Brown Vaginal Discharge
What Is Considered Normal Or Abnormal?
Normal versus Abnormal Brownish Vagina Discharge
Brown vaginal discharge connected with the menstrual cycle, ovulation, pregnancy and childbirth should not be a cause for concern.
However, if the discharge is prolonged and accompanied by weight loss, pelvic pain or fever, then don’t hesitate to see a doctor. It could be indications of a serious illness such as cervical cancer or vaginal infection e.g. chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Menstrual Cycle
Blood that is left in the uterus and vagina at the end of the menstrual cycle (a day or two before it ends) appears as brown vaginal discharge. Shedding this blood which is actually old uterine cells is our body’s way of clearing the reproductive system in preparation for our next period.
For some women brownish vaginal discharge could also appear at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Again these are old endometrial or uterine cells that the uterus failed to shed during the previous menstruation.
Ovulation
Ovulation could also be a reason for brown vaginal spotting. When the ovary releases an egg, slight bleeding might occur for some women. By the time the blood is expelled from the body it is several days old. Old blood with lack of oxygen appears as brownish vagina discharge.
Pregnancy
After an egg is fertilized it implants itself on the lining of the uterus to grow. As the lining is rich in blood, bleeding occurs when the uterine lining is disturbed during the implantation. This implantation bleeding appears as brown vaginal spotting. It does not happen in every pregnancy or in every woman.
Childbirth
After giving birth, heavy bleeding occurs for four to six weeks. The heavy flow tapers to a light discharge and turns brown towards the end. You don’t need to worry too much as long as there are no foul smell or large clots. Such an occurrence is considered normal for most women.
Caesarean Birth
I had brown vaginal discharge that lasted about 4 weeks after undergoing a C-section. A doctor’s examination indicates that nothing is wrong. He explained that it is shedding of old blood as most probably blood is not completely soaked up from the uterus during the operation.
Abnormal Brown Discharge
Brown
vaginal discharge should be a cause for concern when it occurs in
conjunction with other symptoms which could be related to:-
Cervical cancer
According to the National Institute of Health, cervical cancer can cause a wide variety of symptoms or no symptoms at all. Symptoms, when present could include prolong vaginal discharge that range from watery, pale, pink, brown or bloody. Sexual intercourse can increase the bleeding and pain in the pelvic region. Other signs are loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, back pain and leg pain.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is known as the “silent” disease because most women do not have signs of this vaginal infection. Women who do have symptoms have a yellowish to brown discharge, vaginal burning during urination, painful intercourse, fever, lower abdominal pain and bleeding between menstrual cycle.
Gonorrhea
Also known as the “clap” gonorrhea can affect multiple sites in the body but it occurs most commonly in the genital area. Symptoms include brown and foul smelling vaginal discharge, burning sensation during urination, vaginal bleeding between periods and abdominal and pelvic pain.
Do not procrastinate your visit to the gynecologist if the brown vaginal discharge is accompanied with the above mentioned symptoms. Whether it turned out to be serious or not, early detection could save lives as it halts the development of further complications.
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