Cherry red or brown chocolate?

And no we do not talk about chocolate candies! It’s that time of the month again right? The time you want everyone to leave you alone, so you can eat a whole fridge of ice cream while your cramps are killing you. Period time! Although menstruation sucks and you wish you wouldn’t experience it, it is viable for your existence and your future baby’s existence. Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy, and if no pregnancy occurs, the uterus sheds its lining. The period blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus, and it passes out of the body through the vagina.

You may have experienced different period blood color, and usually it is of no extra concern, but there are colors and times that may need your attention and the immediate consultation of your doctor. So, let’s examine some of the period colors and what they mean so we can be more careful in the future!

Brown blood: It is usually the blood right before or after your regular period. At these times, your flow may be slow, which slows down the process of the blood leaving the uterus. The blood may also be left over from your last period.

Dark red blood: The one you probably see when waking up or standing while you are seated for many hours. The deep color may merely mean that the blood has been in the uterus for a while but hasn’t oxidized yet. It is also associated with the end of the period. You may also see this color blood toward the end of your normal menstrual period as your flow slows. Postpartum bleeding is often dark red and heavy for the first three days. After that, the blood gets darker as the bleeding slows.

Bright red blood: The usual period blood color that in many women runs from the beginning to the end of their period. For others, it gets darker as the flow slows. Unfortunately, bright red blood may also indicate sexually transmitted infections, a miscarriage, uterine polyps or fibroids, and adenomyosis.

• Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause bleeding between periods. STIs can also cause: foul-smelling discharge, pain during sex, pain or burning when you pee.

• A miscarriage can cause bright red bleeding or clots and some women also experience abdominal pain, cramping, and dizziness during it. 

• Uterine polyps and fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus that may cause heavy flow during periods or at other times throughout the menstrual cycle. They can be large or small and cause other symptoms like pelvic pain and pressure.

• Adenomyosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the muscle tissue, causing it to thicken. This can cause heavy, painful periods, ongoing pelvic pain, and pain during sex.

In any of the above 4 cases, you should consult with your doctor. 

Pink blood: It sounds cute and usually it is not concerning! It is usually just blood that’s been diluted by cervical fluid, and appears at the beginning or the end of your period. There are though other occasions where you may see pink blood such as:

• While in lochia: From day four onward, lochia -or postpartum bleeding- may be pinkish or brownish in color.
• When you have low estrogen: Sometimes pink menstrual blood is a sign of low estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen helps to stabilize the uterine lining. Without it, you may shed the lining at times other times in your cycle, leading to spotting of various hues, including pink.
• When you ovulate: Some women experience spotting during ovulation, which usually happens around mid-cycle. Ovulation can also cause an increase in cervical fluid, which can dilute blood and make it light red or pink.
• In a case of a miscarriage: there are cases of miscarriages where women spotted pink blood and other symptoms like cramping and passage of tissue. Again here, it is crucial to consult with your doctor if for any reason you believe there is something wrong with your ongoing pregnancy. 

Orange blood: Orange discharge, like pink, can happen when blood mixes with cervical fluid. It usually appears when implantation happens around the 10th-14th day after conception. Not every woman experiences this and it can range in color. If you have spotting that doesn’t turn into a period, it’s a good idea to take a pregnancy test.

Black blood: It is usually the same with brown blood, old blood in the body for too long. But if you see black discharge it may mean a few other things too. 

• Forgotten objects inside the vagina. A tampon, or menstrual cups, contraceptives etc. may be left forgotten inside and cause an infection that has as a result a black discharge. 
• Missed miscarriage, that happens when the fetus stops developing but doesn’t pass out of your body for four weeks or more. Other than some dark brown or black spotting or bleeding, you may not have any other symptoms.

What about clots?

During your period, the separation of the endometrium from the uterine wall can tear small blood vessels which bleed, and clots form to stop the bleeding. They’re then passed out with your menstrual blood.

Clots can also form as hormonal changes signal the end of your period and the lining starts to build up again.

Period blood clots are generally small. If they’re larger than 1 inch in diameter, inform your doctor. He/she may diagnose you with menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding).

In most cases, changes in period blood color don’t mean anything concerning and they mean the different stages of flowing in the menstrual cycle. If you see though, something out of the ordinary, that hasn’t happened again in your cycle by all means consult with your doctor. Periods are usually regular, but they can be affected by different factors such as psychological, hormonal, etc. and in that way color, duration, and texture can be affected. 

Typical changes in menstrual cycles that indicate a visit to a doctor are when:

• cycles are starting to be irregular, changing dramatically in length from one month to the next
• cycles are shorter than 24 or longer than 38 days in length
• You missed your period for over 3 months 
• your bleeding is accompanied by other symptoms, like severe pain
• you bleed between periods
• you’ve gone through menopause and start bleeding again
• you’re pregnant and start spotting or bleeding
• you have gray discharge, which could mean a miscarriage or infection

For any other inquiry do not hesitate to contact us! You can also check our cooperating fertility doctors.