It is considered normal to have vaginal discharge and in fact, it’s a sign that the reproductive organs are functioning properly. Sometimes though there may be changes in volume and color of discharge as well as the time in which the discharge occurs, these can be a cause of concern. Many women are stressed out and worried when they find that they are having brown discharge or spotting occurring between periods. Menstruation, even in normal situations isn’t something enjoyable for women, and it’s more worse if it involves brown discharge.
Vaginal discharge happening between periods also referred to as spotting involves bleeding that takes place when a woman’s menstrual period ends before the start of the next period. The bleeding may take different forms. For example, it may be so light and mild that you only see some pink spot appearing on your underwear. At other times, it can appear like some drop of blood. A heavy bleeding that occurs that resembles the normal period.
Having brown spotting or brown discharge in between periods isn’t always an indication of a serious issue. Mostly, it occurs when the hormonal and old endometrial tissues expel from the vagina. Brown spotting may be seen in young girls who haven’t reached their menstrual cycle time. It is also possible for women to have this problem. Usually, it is a way for the woman’s body to get rid of the old endometrial tissue which is left behind during the previous menstruation cycle. Depending on the time the blood has stayed in the cervix, it can appear different in color.
When to Worry
While many incidents involving brown discharge aren’t serious health issues, sometimes, it can be a sign of something more serious like uterine fibroids and cancer. In such cases, the spotting is accompanied by other symptoms. A woman may have pain, and the frequency and duration of menstrual period may be altered. So, if you have brown discharge and there are no additional signs or pain, you don’t have to worry about it, just talk to your healthcare practitioner. However, if there are additional symptoms like pain and persistent bleeding, you should seek medical examination.
Causes of Brown Discharge Occurring Between Periods
Many things can cause brown discharge between periods and they include:
Pregnancy: Spotting between periods may mean that you are pregnant. After conception, it takes about 10 days for the fertilized egg to move through the fallopian tube to the uterus. When the egg reaches the uterus, it attaches to the uterine lining. During this time, you may see small vaginal bleeding and it’s referred to as implantation bleeding. The spotting is pink, red, or brown in color. However, it is not so heavy. If you have brown discharge and the next period doesn’t’ come, you should consider a pregnancy test.
Birth control pills: Oral birth control pills may impact on your menstrual cycle or cause brown discharge between your periods. The pills have synthetic hormones that work the same way as estrogen and progesterone. Birth control pills are taken for 21 days and then followed by a duration of placebo pills that involves the next seven days after the 21 days. Sometimes, when you don’t take the pills within the same time every day, there may occur hormonal imbalances that could initiate vaginal bleeding. On starting the pills, you find that the bleeding stops. It is important to be consistent in taking the birth control pills.
Spotting is also considered a common side effect in women who are starting or stopping birth control medications. It may also be seen in women who are switching birth control medications.
Stress: Being overly stressed can alter the production of hormones. You may have hormonal imbalance that affects the menstrual cycle. When this happens, the periods may be more frequent or they come later. At times, there may be a change in vaginal discharge volume but things should normalize when you relieve stress.
Ovulation: It is not clear why ovulation spotting occurs but experts believe that it happens due to stretches on the ovary surface due to ovulation. It may also happen when there is rupture of follicle within the ovary. Irritation to the tissue lining the abdominal area may contribute to light spotting. Ovulation spotting lasts for a couple of days and goes away without needing treatment and there is usually no real pain associated with it. It is also very light but a woman may have some cramps.
Perimenopausal: A woman who approaches menopause may begin to have brown discharge or some light bleeding before their period. It is a transitional stage and during this time, the periods could be irregular and sometimes heavier. A woman may also have occasional spotting that happens about a week prior to their period. Ovulation takes place within the middle of a woman’s cycle and it’s then followed by menstruation that occurs about 2 weeks later.
In perimenopause, the hormone levels are irregular and they don’t follow the usual pattern. However, when you reach menopause, you find that all menstrual bleeding stops. If you discover that you are bleeding during the menopause stage, you want to seek doctor’s help. Hormonal replacement may contribute to the vaginal discharge during menopause, but it can still be a sign of a more serious health condition like cancer or fibroids.
Vaginal dryness: A woman may have spotting if they experience vaginal atrophy or dryness. The spotting occurs when the vagina is not elastic and moist. Often, the vaginal tissue is irritated and there is change in estrogen. Disruptions in estrogen production can cause a woman’s vagina to be itchy, feel dry, and be irritated.
It is common for woman in menopause to have vaginal dryness than during and before menopause. The reason is that there is less production of estrogen by ovaries, which causes the vaginal tissue to have a thin later and reduced number of lubrication glands. It is also likely for women who are not in their menopause stage to have vaginal dryness. When it occurs, it is usually caused by some conditions or activity. For example, vaginal dryness in time of menopause may be due to friction when having sexual intercourse, childbirth, contraceptives, hormone treatments, use of antidepressants, or reactions to alcohol. See a doctor if you are having brown discharge due to vaginal dryness during menopause.
