The brown or brown discharge can occur during menstruation, at the time of ovulation, after menstruation, during pregnancy, or at any time during the cycle. This is oxidized “old blood” in the uterus or vagina that is drained with classic vaginal discharge. Several factors can lead to their occurrence.

Brown or brown discharge is actually “normal” vaginal discharge mixed with old blood that has oxidized in the uterus or vagina. Slowly draining blood loss. “When these losses appear in women who do not take hormonal contraception and during a period of genital activity, it may be one of the symptoms of ovulation,” specifies Doctor Elisabeth Paganelli, medical gynecologist.

In women who take hormonal contraception, this brown discharge can occur as a result of improper use of their pill tablets. It is common when taking a pill without estrogen, but also when the woman is carrying an IUD, hormonal or copper contraception, or an implant ”.

Identify the context

It is important to know the context in which these losses occur. “Indeed, in the event of brown discharge under contraceptive, it is first of all necessary to eliminate the traditional causes such as STDs, a forgotten tampon or a polyp. In a second step, it will then be useful to consider another contraception according to the risk factors of the woman and the choice of the patient ”.

Brown discharge and other symptoms

On the other hand, if the brown or brown discharge is accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, burning or pelvic pain, “it is advisable to consult a gynecologist, as it may be an inflammation of the cervix. uterus (cervicitis), genital infection, polyp or other uterine pathology. It is also necessary to eliminate any incipient malignant tumor pathology ”.

In all cases, with or without associated pain, it is imperative to eliminate the pregnancy because the risk of ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. “Rapid negative blood pregnancy test eliminates ectopic pregnancy.”

On the other hand, brown discharge that occurs just before or after menstruation should not worry, since it is only scanty blood that is slow to evacuate.

The most frequent causes

Common causes of brown or brown discharge include:

• The IUD;
• A contraceptive implant;
• Vaginal infections;
• A uterine abnormality, such as the presence of a uterine fibroid;
• Tumors (polyps);
• Forgotten tampon;
• Missed or lagged pill.

Brown discharge is common during the first months of pregnancy. In the majority of cases, they represent a benign manifestation.

The nidation

“Among the most common causes is implantation: when the fertilized egg implants in the uterine cavity, bleeding can occur, which will then be eliminated. Infections are also possible during pregnancy and cause brown or brown discharge ”.

In case of associated pain

If the brown discharge is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist, because they can be a symptom of an egg detachment, a placental hematoma or a risk of miscarriage. .

The brown losses being in most cases benign, there is no treatment strictly speaking. The cause must be treated in order to reduce their presence. Depending on the cause, the doctor or gynecologist may request additional examinations.

“If the brown discharge is linked to hormonal disturbances, consider a contraceptive change with your gynecologist. If they are linked to an infection, a doctor should also be consulted who will establish a diagnosis and prescribe an appropriate treatment ”.