Why Am I Getting Brown Discharge Before My Period?

Brown discharge before your period may be due to starting birth control, implantation, uterine fibroids, vaginal infections, or menstruation.

A menstrual period (menstruation) occurs when the lining of the uterus is shed through a flow of blood. It's a crucial part of the menstrual cycle, which is a normal and healthy process that prepares your body for a potential pregnancy. Menstrual blood is composed of blood, cells from the uterus lining (endometrium), and vaginal secretions.

The hormone-driven menstrual cycle typically lasts 28 days. The first day is the start of the period (bleeding), which usually ends after about three to five days. This time in your cycle is also referred to as menses. Somewhere around day 14 ovulation, when an egg is released from an ovary, occurs. If an egg is not fertilized after this stage, hormone levels drop, and the egg begins to dissolve around day 25. The next period starts, and the innermost endometrial lining is shed along with blood.

In addition to bleeding, other signs of menstruation can include:

• Headaches
• Acne
• Mood swings
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Bloating
• Diarrhea

A common question that worries a lot of women is, "Why is my discharge brown?" It's normal to sometimes experience brown discharge before, during, or after menstruating. It may appear as brown spotting, which is the presence of blood during stages of your cycle that is not typical. This darker discharge is usually a thicker consistency and slower flow than typical menstruation and is usually caused by old blood coming from your uterus.

In rare cases, brown vaginal discharge before your period may be cause for concern. If you're experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding of any kind, talk to your doctor so they can rule out any underlying conditions.

Abnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding occurs when you bleed:

• Between periods
• For too long of a period (hypermenorrhea)
• For too short of a period (hypomenorrhea)
• Too much (menorrhagia)

While it is usually normal, getting brown discharge before your period can also be a sign of abnormal vaginal bleeding.

There are multiple causes of bleeding between periods. So, what does brown discharge mean? If you experience brown discharge before your period, it may indicate:

1. Birth control

It's common to experience irregular bleeding during the first few months of being on a form of hormonal contraception, or birth control, such as:

• The combination contraceptive pill
• The contraceptive patch (Ortho-Evra)
• The progestogen-only contraceptive pill
• The contraceptive injection (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate)
• Contraceptive implants
• The vaginal ring (NuvaRing)

Bleeding between periods is a common side effect of all forms of hormonal birth control, which may include brown spotting before period. Although it can be worrisome, this bleeding is rarely dangerous and should subside after three months.

With birth control pills, you may experience irregular bleeding if you don't take them at the same time every day.

Other side effects of hormonal birth control may include:

• Breast tenderness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in sexual desire

2. Implantation

After implantation, when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus at the start of a pregnancy, some blood vessels in the endometrium may break down. Sometimes, this can lead to brown discharge consisting of old blood. As opposed to a regular period, bleeding from implantation is light and only lasts a couple of days.

3. Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are nonmalignant (non-cancerous) growths of muscle and tissue that grow on your uterus. Fibroids may cause no symptoms, and these may only be found by a doctor during a pelvic examination. In rare cases, fibroids can grow out from your uterus, twist, and its blood supply can get cut off. The degeneration of the twisted fibroid can cause pain and brown vaginal discharge.

4. Vaginal infections

Several different vaginal infections may cause brown discharge before your period, such as:

• Bacterial vaginosis causes an overgrowth of bacteria in your vagina.
• Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite and is spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
• Vulvovaginal candidiasis, commonly referred to as a vaginal yeast infection, is an infection that causes vaginal soreness and abnormal vaginal discharge.

5. Menstruation

The brown discharge before your upcoming period may just be blood left over from your last period. Blood that's stayed in your uterus for a while turns a brownish color. It's common for it to come out at the very end of your period. However, it may not show up until before your next period. Brown period blood is more common with lighter flows, as it takes longer to leave your body.

If you see your doctor to address brown discharge before your period or any other kind of abnormal vaginal bleeding, they will likely have you take some tests. The testing they choose will depend on your age and whether or not you're pregnant.

To find the cause of your bleeding, your doctor may perform an ultrasound exam of your pelvic area to look at your uterus and ovaries. They may also perform an endometrial biopsy, which is a test of your uterine lining to check for a change in cells, which can lead to cancer. A hysteroscopy, a procedure that involves inserting a camera into your uterus, is another possible test you may have.

If your bleeding is heavy, your doctor might also check your blood count to see if there's been significant blood loss.

Brown discharge before your period may be due to normal causes and may not require any treatment.

If your doctor determines brown discharge before a period is abnormal bleeding, treatment may include:

• Placing an intrauterine device (IUD)
• Birth control pills
• A dilation and curettage (D&C)
• A hysterectomy
• An endometrial ablation

Why am I having brown discharge before my period?

There are many reasons you may have brown discharge before your period. The simplest and most common explanation is that brown period blood left over from the previous period first comes out as your period contractions begin. This is a common occurrence before the period. You might also have brown vaginal discharge in the first few months after you start using hormonal birth control, or when you stop using it, because hormonal contraception can disrupt your menstrual cycle. Brown discharge can also occur after sexual intercourse, which is not a great concern unless accompanied by other symptoms.

Brown spotting before period can be a sign of pregnancy. If you have very light bleeding or miss your period, and/or if you have other pregnancy symptoms, you might want to test for pregnancy. Uterine fibroids, which are benign growths in the uterus may cause brown discharge, but they are usually harmless, unless you have other symptoms such as pain. Vaginal infections can also cause brown vaginal discharge, but usually, you will notice other vulvovaginal symptoms first, such as odor, itching, or pain. If you are menopausal, see your gynecologist without delay if you notice spotting.

Why do I have brown discharge instead of my period?

If you have brown discharge and get no period, pregnancy may be likely. Get tested right away if you have reasons to believe you may be pregnant. Young girls who have just started menstruating may experience this until cycles become regular, or those on the brink of menopause may have just spotting as bleeding becomes scanty. Hormonal birth control methods can also cause you to skip a period and just have spotting.

Other possible reasons for brown discharge with very low or absent period flow are stress, weight changes, or intense exercise. Brown discharge without normal period flow and irregular periods can be caused by certain conditions that affect the reproductive system, such as hypomenorrhea, endometriosis, or polycystic ovary syndrome. Infections can cause brown vaginal discharge too, but infections typically don't interfere with periods, and will also have other telltale signs and symptoms.

Do you count brown blood as the last day of your period?

You could count brown blood as the last day or the first day of your period depending on when it occurs, because it can happen before the start or at the end of your period.

Does brown discharge mean first period?

Brown discharge can mean the first period for a girl on the cusp of puberty. Usually, there is scanty bleeding initially, so it takes longer to come out from the uterus and is more likely to turn brown. However, first period and menstruation patterns are unique to each person; some may have just spotting for a couple of months or longer before the heightened hormonal activity settles into a normal rhythm and regular menstrual flow starts. Some girls may start having normal flow from the very first period. Both situations are normal.

What kind of discharge comes before your period?

Vaginal discharge is primarily made up of cervical mucus and vaginal secretions. Generally, there is an increase in discharge just before a period, and it is white to pale yellow in color, with a creamy consistency. It may also be tinged with old period blood and become a brownish discharge. If you have discharge that is green, yellow, gray, or any other unusual color, and/or you have symptoms such as itching, irritation, or foul odor from the discharge, see your gynecologist.