Some women can become anxious if they notice dark brown discharge coming from their vagina. It is very important to know the reasons why such discharge can happen and if it is a sign of any serious problem.

Although observing brown discharge may cause anxiety to most women, some do know what this can entail. Usually a woman who is ovulating and is about to get her period will experience dark brown discharge. But if she observe this discharge without expecting her monthly period, then it is a cause of worry. There could be something wrong. The best thing to do is to consult a medical practitioner to get properly diagnosed and treated.

Some experts believe that experiencing brown discharge from the vagina is really not a serious medical condition; for them this condition can be treated simply with a change of diet or lifestyle.

For you to know exactly what is wrong, make it a point to learn everything you can about the causes of dark brown discharge; before and after your monthly period.

Causes:

Knowing the various factors that can cause brown discharge can help in the diagnosis of the medical condition responsible for it and in getting the correct medical treatment.

Ovulation

Ovulation can cause the occurrence of dark brown discharge in women. This happens when the mature egg is released in the ovary; in some cases this can cause a little bleeding, commonly called ‘spotting’. This is not something to be worried about as this can and does occur quite often.

Pregnancy

Dark brown discharge is very common in the early stages of pregnancy. It can simply be an indication that the woman has conceived. This brown discharge will be noticeable a few days after conception; when the fertilized ovum fixes itself to the uterine lining, this condition is then called ‘implantation bleeding’. The appearance of dark brown discharge during pregnancy can last for 3 to 4 days and is typically very light; therefore there is no need to worry. But it is still advisable to consult your doctor if you notice an increase in your dark brown discharge.

Menopause

Menopause is also a common cause of experiencing dark brown discharge in women. Those who are nearing menopause will notice irregular periods, brown discharge and constant spotting.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Another possible cause of brown discharge in women is being infected with a sexually transmitted disease. STDs that can cause this condition can include gonorrhea, genital warts and chlamydia.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic Inflammatory disease is one of the most serious medical conditions that can cause dark brown discharge from the vagina. This disease occurs because of an infection in the ovaries, uterus lining, fallopian tubes, cervix or the vagina. This is very common in women who have multiple sexual partners. Apart from brown discharge, other problems caused by this condition are pain during menstrual periods, infertility, pain during intercourse and abdominal pain.

Endometrial Bleeding

This condition is very common and no cause for concern. The endometrial tissues start to form around the lining of the uterus when pregnancy is expected, but when there is no pregnancy and the menstrual period occurs, the endometrial tissues will shed. If the uterine lining were not able to completely shed, some dark brown discharge may be noticed after the period or before the beginning of the next period. It is actually just old blood that turns brownish in color.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is probably the most serious and life-threatening cause of dark brown discharge. It is the type of cancer that is commonly caused by the HPV virus that can be spread through sexual intercourse. Some factors responsible for cervical cancer include being sexually active at a young age, having multiple sexual partners, weakened immune system and many more. Aside from dark brown discharge, other symptoms of cervical cancer are pelvic pain, weight loss, leg pain, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue and many more.

It is very important to be informed about these causes of dark brown discharge so that you can understand whether you are just experiencing something that occurs naturally or if you already have certain medical conditions that can cause your dark brown discharge.

Tags: brown discharge, dark brown discharge
Filed under: General, Vagina Health