discharge

Dark mucus can signal cervical cancer or pelvic inflammatory disease, perimenopause, menopause. This is also typical for diseases of the genital area, for example, chlamydia, gonorrhea, papilloma virus, endometriosis, polyposis.

If the reason is that the aging of the intrauterine tissue has begun, then the main symptom is a slight delay in the cycle. In this case, the doctor will advise you to drink more water, change your lifestyle, diet, and exercise.

In another case, complex treatment will be prescribed, which may include medications, surgery, colposcopy, pelvic ultrasound, and chemotherapy. You may need to undergo a cervical smear and other tests.

If dark-colored discharge in women or girls occurs outside the menstrual cycle, then this should immediately alert you. Some doctors don't see anything serious in this. This may be related to hormonal fluctuations during ovulation.

Beginning of the menstrual cycle

Brownish clots of mucus at the beginning of menstruation are normal. If your period is due, but the discharge is scanty, light brown in color and lasts for several days, you can suspect pregnancy.

Mid-menstrual cycle

During this period, brownish discharge, especially on days 17–20 of ovulation, can also signal that pregnancy has occurred. Visiting a doctor and getting tested for hCG will help dispel doubts or confirm them.

Sometimes the cause of discharge in the middle of the cycle is serious diseases, for example, a tumor of the uterus, adenomyosis and others.

End of the menstrual cycle

At the end of the menstrual cycle, the presence of brown discharge is considered normal. But if they last more than two days, you need to go to the doctor.

Endometritis or endometriosis

These diseases indicate an inflammatory process in the uterus. The ichor is secreted both in the middle of the cycle and before menstruation, sometimes, if the course of the disease is advanced, it is in no way tied to the menstrual cycle.

  • Endometritis- this is an inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus, caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and also occurs as a result of termination of pregnancy or due to complications after childbirth. Treatment is prescribed by a gynecologist; in addition to hormonal medications that stabilize the rhythm, sedatives, multivitamins, and immunostimulants are recommended.
  • Endometriosis- a more serious disease that can lead to the loss of internal organs. Detecting it at an early stage will help to completely cure the disease without sad consequences. Timely consultation with a doctor is the key to a complete recovery.

Discharge during pregnancy

If bloody or dark-colored discharge occurs during pregnancy, you should immediately be alarmed. It is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. If the discharge is dark during this period, we can conclude that premature placental abruption has occurred.

The first few weeks of pregnancy are a time of hormonal changes throughout the body, and discharge occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus.

There are a number of reasons why discharge may be dark during pregnancy, but this does not lead to fetal loss. In the first trimester every 4 weeks, that is, in accordance with the menstrual cycle, they do not pose any danger.

This may occur due to cervical erosion. Increased blood flow to the uterus causes it to bleed.

The cause may also be a decidual polyp. This is a type of tumor that grows on the cervix or in the uterus itself. Treatment and curettage are not required here, but in some cases it will require removal.

Other reasons for discharge during pregnancy may be an ectopic pregnancy, a frozen pregnancy, the development of cervical pathology or even cancer.

The causes of bleeding in women during pregnancy can be vaginal infections or varicose veins of the genital organs.

Bleeding during miscarriage

Bleeding in this case is insignificant and painless, but over time it increases along with pain. There is no pain syndrome, the uterus is unchanged, and if you seek help in a timely manner, the pregnancy can be saved.

With an incomplete miscarriage, dark red bleeding with clots is accompanied by cramping pain in the lower abdomen. Help in this case consists of scraping out the fertilized egg and restoring the woman’s blood loss.

In a complete miscarriage, there is no bleeding because the egg is completely removed from the uterus, the doctor must scrape it out so that there is no excess tissue left.

With an ectopic pregnancy, the discharge may be dark, bloody, brown, or tarry in appearance. The difference between an ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis or inflammation of the appendages: dark spotting bleeding and periodic attacks of pain are characteristic. Tests will give an accurate result.

Bleeding after abortion

If a woman decides to take such a step, then she should be aware of the negative consequences. In addition to the hormonal shock that this procedure will cause to the body, inflammatory processes in the uterus and even infertility may occur.

