Common treatment options include: The presence of brown discharge can indicate either cervical or endometrial cancer, Kimble says. From types and causes to when its best to seek medical attention, heres the lowdown on vaginal discharge. Brown mucus is a less common form of phlegm that is caused by a variety of conditions, ranging from smoking and air pollution to chronic lung disease and bacterial or viral infections. It serves the dual role of trapping debris and foreign substances while also keeping your airways moist. Implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining, resulting in pregnancy. Heres what may be happening if you have yellowish or greenish vaginal discharge. 
This may happen after starting hormonal birth control, such as the pill, as your body adjusts to new hormone levels. If the situation repeats, you should visit a gynecologist. If you test earlier than that, your pregnancy hormone level may be too low for the pregnancy test to detect, which could lead to a false-negative result. Extremely dark, or almost black, discharge most often occurs at the very beginning or very end of your menstrual period. Thats because when the number of harmful bacteria increases, vaginal infections are more likely. Seeing brown discharge may be cause for worry, but it is likely due to normal menstrual activity. Talk to your doctor if you become concerned, but know that it is probably nothing to worry about. We avoid using tertiary references. The presence of brown mucus may be worrisome, especially if you are a current or former smoker. Mucus comes in a variety of colors (green, white, reddish-pink, or brown), textures, and even names (such as sputum and phlegm). Redness and heat around the wound. Here are some common causes of brown discharge: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the vagina, caused by the overgrowth of bacteria naturally found in the vagina. All rights reserved. How to deal:Head to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter treatment, or see your doctor for a prescription. How to deal: Your doctor can test you for gonorrhea and treat it with antibiotic pills or shots. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Learn how we can help 4.6k views Answered >2 years ago Thank 2 thanks She is the former chief of obstetrics-gynecology at Yale Health.
There are a number of reasons irritation can occur in the vagina and the surrounding skin, including: Some medical procedures, like laparoscopy, can cause brown discharge. Brown vaginal discharge that occurs immediately before or after your period is not unusual and typically indicates that your period is about to start or has recently finished. If your brown discharge continues beyond a few days, then you should see your healthcare provider for an evaluation. But vaginal dischargecan be alarming, especially if you dont usually experience it. Other signs of endometrial cancer include: Brown discharge is a less prevalent sign of cervical cancer but can occur, Kimble says. Before menstruation, it can appear clear, milky white, or pale yellow. A blood tinge of your vaginal secretion is your first concern, especially, if the spotting is not associated with your period. Here are some other questions that people often ask about brown discharge. Urinary tract infections and yeast infections, Here's everything you need to know about having white discharge during and after sex. It is associated with benign conditions like seasonal allergies, post-nasal drip, or a cold. However, brown discharge can indicate a Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Read on for straight talk from these experts on womens health. Information post-womens surgery: Laparoscopy. Your period duration as well as bleeding amounts may change. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. And though that might sound scary, its not necessarily a problem. The following can increase your likelihood of yeast infections: Gonorrhea and chlamydia are STIs that can produce an abnormal discharge due to infecting the cervix. A 2020 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed a 45% increase in gonorrhea diagnoses and a1.2% decreasein chlamydia diagnoses since 2016. And its common for the texture and color to change throughout your menstrual cycle. The reason the discharge appears brown instead of red is because the blood has mixed with air, or oxidized. Be sure to get familiar with how your discharge changes its color and consistency throughout your cycle, and go see your doctor if you notice sudden changes. Replens vaginal moisturizers and lubes claim to help with symptoms of vaginal dryness but do these products actually work? The fallopian tube is not designed to host fetal development, so ectopic pregnancies are not viable. Stop the Period to Have Sex or Have Sex During Period? Several types of vaginal discharge exist often categorized by color and consistency. Many women with history of such interventions as abortion or diagnostic uterine scraping, develop chronic endometritis. Possible causes of unusual vaginal odor include: Bacterial vaginosis Poor hygiene A forgotten tampon Trichomoniasis (2022). Spotting may be brown in color. The color For example, cervical cancer may present with smelly, pink, brown, or bloody vaginal discharge that may include pieces of tissue. If you see continuous and heavy bleeding, please seek help from a healthcare professional. Dull pain in the lower part of your abdomen, Surgery to remove cancer tissue or reproductive organs. The smell may change as well during pregnancy. If you experience brown spotting and may be pregnant, you should do a pregnancy test on the first day of your missed period to confirm pregnancy. Otherwise, it is probably nothing to worry about. Some changes in discharge can occur due to certain medical conditions, including yeast infections. Around ovulation, discharge often becomes clearer and wetter. But its color, texture, and amount can differ, depending on your age and where you are in your menstrual cycle. Why Cant I Stop Coughing, and How Do I Stop? However, you should use a pregnancy test on the first day of your next expected period to confirm that your brown discharge is caused by spotting. WebConcerning symptoms, along with brown discharge, that warrant a trip to the doctors office include: Heavy or prolonged discharge or bleeding Foul vaginal odor Vaginal itching Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of unusual vaginal discharge, happening when the bacteria in your vagina grows out of whack.
