Brown Vaginal Discharge – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Brown Vaginal Discharge – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment






The uterus of each woman is adapted to the process of ovulation. Ovulation is a gradual process and does not happen overnight. It happens once in every monthly period due to several hormonal changes. Eggs are retained in the ovaries waiting for the successful sperm to fertilize. When conditions are favorable, sperm gets fused with an egg forming a zygote. For accommodating this zygote the uterus prepares itself by forming thick lining of endometrial tissue. When there is no fusion this lining of endometrium is shed off in the form of Vaginal Bleeding.

Normally the vaginal blood is of red color and shedding of blood may lasts for 3-5 days each month. However, the color of vaginal blood can change due to several factors ranging from dark brown to bright red.

You will get to know the significance of vaginal bleeding and its color in this article.

Brown Vaginal Discharge Causes :

Women get menstrual periods in the form of vaginal bleeding as the extra inner lining or endometrial tissue is shed off. Blood from the vagina takes enough time to travel till the exit point of vagina. If the fertilization does not occur, then the corpus luteum (yellow tissue) would start producing estrogen and progesterone for a week or two, gradually reducing the level of hormone produced. Once the levels of hormone production stops, small arteries that keep nourishing the uterine lining (endometrium) closes. This causes lack of oxygen and nourishment to the uterus lining which in turn starts breaking off approximately 14 days after ovulation. This is the process of menstruation or vaginal bleeding.

1. Retained lining

During monthly period, extra tissue lining is shed off mostly but sometimes the last layer of lining remains intact in the uterus and waits for next ovulation cycle. This layer when discharged next time of menstrual periods can cause dark brown bleeding. For some women this tissue lining may get discharged couple of days after monthly periods causing brown colored bleeding. Strains of dark brown blood of retained lining of menses can occur after finishing the period.

2. Loss Of Oxygen In Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is nothing but protein particle of red blood cells and it is normally bound by oxygen molecules. Once the blood comes out of blood vessels hemoglobin tend to lose its linked oxygen molecules causing dark red or dark brown colored bleeding.

3. Birth Control Pills

Certain kinds of birth control hormones can induce fast degradation of blood cells causing discoloration which in turn leads to dark brown vaginal bleeding. For some women it may even cause blackish red bleeding owing to the chemical reaction of drugs.

4. Infection

Infection is another common cause of brown vaginal discharge. Infection can occur anywhere in the reproductive system of women like vagina, cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes. Bacterial infection act upon the blood to decay it causing dark brown colored bleeding through vagina. It is often accompanied with pain and foul smell indicating an infection. Women affected with sexually transmitted diseases infection can get brown vaginal bleeding.

5. Abortion (induced)

There are some circumstances during which women cannot afford to carry their pregnancy and they opt for induced abortion. Getting a shot of abortion injection or taking abortion pills can result in sudden expulsion of uterus lining and its contents resulting in brown vaginal discharge. In such cases it can cause brown clots or black colored bleeding. Even after manual abortion like D&C some women are likely to get brown spots of blood leakage for few days after the procedure.

6. Normal Abortion

During pregnancy, the uterus gives room for protecting the growing fetus creating extra thick lining through which nourishment is provided. During sudden abortion (due to some cause) remaining portion of the fetus and parts of inner lining of the uterus would get discharged slowly even several days of Miscarriage. It is vital for women to check with a gynecologist whether they need to undergo D&C procedure even after abortion to expel the remnants inside.

7. Cancer

Cervical Cancer in any form can cause brownish vaginal discharge. It can be seen as spots which may increase in quantity gradually as the cancer grows in size.

8. Fibroids In The Uterus

These are benign (non-cancerous) growths in the uterus varying in size from small to large masses. Fibroids can be single or multiple and can cause heavy bleeding with extended days. Some other symptoms related with uterine fibroids are frequent urge to urinate, backache and pain in the pelvic region.

9. PID

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is a serious problem causing painful vaginal bleeding accompanied with other symptoms like fever, nausea and severe pelvic pain. If left untreated PID can cause Infertility in women.

Symptoms Of Brown Vaginal Discharge :

Vaginal bleeding is dark red in color under normal condition. However brownish blood leakage from the vagina is not common but not a matter of concern if there is no other symptom.