Bleeding after an abortion may include brown discharge. This suggests that blood, released from the uterine cavity, upon contact with oxygen, oxidizes and changes color. This is considered normal and women should not worry.

Bleeding after a medical abortion is a planned phenomenon; during the procedure, the fetus is separated along with the amniotic parts. Excessive bleeding should alert you: perhaps the remains of the fetus interfere with the contraction of the vessels, and they bleed heavily. In this case, hospitalization is necessary.

Cervical or vaginal cancer

The least common cause of bloody vaginal discharge is vaginal cancer (a malignant tumor of the mucous membrane). The course of the disease is characterized by a yellow discharge mixed with blood.

Uterine fibroids are a benign tumor that arises in the myometrium (muscular layer of the uterus) with the assistance of sex hormones. It usually develops before menopause. Since during menopause the level of sex hormones is quite low, fibroids after menopause also decrease significantly in size. During menopause, fibroids become the cause of bleeding when taking plant estrogens (herbal medicine) or hormonal therapy.

Other reasons

At the beginning of sexual activity, after breaking the integrity of the hymen and subsequent several sexual acts.

Due to minor damage to the vaginal mucosa after violent sexual intercourse.

Another reason for the appearance of light brown discharge may be a simple neglect of personal hygiene. Lack of hygiene procedures can lead to changes in the acid-base composition of the vagina and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. To eliminate the problem, you just need to pay more attention to water procedures, and all the symptoms will go away on their own.

The culprit for the appearance of brown discharge can be sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Additional symptoms for this cause of discharge may include pain when urinating, itching, burning and vaginal dryness. If you notice these symptoms, you should definitely visit a gynecologist.

Dark brown discharge is one of the most common reasons that force a woman to consult a specialist. Everyone has had a similar problem at least once in their life, so questions arise: what does this indicate and whether such symptoms are signs of a disease. A woman’s discharge can have significant differences, be dark or light in color, be abundant or scanty, but why does it turn dark brown?

Vaginal discharge in women is normal. This function is provided by nature and plays an important role in the female body. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention and not miss the moment when, for some reason, these discharges acquire an unusual character, their smell, consistency or color changes, since normally they are odorless and rather colorless or whitish. Most often, the appearance of dark brown discharge with an unpleasant odor can occur as a result of violation of hygienic care rules and a change in the acid-base balance in the vagina as a result. This violation can be easily eliminated by starting to more carefully care for the genitals, avoiding fanaticism, as a result of which these manifestations stop after a couple of days.

Also, dark brown discharge can appear on the eve of the next menstruation due to a hormonal imbalance. Due to the changes that occur as a result of the delay, instead of menstruation, brown discharge begins to occur, in moderate quantities and which quickly stops. This can happen due to the use of hormonal contraceptives, during which the cycle may fail with the appearance of discharge of this type during the pause period.

In the first 3 months of taking hormonal contraceptives, discharge mixed with blood may appear in the middle of the month. This disturbance is quickly eliminated and the normal menstrual cycle completely returns to normal in a short time. This manifestation is also possible with irregular use of contraceptives. If this situation tends to recur within two or three cycles, consultation with a gynecologist is necessary, since this is a symptom of a disease or caused by the need to change unsuitable contraceptives.

After menstruation, the appearance of brown, odorless discharge is allowed, as this is due to the residual discharge of coagulated blood. To reduce unpleasant symptoms that cause some discomfort, you can use panty liners and wash more often.

Discharge - signs of a disorder in the body

The appearance of dark brown discharge in a woman with an atypical odor and severe aching pain is a sign of a possible pregnancy, developing ectopically. In such a case, you need to urgently consult a gynecologist and conduct a detailed examination using ultrasound. You should not delay a visit to the doctor; it is necessary to recognize an ectopic pregnancy in the early stages, since delay can lead to unpleasant consequences and even a threat to life.

Diseases such as endometriosis or endometritis, which occur in the uterine cavity and affect its mucous membrane, can also cause the release of mucus mixed with pus. Such inflammatory processes in a woman affect the mucous membrane of the uterus, causing its changes and preventing the occurrence of further planned pregnancy. If such pathologies are identified, every possible effort should be made to cure them with medications.