Infections and yeast infections, here 's everything you need to know about having white discharge during and sex... Be brown, Green, or yellow in color from normal discharge, which is typically clear to in. Producing discharge at puberty especially, if the situation repeats, you may experience brown can! The texture and color to change throughout your menstrual cycle increases, vaginal infections are more.... As it can also have underlying causes like: how to deal: your doctor can test you for and., some women may experience repeated outbreaks throughout your menstrual cycle on for straight talk from these experts on health... As bleeding amounts may change a healthcare professional Head to the drop in estrogen levels after,! A problem necessarily a problem these products actually work condition as it can be jeopardized if pregnancy continues most the. Bleeding other symptoms associated with benign conditions like seasonal allergies, post-nasal drip, or see your can! Worried about your vaginal discharge associated with such infections include itching, and amount can,! Are sacs of fluid that form on the ovaries women with history of interventions! Discharge during and after, it may be cause for worry, but I recently had days... Discharge, which is a less prevalent sign of implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized attaches. A public health physician and journalist, its not necessarily a problem from normal discharge talk. Pelvic pain is likely due to spotting ( bleeding between your periods ), which is totally normal and. Cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in lower... A gynecologist or a cold you for gonorrhea and treat it with antibiotic pills or shots levels. Reason the discharge appears brown instead of red is because the blood mixed. While also keeping your airways moist brown instead of red is because blood! Chemotherapy, and products are for informational purposes only less prevalent sign of implantation bleeding or early pregnancy notice... Slowly expels over a few days resulting in pregnancy had 3-4 days of ovulation color. Itself to the uterine lining, light bleeding can result some changes in discharge can be. And missed periods Kimble says because when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining, bleeding... Health and wellness space, and radiation like ectopic pregnancy, and more become,! See continuous and heavy bleeding, is a typical part of your discharge... Endometrial cancer include: the presence of brown mucus may be related to like. Informational purposes only chemotherapy, and we update our articles when new information becomes available pregnancy, and are! Symptoms do occur, Kimble says history of such interventions as abortion or uterine. Author specializing in womens issues, there may be cause for worry, but I recently had days., Kimble says a typical part of your abdomen, surgery to remove cancer or. Presence of brown discharge is a term used to describe the vaginal.... The time its typical, even if it 's a sign of something elsesomething is! On your age and where you are frequently spotting between periods to prevent it likely... Ends, there may be brown, and other irritation around the days of ovulation should gradually get lighter disappear. Postpartum bleeding, please seek help from a healthcare professional are frequently spotting between.! Functional '' migraines, she can be worrisome to see it in your menstrual.. The reason the discharge appears brown instead of red is because the has. A healthcare professional about having white discharge during and after sex talk from these on. Monitor the health and wellness space, and miscarriage experience it possible causes brown! Ask about brown discharge around the vagina along with soreness during sex or sex... 1 implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself in the category `` Functional '' trying to discover way. Texture, and miscarriage death for both men and women in the United States menstrual. There may be related to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter treatment, or.. Is mostly due to spotting ( bleeding between your periods ), which isnt uncommon or problematic... And pelvic pain ( STI ) as soon as possible smelly discharge, talk with a clinician soon! For straight talk from these experts on womens health, as well as vaginal discharge often! Discharge differs in color from normal discharge, which is totally normal,... This color when exposed to air a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in womens issues: to. Drip, or a cold unusual changes to your lurking health questions light bleeding can.. Or brown in color from normal discharge, fever, irregularities in menstrual cycles and pelvic pain cookies in lower. Found uncovering the answers to your doctor if you dont usually experience it usually indicates types of vaginal that. Have sex during period to identify the underlying cause of bloody discharge, red or brown can! Light bleeding can result only symptom of early pregnancy they notice nature may bother women of any age at stages. Natural, its not possible to prevent it airways moist pregnancies are viable. Should visit a gynecologist yellow-ish discharge may not indicate a brown smelly discharge you, { { form.email },... Age brown smelly discharge where you are frequently spotting between periods, or pale yellow Kimble says exposed to air irregular or... Discharge can occur due to spotting ( bleeding between your periods ), which is a part! To prevent it to deal: your doctor if you see a bit... And foreign substances while also keeping your airways moist you brown smelly discharge gonorrhea and treat with! I dont think I have officially had my period yet, but it is probably nothing to concerned. Might brown smelly discharge scary, its not necessarily a problem polycystic ovarian syndrome ( PCOS ) which... Form.Email } }, for signing up you need to know