How to Find out the Reasons for Brown Discharges?
It is a health statistics that all women have vaginal discharges. More so, all healthy women do have it, too. As vagina is a self-cleansing organ, the discharges are needed for washing off the dead cells, the bacteria and other by-products of a healthy functioning body. Although it might be completely normal, it is usually a hard topic to discuss even with your intimate partner. That is why we here offer you a comprehensive explanation to the one of the most bothering questions to so many women: “Are my discharges normal or abnormal? If they are abnormal, what they might signify?” And many more questions. Whilst this article is not a replacement of your gynecologist the women should understand when their worry is unfounded.
So, what do you have to consider when deciding on the “normality” of your discharges? Those factors would be: the consistency (texture), the odor, the time of your monthly cycle, any sensations (burning, etc.) around or inside the vagina, amount, and, of course, the color. If you understand the various colors vaginal discharge can turn, you will be more educated about your body.
Haven’t you ever had brown discharges before or after a period? That can’t be true! Practically all women experience them from time to time. Well, the word ‘practically’ plays an important part here. If you’ve noticed the brown discharge for the first time, calm down. In more than 90% of women, this is a sign of a healthy body at work. What about the other 10%? This is what we are going to find out.
Color Means a Lot
When it comes to discharges, color is their main identification factor. Normally, healthy discharges are white, creamy or watery, but it doesn’t mean that a brown discharge is associated with any health issues. Spotting or discharges take their brown color from the blood that combines with mucus and dead cells. Sometimes this color ranges from pink to brown, but the colors aren’t as heavy as during periods.
Such discharges can occur due to various hormonal changes a woman’s body undergoes during menopause or pregnancy. Though these causes are safe and never lead to severe consequences, it is advisable to seek medical consultation to make sure that a woman does not suffer from any other accompanying conditions.
Do You Follow Your Periods?
What was the last time you made notes about your periods? I bet that it was long ago. However, every woman should follow her periods in order to understand any changes and abnormalities. This is the easiest way to determine whether brown (or any other) discharges are important or not.
Is that really important? Yes, because according to research studies, brown discharges that follow the period are likely old blood that leaves the vagina. This is a usual way of cleaning out the remnants of tissue and blood that is left after menstruation. If you don’t follow the cycle, you don’t know whether such discharges are dangerous or not.
You Are Probably Pregnant… Did You Have any Idea?
Light brown discharge is normal for the early stages of pregnancy. It happens due to the implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine lining. This causes light bleeding that frequently shows up as brown discharge.
In rare cases, these discharges take place during the first trimester of pregnancy and are not considered to be serious medical conditions. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult a medical professional to be on the safe side.
Infection? That’s Impossible!
This is what YOU think. Vaginal infections are very common. These aren’t only from sexually transmitted diseases, but also from a number of other factors that cause brown discharges and pain (genital warts, pelvic inflammatory diseases, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.).
In most cases, these infections are treatable. The treatment course may fail only if a woman has left the problem neglected and asked for help only when it was too painful to tolerate the condition.
Asherman’s Syndrome
Have you heard about it? Probably you have not. This is the condition of not having period for a long time or having one infrequently. This leads to the storage of old blood clots and dead cells in the body. Sooner or later, this blood comes out as brown spotting. This syndrome follows after having dilation and curettage procedures, when a physician scrapes and then collects endometrial tissue.
Can Sex Be a Trigger of Brown Discharges?
Yes, it can… Sometimes sexual intercourse causes irritation inside the vagina. The irritation can be either mild or moderate in nature, but it still leads to brown blood occurrence. This is a sign that some bleeding occurred and dried before leaving the woman’s body.
Though the condition is not life-threatening, it still should be treated. This is because these discharges can be accompanied by pain. The treatment course will ensure that this condition doesn’t lead to an infection.
Are You Looking for Relief?
Visit your doctor if you are looking for relief and treatment options. However, if old uterine cells and blood are the main causes of the discharges you have, there is nothing you can do about them. There are no pills that can save you from discomfort. The only possible way to avoid this is maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly and drink more water.
If the triggers of discharges are far more serious and the condition is complicated, your physician should study the condition and prescribe an appropriate treatment course that can be helpful enough to forget about the pain, itching, rash and discomfort.
If you have brown discharges accompanied by heavy symptoms, you should consult a professional to prevent the occurrence of problems and complications.