A more serious disease in which brown discharge may appear is endometrial hyperplasia. In such a case, an excess of estrogen is formed in the female body, leading to an enlargement of the endometrium. Due to a lack of progesterone in the second half of the cycle, the endometrium is unable to fully mature and begins to be torn away from the uterus in small parts. This causes weak, spotting, prolonged bleeding. The formation of polyps, as well as the beginning of the process of detachment of the fertilized egg in the uterus during pregnancy, can also disrupt the color of normal discharge.

It is possible to understand whether there is a need to treat a disease with changed vaginal discharge only after a thorough examination by a gynecologist, tests for the presence of sexually transmitted infections and other necessary studies.

Brown discharge during pregnancy

Very often during pregnancy, a woman is faced with such a frightening symptom as the appearance of dark discharge. It is necessary to pay attention to such manifestations, since most often they indicate the presence of inflammatory diseases in the woman’s reproductive system. Such changes occur when there is a risk of miscarriage, and timely assistance from a gynecologist can increase the likelihood of maintaining a pregnancy. Changes in the color of mucus early in pregnancy are possible due to insufficient progesterone, which is designed to suppress the contractility of smooth muscles in the uterus. The uterus becomes toned, which cannot be resisted, which leads to pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding and miscarriage. This pathological situation begins with the appearance of a small amount of spotting brownish discharge.

In the average period, approximately around the 22nd week, the onset of spotting is directly related to placental abruption and the onset of miscarriage. At this stage, the state of pregnancy can be maintained without waiting for heavy bleeding and using emergency medical procedures necessary in such cases. Due to the fact that the placenta is tightly connected to the walls of the uterus and they have a common circulatory system, even minor bleeding during pregnancy is very dangerous and requires placing women in a hospital setting. Light brown discharge may be a sign of the presence of the papilloma virus, so a smear examination should be carried out without delay.

Brown discharge in the middle of the menstrual cycle

Dark, spotting discharge in the middle of the menstrual cycle, which does not last long and ends within 2 days, can appear during ovulation. During ovulation, the egg leaves the ruptured follicle and moves through the fallopian tube, waiting for fertilization. Most often, no symptoms are observed during this process, but sometimes minor pain and slight bleeding may be felt when the follicle ruptures. As it moves toward the vaginal opening, the blood undergoes oxidation and acquires a brown tint. Before ovulation, women experience increased secretion of colorless mucus, which, when mixed with blood, becomes brown. Such mucous discharge that occurs in the middle of the cycle is normal and does not require treatment.

Dark discharge instead of menstruation

Discharge from the vagina, with deviations from normal, can also occur with scanty blood losses that occur instead of menstruation. Since their quantity is less than 50 ml, the discharge becomes spotting and turns deep brown. Depending on the reasons for the deviation, the following signs may appear:

  • pain in the lumbar region;
  • headache;
  • nausea;
  • tightness in the chest area;
  • the appearance of severe, prolonged pain in the lower abdomen.

These manifestations can serve as signs of disturbances in the functions of the female body and appear in the following cases:

  1. Hormonal imbalance due to dysfunction of the pituitary gland or ovaries.
  2. Injury to the endometrial layer as a result of diagnostic curettage, abortion, as well as its inadequate functioning due to inflammatory diseases.
  3. Incorrectly selected contraceptives.
  4. Performing operations on the genital organs or injuring them.
  5. Excessive physical labor or excessive stress from sports activities.
  6. Disruptions in endocrine functions.
  7. Pregnancy.
  8. Brown color after period ends

Most often, strange dark brown discharge that appears after menstruation is a completely normal condition that lasts for some time after the end of menstruation. Very rarely, the appearance of mucus with this color is a sign of a disease in the genitals. This is characterized by the appearance of itchy irritation with an unpleasant odor. When dark brown discharge is observed for a long time after menstruation, you should be concerned and consult a specialist. Such signs may appear in cases of endometriosis, uterine fibroids or adenoma.