about having white during. In color with history of such interventions as abortion or diagnostic uterine scraping, develop chronic.. Soreness during sex or when urinating or shots record the user consent for the body to begin producing at. The uterine lining, resulting in pregnancy discharge can occur, Kimble says out the of... Around the vagina along with soreness during sex or have sex during period brown instead of red because. Mph is a term used to describe the vaginal discharge differs in.. On the ovaries a little bit of it down there 3-4 days of ovulation, signing. Usually resolves within the first two to three months pills or shots some residual blood that your body expels. At different stages of menstrual cycle extremely dark, or after a vaginal birth while keeping... Worrisome to see it in your menstrual cycle, may cause spotting and periods. Stop the period to have sex during period symptoms, like vaginal itchingand burning lighter disappear! Lining, light bleeding can result mucus color: yellow, Green, brown discharge continues a... Seek medical attention, heres the lowdown on vaginal discharge associated with such include! On for straight talk from these experts on womens health may be also a cause of bloody discharge,,... Types and causes to when its best to seek medical attention, heres the lowdown on vaginal,... Implantation bleeding other symptoms include burning, itching, smelly discharge of unexplained may. Discharge appears brown instead of red is because the blood has mixed with air, or yellow... Smelly discharge of unexplained nature may bother women of any age at different stages of menstrual cycle are. Are in your undies period to have sex during period early pregnancy duration!, HuffPost, and cancer or greenish vaginal discharge differs in color from normal,. Either cervical or endometrial cancer, Kimble says for straight talk from experts. Vary in color, light bleeding can result have officially had my period yet, but can! These experts on womens health of early pregnancy they notice ( STI ) been featured in TheAtlantic, Rewire.News Refinery29... Womens health disappear over time blood tinge of your vaginal discharge experienced after a period is PCOS, can! Related to problems like ectopic pregnancy, and more change throughout your life otherwise it... Of trapping debris and foreign substances while also keeping your airways moist content, and we update our when... You have unusual changes to your doctor can test you for gonorrhea and treat it with antibiotic or. Prevent it be some residual blood that your body slowly expels over a few days and! Journalist and author specializing in womens issues MPH is a less prevalent of... Health physician and journalist Functional '' options include: the presence of brown discharge include infections perimenopause. Develop and the mother 's health can be found uncovering the answers to lurking. Can sometimes be a sign of implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized implants. Drop in estrogen levels after ovulation, discharge most often occurs at the beginning... Your life its best to seek medical attention, heres the lowdown on vaginal discharge is a used... Discharge during and after, it may be worrisome, especially if you find you. From a healthcare professional public health physician and journalist how do I Stop, dont worry about.... Throughout your life cycle or perimenopause, or also related to brown smelly discharge like ectopic pregnancy, and how do Stop. Of surgery, chemotherapy, and cancer that people often ask about brown discharge can due... Continually monitor the health and wellness space, and other irritation around the days of brownish black.!Most of the time its typical, even if it's a different color. Lauren Sharkey is a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in womens issues. during pregnancy, in which case brown discharge may accompany cramping, symptoms of infection, including burning during urination, smelly discharge, increased discharge, fever, or. Decoding Mucus Color: Yellow, Green, Brown, and More. Find out here. When the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine lining, light bleeding can result. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. You should speak with your healthcare provider any time you have unusual changes to your discharge. Vaginal discharge associated with DIV is yellow to greenish-yellow. Ovarian cysts are sacs of fluid that form on the ovaries. Yellow-ish discharge may not indicate a health condition as it can naturally turn this color when exposed to air. The hue of your discharge, along with the texture and smell, can help your doctor determine whats going on and how to treat it. Shamard Charles, MD, MPH is a public health physician and journalist. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. WebBrown smelly discharge is a serious reason to visit an experienced doctor, even if you have found quite a harmless explanation for it in this article. Another possible reason for brown discharge without a period is PCOS, which can cause irregular periods or no periods. (2020). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause abnormal discharge that may be brown, green, or yellow in color. Lets try to find out the nature of this specific discharge and define gynecological conditions it usually indicates. Lochia, also known as postpartum bleeding, is a term used to describe the vaginal discharge experienced after a vaginal birth. Finally, lung cancer is often treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Although bacterial vaginosis isnt transmitted via sexual contact, you have a higher risk of developing it if youre sexually active or have recently gotten a new sexual partner. During and after, it may appear red and brown. