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Black, brown or brown menstruation is normal in most cases. It is almost always the effect of the oxidation of the blood, when it comes into contact with the outside.
At first, black, brown or brown menstruation should not be a cause for concern. In fact, it is normal that you have some of these tones at the beginning or end of the period. And it is also scarce.
Sometimes when a woman uses birth control pills for the first time, she may have a black, brown, or brown period. This also happens if you switch methods or take the morning after pill.
If the tone persists for every day of the period, then it is possible that there is something abnormal. Let’s see.
Causes of black, brown or brown menstruation
Let’s start by saying that color changes in bleeding are normal. Sometimes black, brown or brown menstruation is just a reaction that occurs when blood comes in contact with oxygenwhen leaving the body.
If the hue is grayish or pink, there may be a serious problem that needs to be discussed with your doctor. Meanwhile, the possible causes are as follows.
1. Beginning or end of the rule
As we already indicated, black, brown or brown menstruation is common at the beginning or end of the period. This is because it is older blood, which has taken a little longer to leave the uterus. On the other hand, it is normal for there to be clots in the bleed and for them to appear brown or black in color.
2. Hematocolpos
Hematocolpos is a condition in which menstrual blood is retained inside the vagina because the hymen is not perforated. When that blood is ever expelled, it can have a dark coloration. It is a congenital malformation that affects 0.1% of girls at birth.
3. Postpartum
After delivery, it usually takes 45 days for the uterus to return to its normal size. During that time there is bleeding, although this does not correspond to menstruation as such.
However, it may appear black, brown, or brown. It is normal for this to occur and should not be a cause for concern. It receives the clinical name of bloody lochia.
4. Emotional disturbances
There are emotional states that affect the functioning of the uterus. Depression and stress or anxiety sometimes cause menstruation to change.
Under these conditions, the desquamation of the endometrial cells is usually delayed, which favors the oxidation of the blood. The result is a black, brown or brown period.
5. Hormonal changes and menopause
During menopause there are big hormonal changes. The same happens when there are alterations in the thyroid. This usually causes changes in menstruation. The most common is that it is produced in smaller quantities and present a darker color.
6. STDs
Various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) also lead to black, brown, or brown menstruation. Chlamydia or gonorrhea cause the blood to break down faster and therefore change the color of the fluid. It is also common for there to be an unpleasant odor and cause pain in the lower abdomen.
7. Endometriosis, adenomyosis and others
Diseases like endometriosisadenomyosis and other similar usually cause dark bleeding, similar to coffee grounds. This type of bleeding can occur during or outside of menstruation.
It is accompanied by severe pain in the pelvic region. Bleeding usually lasts more than 7 days.
When to go to the doctor?
Black, brown, or brown menstruation is almost always normal. However, when this is accompanied by other bothersome symptoms, a health problem may be present.
In these cases it is important to go to the doctor to evaluate the situation. The signs to pay attention to are the following:
- Fever.
- Dizziness.
- Bleeding outside the menstrual period.
- Bleeding that continues for more than 7 days.
- Pain in the genital area or lower abdomen.
- Absence of menstruation for more than 3 months.
In addition, it is important to take into consideration any suspicion of pregnancy. If there is, a miscarriage can be mistaken for a black, brown, or brown period. In those cases, it is necessary to go to the obstetrician.
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