Brown discharge: Causes, meanings, and when to seek medical advice

An illustration of a hand holding underwear covered in brown discharge.
  • Updated Nov 28, 2024
  • Published

CRAFTED BY HUMAN

Crafted by human At Femia, we provide accurate and up-to-date information at every stage of your journey, from trying to conceive, pregnancy and postnatal support. All content is created by a real person based on in-depth research and own professional experience. Femia ensures that you will receive expert advice, strict accuracy and a personalized approach from our authors/medical experts. Learn more about our editorial policy.

FACT CHECKED

Fact checked At Femia Health, we maintain the highest standards of editorial excellence in delivering content focused on helping you conceive, guiding you through pregnancy, and supporting you postpartum. Explore our content review principles to learn how we ensure the accuracy and quality of our health and lifestyle tips for every stage of your journey.

Author picture

Created with Nataliia Yermolovych, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist

In this article
In a nutshell

Often, brown discharge is vaginal fluid mixed with old blood that turned brown due to oxidation. It can show up before or after your period, as well as during ovulation, implantation in early pregnancy, hormonal changes, and birth control intake. However, in some cases, especially when accompanied by pain, unusual odor, and other symptoms, it can also indicate certain health problems.

Vaginal discharge plays a number of pivotal roles in a woman’s health. Apart from its lubricating function, it cleans your vagina and helps keep bad bacteria and infections out. 

One more thing you need to know about your discharge is that it’s never static. Its amount, consistency, and color can change through the different stages of your menstrual cycle to support the bodily functions you need at the time. 

In this article, we’ll talk about a rather common type of discharge—brown discharge. Similar to other discharge colors, it can have multiple meanings. So, let’s explore them and help you understand your body better.

How to calculate your fertile window?

Femia offers the most accurate tool for determining ovulation and fertile days

Try Femia now

What does brown discharge mean?

Brown discharge occurs when old blood mixes with vaginal fluid. Most often, it’s the blood that was left over from your menstrual phase, which is why it’s quite typical to notice this kind of discharge right after your period. It won’t happen every month—often, when the amount of blood left from menstruation is too small, your body can biodegrade it, and it won’t come out. However, having some of it coming out is also normal.

If you notice this occurrence, it’s natural to wonder “Why is my discharge brown?”. After all, changes in discharge might indicate certain problems. Similarly, brownish discharge might be absolutely normal; , on the other hand, it may be related to abnormal reproductive processes, which is why it’s important to be able to distinguish and interpret it correctly.

👉Find out more: Pink discharge: Causes and what you can do about it

Brown discharge before period

The most common cause of brown discharge before your period is blood left over from your previous period. Often, the rest of the blood comes out at the very end of or soon after your period. However, sometimes, it may not come out until right before your next period. Staying in your uterus for a while, blood gets old and gains a brown color because it has more time to oxidize.

Brown discharge before a period might also be a sign of hormonal fluctuations. It can be mid-cycle spotting taking place during and slightly after ovulation. During this time, your estrogen levels go down, creating changes in your hormonal balance. Also, you may notice brownish spotting before a period due to lifestyle changes—for example, weight fluctuations, changes in the intensity of your exercise, and stress.

Additionally, certain health conditions can contribute to brown discharge, including endometriosis, uterine polyps, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or starting hormonal contraception. For older women, brown discharge may indicate the body preparing for menopause. If you notice persistent or concerning brown discharge, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider.

Brown discharge during ovulation

You might also interpret brown discharge as a pregnancy sign if it occurs around the time of implantation and is followed by other early pregnancy symptoms. However, if you notice this kind of discharge earlier, around the middle of your cycle, it’s also natural and typically not a cause of concern.

Ovulation takes place on day 14 in a typical 28-day cycle. During this time, a mature egg breaks out from the follicle in your ovary to be fertilized. Sometimes, when the follicle breaks open to release an egg, it may be accompanied by light bleeding and cramping. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations during ovulation—such as a temporary drop in estrogen before progesterone levels rise—can lead to light spotting.  If this discharge is related to ovulation, it often appears as light pink or brown spotting.

Brown discharge after period

If you notice brown discharge after your period, it’s typically a normal occurrence. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons you can get brown discharge, in general. If it’s a marker of your recent periods, such discharge can show at the very end of your period or even a few days after it’s over.

In this case, the brownish color is created by the residual blood left in your body after your period. The color of discharge can range greatly, from light to dark brown. In most cases, all these color variations are considered normal after a period and occur based on the amount of blood you have left.

Brown discharge with no period

Since the brown color of discharge is caused by blood, it’s natural to get concerned if you notice brown discharge with no period. However, there are several reasons this might happen:

1. Birth control

When getting on a form of hormonal contraception, it’s common to experience occasional irregular bleeding during the first few months. This is called breakthrough bleeding, and it can take place between your periods, when you don’t expect it. Often, this bleeding is so light that it may look like  spotting, with a brownish color.

This type of discharge can happen with any kind of birth control, including:

  • Birth control pills
  • Hormonal IUDs (intrauterine devices)
  • Birth control implant
  • Vaginal ring
  • Birth control shot
  • Skin patch

However, it’s most frequent with specific types of hormonal contraception, such as low-dose and ultra-low-dose birth control pills, implants, and hormonal IUDs.

