Why is My Discharge Brown?

Vaginal discharge is normal, but changes in the amount, consistency, color, or smell could indicate an infection or other problem.

This article will explore the causes of brown discharge before a period and will tell you what this may mean if a person is pregnant, not pregnant, or approaching menopause.

What is Discharge?

For women, vaginal discharge is a normal part of life and is how female bodies expel fluids and cells.

Discharge can vary from woman to woman and can change in appearance, consistency, and smell depending on various factors. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

• Pregnancy
• Infections
• Hormonal changes
• Menstrual cycle

Typically, discharge begins around a female’s first period. The discharge can sometimes be heavy or light, and this largely depends on a person’s menstrual cycle and what stage of life they are in.

For example, throughout a woman's various pregnancy stages, she may produce more vaginal discharge than usual.

As a woman ages and experiences menopause, she may produce less vaginal discharge because the body has stopped ovulating and estrogen levels have shifted. Because of this, perimenopausal, menopausal, or postmenopausal women may experience vaginal dryness.

Why is My Discharge Brown?

Generally, a healthy vaginal discharge is thin and clear, or white. However, vaginal discharge may change in color.

When a person has brown discharge, it is likely that the discharge contains a small amount of old menstrual blood, which is blood that has taken slightly longer to exit the uterus.

Brown discharge, however, may be caused by a number of reasons. Let’s cover some of the common reasons for brown vaginal discharge.

It’s the Beginning or End of Your Period

A female’s menstrual flow is typically slower toward the beginning and end of her period.

During a period, when blood leaves the body relatively quickly, it is typically a shade of red. When menstrual flow slows down, however, the old blood has time to oxidize and may cause light brown discharge or dark brown discharge.

If you notice brown blood at the beginning or end stages of your period, don’t panic as this is probably normal. Your vagina is simply cleaning itself out.

Brown Discharge May Be Caused by Hormonal Imbalance

Brown discharge could also be an indication of a hormonal imbalance.

Estrogen, a group of hormones that play an important role in women’s sexual and reproductive development, helps stabilize the uterine lining.

If a woman doesn’t have enough estrogen, her uterine lining may break down at unexpected stages in her cycle.

Because of this, she may experience brown spotting or abnormal bleeding.

Low estrogen may also cause:

• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Mood swings or depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Urinary tract infections
• Weight gain

Contraception May Cause Brown Discharge

Pills like birth control or hormonal contraceptives may cause brown discharge in the first few months of use.

As previously mentioned, if there is an imbalance of estrogen in the body, a woman's uterine wall may shed between periods. This can also happen when hormone levels change due to the use of contraceptives.

Blood that takes longer than normal to exit the body may appear brown.

If this continues for more than three months, you should consider talking to your doctor about switching birth control methods. A contraceptive with a different estrogen level may help.

Ovulation Spotting May Cause Brown Discharge

A small number of women can experience ovulation spotting around the middle stage of their menstrual cycle.

The color of spotting is typically between shades of red and pink and mixed with clear discharge. However, spotting can also be brown.

Symptoms of ovulation include:

• Discharge that has the consistency of an egg white
• Low abdominal pain (also known as Mittelschmerz)
• A change in your basal body temperature (your body temperature at rest)

Ovarian Cyst May Cause Brown Spotting

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled pocket or sac that forms on one or both ovaries.

For example, an ovarian cyst may form if an egg doesn't successfully detach from the ovary during ovulation.

The cyst may go away by itself after a few months. It may, however, also grow larger and could cause anything from brown spotting to ovary twisting.

Sexually Transmitted Disease

Brown discharge or spotting may also indicate a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Some symptoms can include:

• A burning sensation when urinating
• Smelly discharge
• Pain during sex

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Besides STDs, other vaginal infections may also result in brown discharge.

An infection of the cervix and uterus called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can also cause brown discharge.

Symptoms of PID include:

• Pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen
• Pain during sex
• Fever
• Smelly vaginal discharge
• A burning sensation when urinating

Cervical Cancer

After a woman has reached menopause, general spotting or bleeding (of any color), or if this happens after sex, is the most common sign of cervical cancer.

Unusual vaginal discharge, including brown discharge, is a common symptom of cervical cancer.

Other symptoms, besides unusual discharge, typically only occur once the cancer has progressed.

Symptoms of progressed cancer can include:

• Pelvic pain
• Feeling a mass or growth
• Weight loss
• Persistent fatigue
• Trouble urinating or defecating
• Swelling in legs

Annual pelvic exams and regular visits to your doctor can help detect cervical cancer earlier.

Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 20 weeks. Around 10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Symptoms can occur suddenly and include a gush of brown fluid or heavy red bleeding.

Other symptoms may include:

• Cramping or pain in your lower abdomen
• Passing tissues or blood clots from the vagina
• Dizziness
• Fainting

If you are pregnant and notice brown discharge, it is important to notify your doctor.

Lochia

Lochia refers to a four to six-week period of bleeding after childbirth and begins with a heavy red flow that is often filled with small clots.

After the first few days of bleeding, the flow typically slows and becomes more pink or brown in color. Before it completely stops, lochia will change color again to a more yellowish or creamy color.

Should I See a Doctor?

In most cases, experiencing brown discharge is typically the result of old menstrual blood that is taking time to leave the uterus.

This is particularly true if the woman is at the beginning or final stages of her period. Brown discharge in the middle of your period or at a random time can still be normal under certain circumstances. However, you should take note of any other symptoms that you may feel and see a doctor if it persists.

During pregnancy, you should always consult with your doctor or a health care professional for guidance or treatment.

You should also seek immediate treatment if you experience irregular bleeding or spotting after menopause.

Where Can I Learn More About Vaginal Infections?

If you are currently experiencing some of the symptoms that we’ve mentioned in this article or are concerned about a potential vaginal infection, you can make a telehealth appointment to meet with a board-certified doctor or nurse practitioner. Simply head over to LifeMD.com to make an appointment.