Brown discharge in women: dark and light, abundant and smearing

Vaginal secretion can indicate natural and signal the pathological process in a female body; therefore, you should consider it first. The meaning of brown discharge depends on time of their occurrence, duration of treatment and presence of additional symptoms. Brown discharge in women: dark and light, abundant and smearing.

When the sign is within the norm

Under certain conditions, the causes of brown discharge in women are not related to pathology. Brown mucous vaginal fluid can be caused by:

• careless or prolonged sexual intercourse;
• ruptured follicle after ovulation;
• conception;
• beginning of pregnancy;
• postpartum recovery;
• adaptation to contraceptive pills;
• intense physical activity;
• stabilization of the monthly cycle in girl;
• preparation of the body for period;
• release of the rests of endometrium after period;
• premenopause and climax.

All these conditions have a common sign –faint brown, moderately liquid, smearing discharge. A small stain (about 4-5 cm) remains on the panty liner. The only exception is postpartum period, when the reproductive system can release a larger volume of secretion. Follow the link to find out how long the discharge after delivery lasts.

Discharge in the middle of the cycle

During the fertile period or ovulation, abundant mucous liquid can be mixed with blood. At first, vagina secretion is transparent, but after the rupture of follicle where the egg matures, the mucus can darken due to the penetration of clotted blood. Normally, liquid must have the following characteristics:

1. Insignificant volume.
2. Spotting nature.
3. Light brown color of discharge.
4. Duration up to two days.
5. Absence of unpleasant smell, pain or tension in the area of ovaries.

You must go to the hospital, if such situation is observed constantly, your general condition worsens, and the brownish secretion appears before and after ovulation, immediately turning into period.

Before period

A few days before the monthly bleeding, a girl can observe traces of insignificant brown mucous discharge on her underwear or panty liner. This phenomenon belongs to the isolated incidents. Fibrous structure of secretion should not frighten you, as this is how the body signals the beginning of rejection of the uterine mucosa.

Long-lasting smearing discharge of brown or maroon color one week before period can be caused by:

• stress;
• improper diet;
• strict diet;
• excess weight;
• wrong way of life;
• lack of sleep;
• smoking, drugs and alcohol;
• constant physical overstrains;
• severe hormone deficiency.

In most cases, brown discharge between periods indicates menstrual disorder or pathology. Unpleasant smell of liquid released and constant pain in the stomach and back are especially dangerous symptoms.

After period

Smear after period is a norm. Such condition is caused by the gradual detachment of endometrium, whose last pieces go out in the form of clotted blood. In most women, small amount of brown discharge lasts no more than two-three days, and a common panty liner is enough.

Dark-brown or brown vaginal secretion that reminds of period and lasts more than one week, should cause concern. This problem can be caused by hormonal imbalance, inflammation, infectious disease and other pathologies of the reproductive system.

It happens that brown discharge appears during the delay of menstruation. Follow a link to find out what this sign indicates.

Implantation bleeding

Merging of male and female sex cells is not enough for pregnancy. When the fertilized egg penetrates into the uterine cavity, one can speak of the completed conception. This process in the reproductive system can lead to the emergence of scarce brown or pink discharge. However, it lasts only several hours or days.

There must not be much brown mucus from the genital tract, as implantation damages a small amount of blood vessels. In some women, such early sign is non-existent; therefore, secretion with blood doesn’t necessarily mean pregnancy.

Brown discharge 6-12 days after ovulation may indicate the conception. The time interval depends on individual characteristics of the organism.

Additional symptoms:

• swelling and tenderness of the mammary glands;
• frequent urination;
• hypersomnia;
• sudden mood swings;
• dizziness and fatigue.

Hormonal fluctuations

At the beginning of treatment with oral contraceptives or IUD, the body gradually adapts to contraceptive. Adaptation period can last about three months, accompanied by insignificant bloody discharge between periods.

In this situation, you should pay attention to discomfort, as well as specific period of the cycle, when one or another vaginal secretion appears. Woman can trigger the dark discharge from the vagina:

• missing the pill;
• violation of instructions;
• high dose of the drug;
• choosing the wrong type of oral contraceptives.