Some of the symptoms related with brownish vaginal bleeding are :

• Fever


• Painful cramps in the lower abdomen


• Foul smelling discharge


• Several Blood Clots


• Heavy volumes of discharge of blood


• Fatigue


• Dizziness


• Nausea and vomiting

If you have any of the above symptoms with brown vaginal discharge, you need to check your doctor promptly. It can be an infection inside.

Brown Vaginal Discharge Treatment :

Treatment for brown vaginal discharge depends on the cause.

Most of the cases the symptoms may last for couple of days without any discomfort and no treatment is required in such cases.

If there is pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and foul smelling bleeding it can be infection and needs to be treated. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics of suitable strengths to destroy the bacteria.

In case of large fibroids in the uterus medications like gonadotrophin releasing hormone pills or progestin releasing device is implanted in the uterus to control heavy bleeding. In severe cases MRI induced surgery and other minimally invasive procedures are also given for treating uterine fibroids.

For women with PID, antibiotics are prescribed and one needs to complete the course of medication. Follow suitable precautions suggested by your doctor to prevent further complication.

Brown Vaginal Discharge

Brown Vaginal Discharge






It is quite normal for every woman to have vaginal discharge in between the menstrual cycle. Vaginal discharge is the mucus like fluid that comes out of your vagina. The color of the fluid can be white or light brown. This fluid is nothing but collection of mucus produced by the cervix and vaginal walls. It gets released through vagina whenever there is excess of fluid collection.

Having brown vaginal discharge on occasions indicates that you are healthy. Actually vagina produces this fluid to cleanse itself and keep the inner environment clean. Dead cells inside the vagina and unwanted bacteria are removed through vaginal discharge. This process helps in keeping your vagina clean and disease-free.

Women’s body having normal menstrual cycle will undergo plenty of changes inside with exchange of fluids and hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones involved in monthly cycle, vaginal discharge and even mood changes for women. There would be large difference in emotions before the onset of monthly periods and after it.

Vaginal discharge varies in color, quantity and texture for every woman. The chemical changes inside your body can produce large amounts of white discharge during the cycle and Hot Flashes. Having few light spots between your periods is not really a matter of concern. You need to worry only if you have excess of brown vaginal discharge or pain during discharge.

Causes :

Getting occasional brown vaginal discharge is absolutely normal. There are 2 major causes for getting more of vaginal discharge. One is during the initial stage of pregnancy and the other is being in pre-menopause stage. Pregnant women can get brown vaginal discharge during early stages of pregnancy. The vagina prepares itself to accommodate the fetus by clearing off the unwanted dead skin cells from the uterus. Once the egg gets fertilized by a sperm, the zygote gets itself attached to the wall of the uterus. This can cause brown vaginal discharge which may occur within 15 days of conception.

Women who are in pre-menopause stage can get yellowish brown discharge sometimes. If you get repeated discharge, you can consult your gynecologist. Some women may get brown vaginal discharge within a week after monthly periods when the old endometrial tissues are cleared off by the body. If there is brown vaginal discharge with pain and foul smell it can be due to vaginal infection or a symptom of sexually transmitted disease. Getting Chlamydia infection or gonorrhea can cause vaginal discharge between periods.

Formation of endometrial cysts can cause vaginal discharge. This can be heavy and it often occurs after intercourse. Any severe brown vaginal discharge with pain can be a sign of serious infection or disease. Infection can occur anywhere on the vagina or fallopian tubes or ovaries. If you have symptoms of pelvic pain, abdominal cramps with vaginal discharge you should consult your doctor immediately. In rare cases Cervical Cancer can cause brown vaginal discharge which is accompanied with other signs like loss of weight, loss of appetite, pelvic pain and extreme tiredness.

Tests :

Your doctor can easily detect the cause of brown vaginal discharge. She would ask you series of questions and perform a pelvic exam. She may also order for testing procedure like blood and urine culture and ultrasound scan of pelvic region if required.

Treatment :

Often vaginal discharge requires no treatment since it happens only for few days. It is quite natural for you to get brown discharge from the vagina if you are pregnant recently or if you are in pre-menopause stage. Treatment depends on the exact cause of the problem. If the results confirm the presence of infection, you will be prescribed antibiotics. In case of uterine polyps your doctor will consider removing it by curettage or scarring of polyps. You can prevent getting brown vaginal discharge by practicing safe sex and avoid having multiple sex partners.