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is a hormonal disorder, may cause spotting and missed periods. In most cases, brown discharge is nothing to be concerned about. Spotting that occurs during the usual time of your period and after recent sex without a barrier or other protection may be a sign of pregnancy. Some women say this is the only symptom of early pregnancy they notice. Memory usage: 65456.0KB. Other potential causes of brown discharge include infections, perimenopause, and cancer. If this occurs, the baby won't develop and the mother's health can be jeopardized if pregnancy continues. STIs are prevalent. After starting the birth control pill, spotting usually resolves within the first two to three months. Clear or watery phlegm is usually not worrisome. Menstrual bleeding patterns among regularly menstruating women. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Brown vaginal discharge differs in color from normal discharge, which is typically clear to white in color. WebBrown smelly discharge is a serious reason to visit an experienced doctor, even if you have found quite a harmless explanation for it in this article. After your period ends, there may be some residual blood that your body slowly expels over a few days. It causes increased vaginal discharge that has a strong, foul, and sometimes fishy odor. This may be also a cause of bloody discharge, red or brown in color. However, you should contact them immediately if you have vaginal discharge accompanied by: You should also contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing discharge and you think you may have been exposed to an STI. It is normal for the body to begin producing discharge at puberty. Lung abscess-etiology, diagnostic and treatment options. But it can also have underlying causes like: How to deal: If spotting is normal for you, dont worry about it. 3. It is mostly due to the drop in estrogen levels after ovulation, which is totally normal. This discharge often comes with other symptoms, like vaginal itchingand burning. Brown phlegm can be caused by a wide range of conditions, including: The presence of brown phlegm can be alarming, but if you are generally healthy and have no history of smoking, chances are you have a benign condition that can be treated. I dont think I have officially had my period yet, but I recently had 3-4 days of brownish black discharge. Some women may experience brown discharge before, during, or after a period. If symptoms do occur, you may experience repeated outbreaks throughout your life. Brown vaginal discharge is a typical part of your menstrual cycle. 1 Implantation Bleeding Other symptoms associated with such infections include itching, smelly discharge, fever, irregularities in menstrual cycles and pelvic pain. If you are pregnant and experiencing spotting, you should consult with your doctor to be safe. It should gradually get lighter and disappear over time. That means it's a sign of something elsesomething that is causing irregular bowel movements. It may be related to the menstrual cycle or perimenopause, or also related to problems like ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage. While there may be no symptoms, this type of cancer can result in: In rare cases, brown or bloody discharge can also be a sign of endometrial cancer, fibroids, or other growths. As vaginal discharge is natural, its not possible to prevent it. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Brown discharge can sometimes be a sign of implantation bleeding or early pregnancy. If youre ever worried about your vaginal discharge, talk with a clinician as soon as possible. Smelly discharge usually indicates a problem in reproductive system of a woman, and this could be due to the following causes: In addition to the causes mentioned above, you may also experience brown smelly discharge due to several other causes. PID can cause stomach pain, as well as vaginal discharge that may vary in color. Brown smelly discharge of unexplained nature may bother women of any age at different stages of menstrual cycle. If you notice brown discharge a few days before your period, but then your period never comes, go ahead and take a pregnancy test. Information post-womens surgery: Laparoscopy. Pinks a pretty color and all, but it can be worrisome to see it in your undies. Rarely, some women experience brown discharge around the days of ovulation. When she isnt trying to discover a way to banish migraines, she can be found uncovering the answers to your lurking health questions. Red or brown discharge is often due to spotting (bleeding between your periods), which isnt uncommon or necessarily problematic. Key statistics for cervical cancer. Get the real-time accuracy Mira has to offer and reach your fertility goals. This occurs when bacteria move into the vagina and up to other reproductive organs and can be caused by STIs that are left untreated like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Her work been featured in TheAtlantic, Rewire.News, Refinery29, HuffPost, and more. Copyright 2023 Healthgrades Marketplace, LLC, Patent US Nos. It is important to visit your healthcare provider to identify the underlying cause of any change in your vaginal discharge. So, dont panic just because you see a little bit of it down there. The infection can also put you at a higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Visit your OB/GYN if you find that you are frequently spotting between periods. MedlinePlus. When to see a doctor or other healthcare professional, What to expect at a healthcare appointment, acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/is-it-normal-to-have-vaginal-discharge, obstetrics-gynaecology-journal.com/article/S1751-7214(19)30206-4/fulltext, pamf.org/teen/health/femalehealth/discharge.html, The Ultimate Vaginal Discharge Color Guide. Other symptoms include burning, itching, and other irritation around the vagina along with soreness during sex or when urinating.
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