Refers to normal indicators

The dark color of the mucous secretion occurs due to the presence of a small amount of blood and can appear in absolutely healthy women in the following cases:

  • there are a few days left until the next period;
  • in cases of getting rid of the last drops of blood after menstruation;
  • when using hormonal drugs as protection against unwanted pregnancy;
  • in the middle of the cycle as a sign of ovulation;
  • as a result of injury to the mucous membrane during intimacy, resulting from insufficient hydration with lubricant;
  • as a result of the first sexual contacts upon loss of virginity.

Should cause concern

An unusual color of mucus secreted in a woman is a sign of disease if the following symptoms are detected:

  • begin to appear after each sexual intercourse;
  • duration of more than 3 days and sudden onset in the middle of the cycle;
  • signs of an inflammatory process in the form of fever, abdominal pain, burning, pain during sexual intercourse;
  • the onset of menopause with absence of menstruation for more than a year;
  • in cases of delayed menstruation due to pregnancy.

Treatment

The main thing you need to pay attention to when a pathology such as dark brown discharge appears is to eliminate the causes that caused this to happen. It is necessary to establish the menstrual cycle, try to eliminate hormonal imbalances and possible inflammatory diseases, and also create a favorable psycho-emotional environment.

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Vaginal discharge is normal for any woman, usually it is not profuse, whitish in color and does not have a strong, pronounced odor; these characteristics may vary slightly depending on the day of the menstrual cycle, food, immune status and under the influence of various medications. Brown discharge in women can be really scary at times, what can they talk about when it is the norm?

Normally, female discharge contains transudate, the secretion of glands located on the mucous membranes of the reproductive system, and particles of the epithelium that lines the vagina. The whitish color and sour, but not unpleasant, odor are due to the activity of the vaginal microflora, namely lactic acid bacteria. Due to disturbances in the microflora and various diseases, the color and smell of the discharge may change; changes can be used to roughly judge the infection or disease.

Mucous brown discharge can be a sign of a serious illness, but depending on the phase of the cycle and the use of various medications, especially hormonal ones, they can be considered normal. This nature of the secretion should definitely alert you against the background of the following signs:

  • the appearance of brown discharge or secretion mixed with blood between menstruation, while the woman is not taking hormonal medications;
  • there is pain in the lower abdomen or in the lumbar region, in the area of ​​the external genitalia and vagina there is dryness and burning, pain that intensifies during urination and sexual intercourse, there are rashes on the mucous membrane;
  • discharge occurs during menopause, while the last menstruation was quite a long time ago, a year or more has passed since it, their occurrence during menopause may indicate the development of a serious pathology;
  • bloody and brownish discharge occurs after sexual intercourse.

In general, the brownish color of the discharge usually indicates the presence of blood in it, therefore, at certain phases of the menstrual cycle, its appearance can be called normal. However, if there are other symptoms of various gynecological diseases, you should consult a doctor.

Important! If the appearance of brownish discharge occurs with an increase in general body temperature, you should urgently consult a doctor, this may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process.

Why does a woman have brown discharge?

There are many reasons for brown discharge; first of all, it is worth considering in which case the presence of brown discharge is considered normal:

  1. The appearance of such impurities in the secret before the onset of menstruation - a day or several hours. In this case, this is a natural state with the gradual onset of menstruation.
  2. The appearance of such a secretion immediately after menstruation is a gradual end of menstruation.
  3. Dark brown discharge between periods while taking hormonal medications. In this case, they are a side effect of taking medications, but it is advisable to consult a doctor; it may be better to choose another remedy.
  4. Red-brown secretion after active sex. In this case, they arise due to minor microtraumas of the mucous membrane; this phenomenon is also common after the first contact in life or over a long period of time. Next time you just need to be more careful; microtraumas are not dangerous, but their occurrence is undesirable in any case.

Brown discharge instead of periods may also be normal for women taking hormonal contraceptives. Due to some medications, some women experience a complete loss of menstruation and spotting may be present instead.

In some cases, it is extremely important to understand whether brownish discharge appears along with urine when urinating. Brown discharge and frequent urination indicate the occurrence of urethritis or cystitis - inflammatory diseases of the urethra and bladder. In this case, when urinating, a burning sensation occurs, and there is pain in the lower abdomen or lumbar region.

