Brown discharge is often old blood leaving the uterus, common at the start or end of a period. See a doctor if it is frequent, smelly, or you are pregnant.
Common causes
- Old blood at the start or end of a period.
- Ovulation.
- Hormonal birth control.
- Implantation bleeding.
- Perimenopause.
- Infection, polyps or fibroids.
Why brown
Blood that takes longer to leave the uterus oxidizes and turns brown.
Pregnancy
Take a test if you have missed a period.
See a doctor
If discharge has a strong odor, pain or lasts weeks, or after menopause.
Why discharge turns brown
Brown discharge is usually old blood that took time to leave the uterus and oxidized. It is common at the beginning or end of a period, when flow is slow.
Common causes
- Start or end of the menstrual period.
- Ovulation spotting in mid-cycle.
- Hormonal birth control and IUDs.
- Perimenopause, with irregular cycles.
- Implantation bleeding.
- Postpartum lochia, the discharge after childbirth, which turns from red to brown over several weeks.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Vaginal dryness or irritation.
Medical causes
- Infections such as sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea) or bacterial vaginosis, often with odor, itching or pain.
- Cervical polyps or ectropion.
- Retained tampon, with a foul smell.
- Uterine fibroids.
- Cervical or endometrial cancer, which is rare but important after menopause.
Pregnancy
Brown spotting in early pregnancy occurs in about 15% to 25% of pregnancies and is often harmless, but it can also signal miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Contact a healthcare provider if pregnant.
After menopause
Any bleeding or brown discharge after menopause needs prompt medical evaluation.
What helps
- Wear a panty liner.
- Track the cycle.
- Avoid douching and scented products.
- Take a pregnancy test if your period is late.
See a doctor if
Discharge has a foul smell, comes with itching, burning, pelvic pain, fever, lasts more than a few days or recurs. Severe pain with dizziness is an emergency.
When color change matters
Brown discharge is often old blood that took longer to leave the uterus, so it appears darker. It is common just before or after a period, around ovulation spotting in some people, or after starting or changing hormonal contraception. It can also occur in early pregnancy as implantation bleeding, which happens roughly 6 to 12 days after conception and is usually light.
Signs that need medical attention
Brown discharge with a strong odor, itching, pelvic pain, fever, or unusually heavy bleeding can signal infection, retained tampon, polyps, fibroids or other conditions. Any brown discharge after menopause should be checked by a doctor, as postmenopausal bleeding can be a sign of endometrial cancer in a minority of cases. Spotting in pregnancy with pain or heavy bleeding requires urgent care. A clinician may use a pelvic exam, ultrasound, a pregnancy test or swabs to find the cause.
Based on data from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Mayo Clinic