When the discharge indicates the pathology

Without knowledge of gynecology, it is difficult to establish the reason for brown discharge and significant discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen. However, a woman can pay attention to the following symptoms, which should be an occasion for an immediate visit to the gynecologist:

1. Bloody secretion is too dense or watery.
2. The amount of liquid released increases each time.
3. The pad gets wet in less than an hour.
4. Blood is regularly observed in the mucus.
5. Sexual contact is accompanied by pain.
6. You have a high body temperature for no reason.
7. There is an unpleasant smell.
8. You feel itching and burning.
9. Period is absent for a long time.
10. You can observe a large number of clots during pseudo-period.

Often, pathological condition of the reproductive system is manifested in the release of abundant secretion with blood. However, gynecological pathologies don’t always have expressed symptoms. Therefore, they can be confused with the effects of stress, starvation, careless coitus and other relatively harmless provokers. Therefore, upon detection of the brown discharge of any intensity, you should visit a gynecologist. Let’s consider the most common pathologies, accompanied by the symptom described.

Discharge instead of period

This secretion may be observed instead of period. This is a scarce smearing secretion (up to 50 ml), accompanied by the following symptoms:

• lower back pain;
• tightness or pain in the chest;
• nagging pain in the lower abdomen or suprapubic zone;
• dizziness;
• nausea.

This symptom can be due to the following reasons:

1. Hormonal failure.
2. Pituitary gland disorder.
3. Endometrial trauma.
4. Consequence of abortion.
5. Prolonged inflammatory process.
6. Endocrine disorders.
7. Strong physical effort.
8. Over exercise.
9. Beginning of pregnancy.

Why does the discharge change color?

Brownish color of vaginal fluid changes according to the factor: light-brown, brown or even dark shade. Vaginal secretion can darken because of:

• use of antibiotics;
• hormonal imbalance;
• exacerbation of the disease;
• development of diabetes;
• malfunction of the endocrine system;
• hormone treatment.

keep in mind that UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OXYGEN normal secretion SLIGHTLY DARKENS, acquiring the light yellow-brown shade.

Gynecological diseases and pathologies of pregnancy

Abundant dark-brown discharge can’t be related to the common processes in the body. Such sign indicates:

• inflammatory processes;
• sexual infections;
• ectopic (extrauterine) pregnancy;
• the risk of miscarriage (I-III trimester);
• endometritis;
• cystitis;
• endometriosis;
• cervical erosion;
• polyps;
• endometrial hyperplasia;
• benign neoplasms;
• cancer.

The diseases may be undiagnosed for a long time, as the symptoms may not manifest immediately. Woman may not be aware of the pathology or observe any obvious signs. Dark-brown discharge often indicates an advanced case, which will be much more difficult to treat. That is why women should visit a gynecologist every six months, and in case of unnatural symptoms — immediately.

Pregnancy problems and malignant tumors are considered particularly dangerous, as these conditions may cause a threat to the patient’s life in the absence of timely treatment or surgery.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the urethra or bladder is accompanied by bleeding, which has nothing to do with the diseases of the reproductive system. After frequent urination, women may observe not only bloody discharge from the urethra, but also pain in the lower abdomen or back. Additional symptoms of urethritis remind of common cold. The following symptoms and characteristics of liquid should warn you:

• blood in the urine;
• frequent urination;
• muddy color of urine;
• high body temperature;
• vomiting and nausea.

Infectious diseases

In the absence of timely treatment, infection of the female sex organs causes prolonged inflammatory processes. Such disorders affect quantity and shade of vaginal secretion. To prevent complications, women must know the nature of dangerous brown discharge and the infections they cause.

• chlamydiosis;
• gonorrhea;
• trichomoniasis;
• candidiasis (thrush);
• genital herpes;
• mycoplasmosis;
• ureaplasmosis;
• bacterial vaginosis.

Brown discharge in women. These diseases can be asymptomatic, until the infection causes inflammation. Each type of pathology has its own features, but in any condition, brown vaginal discharge is a serious cause to see a doctor and take a smear for microscopic examination.

Dark discharge can be considered normal or indicate the development of pathological process in the body. In case of any diseases, you should see a specialist and don’t self-medicate. Only on the basis of the results of examination and tests, the doctor will prescribe effective treatment.