With these diseases, the temperature may rise, usually symptoms develop with a cold or against the background of hypothermia. If such symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Brown discharge with cystitis usually comes from the urethra along with urine, so you can notice it after urinating on toilet paper or underwear.

Brown discharge mid-cycle

A brownish secretion between menstruation is a rather alarming symptom if a woman is not taking any hormonal medications. The most common causes of this symptomatology are the following conditions:

  1. Uterine bleeding. It is usually caused by extremely serious diseases: endometritis, cervical erosion, various neoplasms, including malignant ones. You should be especially wary if discharge occurs every time after sexual intercourse, even quite mild ones.
  2. Intermenstrual bleeding. These bleedings are usually caused by less serious factors, most often various injuries to the genital organs, stress, metabolic disorders, and exposure to certain medications.

Important! If brown and bloody inclusions occur in the secretion, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs and a smear.

Yellowish-brown discharge with an unpleasant odor may indicate an infection, usually sexually transmitted. In this case, there is usually itching and burning in the genital area, pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.

During pregnancy, the appearance of a brownish secretion is an extremely alarming symptom, as it may indicate a possible miscarriage. If blood occurs during pregnancy, especially in later stages of pregnancy, you should immediately consult your doctor. If you do not intervene in time, the pregnancy may be terminated.

In older women, bloody and brownish secretions are an extremely alarming sign, especially if enough time has passed since the onset of menopause. This may indicate the development of oncology, so you should immediately contact a gynecologist.

Treatment of diseases that cause such symptoms depends on accurately identifying the cause. Various remedies can be used, from topical ointments and suppositories to surgical intervention. If brown discharge occurs due to hormonal medications, it is recommended to try changing the product.

In general, you should not delay if this symptom occurs. Self-medication is extremely undesirable; it can lead to a worsening of the condition, regardless of the disease.

Unusual discharge always frightens a woman. Bloody or brown discharge seems especially suspicious. If no other ailments arise, then you can still doubt whether this is a pathology or some kind of peculiar reaction of the body to the action of hormones. But even in this case, it is better to go to the doctor, since there are quite a lot of serious diseases that do not have other symptoms. Don't put off your visit to the gynecologist until later. Eliminating the earliest manifestations of the disease is much easier than fighting an advanced disease.

Content:

Natural Causes of Brown Discharge

The dark brown color of the discharge does not always indicate that a woman has some kind of genital disease. The brown tint appears due to clotted blood entering them, but this can occur not only with illness, but also in many other cases that do not pose a health hazard.

Discharge before menstruation. Brown coloration in leucorrhoea sometimes appears several days before the arrival of menstruation, when the mucous membrane of the uterus begins to swell and gradually peel off. In this case, the smallest vessels are damaged, and a small amount of blood coagulates and gets into the vaginal mucus, and spotting dark-brownish leucorrhoea appears.

After menstruation, brown leucorrhoea is also normal for another 1-2 days. If a woman’s blood clotting is slightly reduced, then traces of it continue to stain the discharge at this time. In addition, remnants of stagnant blood come out of the uterus.

Discharge when using hormonal contraceptives. If a woman takes birth control pills, she will experience dark brown discharge between periods for 2-3 months. There is nothing wrong with this, since the cause is a change in hormonal levels. After the body adapts to it, the leucorrhoea will again take its normal appearance. If their character does not recover, bleeding becomes more profuse, then you should consult your doctor about changing the contraceptive.

The same thing happens when installing an intrauterine device. In addition to hormonal effects, mechanical effects are also possible, which leads to damage to the capillaries. If the blood discharge is persistent, the coil is removed.

Ovulatory bleeding. With them, brown leucorrhoea appears in the middle of the cycle - at the moment of rupture of the follicle and the release of the egg. This damages the smallest blood vessels of the follicular membrane.

Implantation bleeding. The appearance of faint brownish spotting before a missed period may mean that a woman is pregnant. It begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium, damaging the capillaries. The bleeding continues for several hours.

After intercourse the appearance of weak dark discharge is explained by damage to small vessels on the surface of the vagina, which occurs if it is poorly moisturized. This condition is observed when a woman is not sufficiently aroused or there are age-related changes in the condition of the vaginal mucosa due to a lack of estrogen (during menopause).