2. Hormonal changes

If you don’t take hormonal contraception, brown discharge between your periods may also signal a hormonal imbalance. The uterine lining, which breaks down after ovulation if no egg is fertilized and causes your period, is stabilized by a group of hormones called estrogens. When estrogen levels are low, your uterine lining might be more vulnerable and break at other stages of your cycle rather than menstruation.

This can cause brown spotting or even abnormal bleeding. Additional symptoms that indicate low estrogen may include:

  • Insomnia
  • Hot flashes
  • Mood swings
  • Weight gain
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Concentration issues

It’s important to note that low estrogen may be caused by external factors, such as impaired ovary function, surgical removal of ovaries, and eating disorders. However, it may also be a natural part of aging, because your estrogen levels start decreasing during perimenopause. Hence, it’s important to understand the context of hormonal changes occurring in your body.

3. Early pregnancy

Light, brownish spotting can sometimes be an early sign of pregnancy. Typically, it is related to the implantation of a fertilized egg into your uterine lining.

4. Underlying health concerns

While there are a few usual causes for brown discharge between your periods, sometimes, it could also indicate health problems. Namely, it could indicate the following underlying health conditions:

  • Vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, or vulvovaginal candidiasis. Often, such infections cause abnormal vaginal discharge that can be accompanied by pain, discomfort, and a bad smell.
  • Uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths of muscle and tissue that can develop on your uterus—may also cause brown discharge. This happens in rare cases, when fibroids grow out from your uterus and cut off its blood supply. Typically, this results in brownish discharge and pain.
  • Endometriosis: This condition, where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, may cause brown spotting or discharge due to the presence of older blood and can be associated with severe pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.

👉Find out more: Bruised cervix symptoms: Causes, signs, and when to seek help

Brown discharge during pregnancy

If you are wondering “Why do I have brown discharge but no period?”, sometimes the answer to this question might be that you are in the early stages of pregnancy. Once an egg gets fertilized, it moves down the fallopian tube toward your uterus to implant. During implantation, a fertilized egg adheres to the lining of the uterus. 

When the egg attaches to the uterus lining, it might be accompanied by implantation bleeding. Here are some common characteristics of implantation bleeding to distinguish it from other kinds of discharge:

  • Pink, brown, or dark brown discharge with no tissue.
  • Spotty or very light in flow.
  • Lasts for a few hours to several days.
  • Might be accompanied by light or mild implantation cramping.
  • Occurs 6–12 days after conception.

By the timing and aforementioned symptoms, you should be able to distinguish brown discharge as a pregnancy sign. In this case, you might want to track other early pregnancy signs, such as missed periods or watery period blood, and get a test.

An infographics showing signs of implantation.

However, if you already know that you’re pregnant, keep in mind that brown discharge during pregnancy might indicate a problem and require medical attention in the following cases:

  • If your discharge is heavy or very persistent.
  • If you notice brown discharge with tissue-like pieces (clots).
  • If it’s accompanied by severe cramps or pain.
  • If you also experience fever or chills.
  • Additionally, remember that any atypical discharge later in pregnancy requires special attention, as it might indicate issues with the placenta, miscarriage, and other problems.

When to consult a doctor

As you now know, brown discharge typically occurs when your vaginal fluid gets mixed with blood. This can happen naturally before or after your period, when there is some blood left in your uterus from the previous or current cycle. It can also be a result of hormonal changes, birth control, and early pregnancy. However, sometimes, it can also be a sign of a problem.

Noticing brown discharge at any stage of your cycle could require medical attention if it’s accompanied by unusual odor, pain, or large tissue-like pieces. In order to tell when there might be an underlying health issue, be sure to keep an eye on any changes in the color and volume of your discharge, track other related symptoms, and turn to a healthcare provider if concerned.

How to calculate your fertile window?

Femia offers the most accurate tool for determining ovulation and fertile days

Try Femia now

Questions from the Femia community

  • Is it normal to have brown discharge after intercourse?

    Yes; sometimes, brown discharge can be noticed after intercourse due to several issues. Namely, it can be caused by uterus contractions during orgasm, which can  push out some residual blood, or by minor cervical irritation. Also, it can result from ovulation or implantation bleeding if you have sex around the same time.

  • What should I do if I see a brown discharge with tissue-like pieces?

    Typically, brown discharge shouldn’t contain any clots. So, if you notice tissue-like pieces, it’s best to consult a doctor as soon as possible, as it could be a sign of miscarriage or other reproductive health concerns.

  • Can stress cause brown discharge?

    Yes, stress and significant lifestyle changes can have a tangible impact on your menstrual cycle. Sometimes, it may contribute to unexpected but short-term spotting. However, any persistent discharge should be carefully monitored and evaluated.

The bottom line

Does brown discharge mean pregnancy? Is it a natural occurrence? Or should you see it as a cause for concern? Without any doubt, asking yourself these questions is natural if you notice any unexpected or unusual vaginal discharge, as it might indicate different underlying health conditions.

As you now know from this guide, brown discharge can be a natural part of your cycle when there is some old blood left from previous periods. It can also be a sign of early pregnancy or just ovulation spotting.

This kind of discharge can have multiple causes and interpretations. One way or another, it’s important to monitor any changes in your typical discharge, and keep an eye on additional symptoms in order to tell when you might need medical advice.

Facebook
Twitter
Threads
In this article
Related articles