Decline in estrogen levels: About 1 in 10 women have light vaginal discharge in time of ovulation during their menstrual cycle. This happens because of a decline in estrogen levels, which tend to occur when there is release of an egg from the ovary. The spotting caused by a decline in a woman’s estrogen during menopause occurs about 10 to 14 days prior to reaching their next period. There is also reduction in estrogen levels that precedes ovulation and it may cause spotting. Usually, this kind of vaginal discharge occurs because of the changes in estrogen amounts that help stimulate the endometrium. The spotting may be accompanied by slight pain and cramping.
Delayed ovulation: In women who ovulate later in their cycle, they may have a condition known as mittelschmerz, which is a lower abdominal pain occurring on one side and which is linked to ovulation. The pain can last for a few hours or just say few minutes. Sometimes, the pain can be on and off often lasting for a couple of days. The pain is felt on the side where the ovary released an egg.
Besides the mild pain, having mittelschmerz can result in mild spotting or vaginal discharge. You want to see a physician if you have delayed ovulation and experience spotting because it could indicate there is a small cyst forming on the ovary’s surface that causes the egg to break through leading to the vaginal discharge.
Vaginal injury: If a woman has inserted an object or something into their vagina for example, tampon or penis, it may induce spotting. If you have sex and the vagina isn’t well lubricated, the resulting friction may bring about vaginal discharge. Going with a partner with a thick or large penis can make you spot. Deep penetration in time of intercourse can also cause the problem. A woman with a small vaginal opening can as well spot when they have sexual intercourse. Inserting a tampon on a vagina that is too dry may make you spot.
Urethral prolapse: This occurs when urethra lining protrudes through the urethra’s opening. Urethra is a kind of tube connecting the bladder to urethral opening or the outside of a woman’s body. Urethral prolapse may cause the urethral opening to look like a ball or pink donut and appear larger and swollen than it usually is. The condition may cause vaginal irritation and small amounts of spotting. However, you can easily treat this using antibiotics, estrogen cream, and sitz baths.
Low thyroid levels: Among the primary reasons you have vaginal spotting between periods is hormonal imbalances like low thyroid levels. Having a slow thyroid or hypothyroidism may induce imbalances and changes in the metabolic system. It may also induce changes in periods and body temperature. Low thyroid hormones may come with other symptoms like feeling fatigued, hair loss, neck pain, and weight gain.
Abortion or post-pregnancy: In the first few weeks following a childbirth or abortion, a woman may have light or even heavy bleeding. The reason this happens is because the woman’s uterus hasn’t yet contracted to attain its pre-pregnancy size. It may also be that there is some fetal tissue remaining inside a woman’s uterus. Although it can be normal, this is something that needs to be checked with a doctor.
Use of anticoagulants: Blood thinners or anticoagulants help to prevent clotting or prevent already formed clots from growing. Anticoagulants help prevent clots from forming inside a person’s heart, arteries, or veins, and they should only be taken under the advice of a doctor. A side effect associated with taking anticoagulants or blood thinners is spotting in women before periods. They may also cause excessive bleeding during periods. Other medications like tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotic tranquilizers that have an effect on serotonin uptake can induce spotting. It is common to notice spotting in women taking anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids.
Cervical erosion or ectropion: This occurs when cells from the interior of cervical canal form on the outer surface of a woman’s cervix. A cervical screening test or smear test can easily detect this condition because the glandular cells appear red. A woman may be born with the condition or it could develop because of changes in hormones. Although cervical ectropion isn’t a problem for many women, it may contribute to spotting because glandular cells tend to bleed easily. These cells also create more mucus compared to squamous epithelial cells.
Uterine fibroids: This occurs when there are uterine growths inside a woman’s uterine lining, uterine cavity, or uterine muscles. Fibroids create pelvic pressure and they can cause heavy menstrual bleeding happening between periods or menstrual cycles. Other symptoms that are related to fibroids are backache, constipation, and leg pain.
Pelvic inflammatory disease: PID is a serious condition that affects different reproductive organs. Having light brown spotting occurring between periods is a common symptom of PID. This condition affects the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
STDs and cancer of cervix: Though rare, sexually transmitted diseases can present with some light brown discharge. The STDs may include Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and genital warts. Also, cervical cancer could contribute to brown spotting. This cancer may have other symptoms like loss of appetite, pelvic pain, weight loss, and fatigue.
When to See a Doctor
If you have spotting taking place between periods and it is occurring more than once in a row, you should consider seeing a physician. Talk to a doctor if you have vaginal discharge and you are pregnant, or you feel pain, dizziness, and exhausted. If the spotting moves from being mild to heavy menstrual-like bleeding, also see a doctor. If the spotting occurs after you have reached menopause, it is also important to talk to a healthcare professional.