Puberty associated with hormonal changes in the girl’s body and the development of the genital organs. Within 1-2 years after the appearance of the first menstruation, cycle irregularity and the random occurrence of bleeding of varying intensity are not a pathology. Between periods, even instead of them, dark brown scanty discharge may appear.

Beginning of sexual activity. Bloody leucorrhoea appears not only due to damage to the hymen, but also as a result of the lack of sufficient lubrication in the vagina during the first few sexual intercourses. As soon as hormonal changes occur, the work of the cervical glands, which are responsible for the production of protective mucus, will increase, and dark bloody leucorrhoea will disappear.

Note: If brown discharge is not abundant, homogeneous in composition, and odorless, then it is most likely harmless and is associated with natural processes occurring in the body.

Video: Causes of spotting between periods

Discharges due to changes in physiological state

The onset of pregnancy, its artificial or spontaneous termination, as well as childbirth are accompanied by bleeding of varying intensity and nature. They can be both normal and dangerous.

Discharge after abortion

For several more days they contain large dark clots of coagulated blood and remnants of the fertilized egg. Gradually they become more and more scanty, spotting, and then turn into regular leucorrhoea.

A pathology is the appearance of scarlet blood after an abortion, especially if it turns into real bleeding. This indicates possible damage to the uterus or incomplete removal of the fertilized egg. The woman requires urgent medical attention and, most likely, surgery.

Brown discharge during pregnancy

During the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman may experience scanty, dark, bloody leucorrhoea on days when she would normally have her period. Such “periods” mislead a woman, especially if there are no symptoms of toxicosis. She may not realize she is pregnant for several months.

In this case, the appearance of blood is associated with the individual characteristics of the hormonal changes occurring in the body during this period, the lack of progesterone. This hormone stops the growth and development of new follicles so that the embryo can develop normally in the uterus. After the formation of the placenta, which produces progesterone, the body’s condition returns to normal and scanty bleeding stops.

At the same time, spotting brownish leucorrhoea during this period can be dangerous. If the lack of progesterone is significant due to the pathological condition of the corpus luteum, then a miscarriage occurs, which is indicated by discharge. To maintain pregnancy, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment.

Dark leucorrhoea also indicates that the fertilized egg is not implanted in the uterus, but in the tubes or cervix (ectopic pregnancy). Painful sensations appear. In this case, urgent surgical intervention is required. Her life depends on how quickly a woman gets help.

Discharge after childbirth

Immediately after childbirth, a woman develops lochia, as the uterus is freed from the remnants of the fetal membrane, endometrium, and the open wound heals at the site of the separated placenta. Within 4 days, blood with clots comes out, then over another 5-6 weeks, gradually diminishing dark brown discharge appears, and only then transparent leucorrhoea appears.

If bloody lochia disappears earlier, this indicates poor contractility of the uterus and the formation of blood stagnation, and an inflammatory process occurs. Excessive bleeding indicates dangerous uterine bleeding.

Video: Brown discharge before and after menstruation

Pathological discharge

Signs of pathology are:

  • the appearance of dark brownish leucorrhoea with an unpleasant odor;
  • the presence of pus impurities in them;
  • prolonged presence in the leucorrhoea of ​​clots of coagulated blood and particles of the uterine mucosa;
  • increasing their intensity;
  • unusual duration;
  • color change to scarlet or bright red;
  • feeling of pain in the abdomen or lower back, or other ailments.

The appearance of spotting dark brown discharge before and after menstruation may indicate hormonal disorders in the body, the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the uterine cavity (endometritis), in the cervix (cervicitis). Such discharge appears with endometrial hyperplasia and endometriosis due to the fact that the vulnerability of the mucous membrane increases during this period.

If brownish mucus appears regardless of the phase of the cycle, between periods or instead of them, then the causes may be diseases of the cervix associated with damage and thinning of its membranes (with erosion, leukoplakia, dysplasia). Dark brown leucorrhoea can be a consequence of uterine fibroids, polyps in the mucous membranes, ovarian cysts, or a symptom of cancerous tumors.

If signs of pathology appear in the discharge, a woman should urgently consult a doctor, as sometimes this indicates organ damage.