Brown discharge instead of a period

Often women experience brown discharge instead of menstruation, which cannot but cause natural concern.

Among the seemingly harmless reasons for such discharge, gynecologists name a state of severe physical and nervous exhaustion of the female body, which negatively affects the functioning of the reproductive system. However, it should be borne in mind that - in addition to some physiological conditions - symptoms in the form of such discharge have certain gynecological pathologies.

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Causes brown discharge instead of a period

Among the most probable causes of such discharge is pregnancy, at the very beginning of which - a few days before the next menstruation should begin, approximately on the 5th-10th day after conception - on average 25% of women have brown discharge instead of menstruation. In gynecology, they are called implantation bleeding, but it happens only once! By the way, for the same reason, brown discharge instead of menstruation is noted after IVF.

And due to the formation of new blood vessels in the wall of the uterus, pregnant women sometimes experience scanty light-brown spotting instead of menstruation and nausea.

However, if there is a delay and brown discharge instead of menstruation, and also if the woman complains that she has abdominal pain and brown discharge instead of menstruation, then one should suspect the onset of pregnancy (period of about 3-5 weeks) with obvious signs of partial detachment of the fertilized egg from the endometrium. That is, in fact, these are harbingers of a miscarriage with subsequent bleeding. In addition, the onset of pregnancy, accompanied by discharge of this nature, may be ectopic.

See also - Discharge in early pregnancy

Women who have given birth know that anything can happen in the postpartum period, and if after giving birth there is brown discharge instead of menstruation, then this is normal: it means that the cycle will soon be restored (which also happens during breastfeeding).

Symptoms brown discharge instead of a period

The first signs of a woman entering the perimenopause period are manifested by cycle irregularities, when there are scanty, dark brown spotting instead of menstruation. At the same time, as gynecologists note, every third woman after 45-50 years complains of abundant brown discharge instead of menstruation, and the pathogenesis of this condition is associated with age-related fading of sexual functions and a reduction in the production of hormones by the ovaries.

At a younger age, brown discharge instead of menstruation with a negative pregnancy test can be caused by reasons such as: hormonal imbalances (lack of ovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid pathology); sudden changes in climatic conditions (when moving to another region); significant weight loss over a short period of time. Particular risk factors are severe infectious diseases and oncology.

Scanty yellow or yellow-brown discharge instead of menstruation with an unpleasant odor, as well as a strong burning sensation during urination and sexual intercourse - symptoms of infectious inflammation of the vagina due to hormonal imbalance (for example, lack of estrogen in ovarian pathologies) or damage to the mucous membrane of the cervical canal by Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, mycoplasma, etc.

But prolonged brown discharge instead of menstruation (menometrorrhagia with light or rather intensely colored discharge) is caused by erosion, dysplasia or cancer of the cervix; their appearance can be due to polycystic ovary syndrome. Also, against the background of menstrual cycle disorders, such discharge can manifest endometrial hyperplasia and polyps in the uterus, sarcoma or endometrial adenocarcinoma, and in the presence of blood clots - endometriosis or fibrous tumors of the uterus.

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Complications and consequences

Consequences and complications in the form of the above-mentioned discharges are caused by some antibacterial drugs, but most often by pharmacological agents containing synthetic analogues of endogenous hormones (estrogen and progesterone).

For example, doctors prescribe the drug Duphaston with dydrogesterone for hormone replacement therapy; its side effects include not only skin rashes and itching, but also metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding).

The hormonal contraceptive Triregol (ethinyl estradiol + levonorgestrel) causes uterine bleeding or less intense (spotting) bloody discharge due to missed pills and in cases of discontinuation of use.

So, if after Duphaston, Triregol there is brown discharge instead of menstruation, know that this is a consequence of their use.

Before taking hormonal contraceptive pills, consult a doctor and carefully read the instructions for the drug. So, bleeding and brown discharge instead of menstruation often occur when taking Jess (with ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone). As indicated in the instructions for this contraceptive, this can be observed during the first three months of its use.

As practice shows, such discharges occur after gynecological surgical interventions; after a regular abortion and after a mini-abortion, brown discharge instead of menstruation is also not uncommon. And although termination of pregnancy by vacuum aspiration is less traumatic than curettage, no one is immune from its complications.

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Diagnostics brown discharge instead of a period

It would be more correct to say that it is necessary to establish the cause of this symptom, because any discharge is only a sign of a particular disease or pathological condition.

First of all, gynecologists determine whether the patient is pregnant, which is revealed during a standard examination. The examination can also reveal the presence of pathologies.

Necessary tests include:

• clinical and biochemical blood analysis;
• blood test for TORCH infections;
• blood test for hormone levels (sex and thyroid);
• vaginal smear for microflora;
• PAP smear from the cervical canal;
• if indicated – biopsy of the cervix or mucous membrane of its body.

Instrumental diagnostics are carried out using ultrasonography (ultrasound) of the pelvic organs and hysteroscopy of the uterine cavity (if necessary, with biopsy).

Given the variety of reasons for the appearance of brown discharge replacing menstrual discharge, differential diagnosis may require the involvement of both specialists in the field of gynecological oncology and an endocrinologist.

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Treatment brown discharge instead of a period

Women of childbearing age should first use a pregnancy test and then, regardless of the results, go to a gynecologist. Because only he can confirm the fact of pregnancy and register the woman, and for non-pregnant patients, prescribe the necessary treatment for brown discharge instead of menstruation, or more precisely, treatment for the disease - the specific cause of this symptom.

It should be noted that today in gynecology the treatment of such discharge at the onset of menopause or with a decrease in hormonal levels in young women, as well as with endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia or uterine fibroids is based on the replacement of missing sex hormones. It is hardly advisable to list the drugs that can be prescribed in each specific case; see, for example, what drugs are used for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia

In case of infections, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics; in case of cervical dysplasia, diathermy or laser cauterization is used; if oncology is detected, surgical treatment, radiation and chemotherapy are performed.

Prevention

Vitamins of group B and microelements (iron and zinc) play an important role in maintaining women's health. Therefore, prevention of inflammatory and hormonal pathologies of the reproductive system should begin with proper nutrition (and consumption of vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits), a healthy lifestyle, and regular visits to the gynecologist.

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Forecast

If, instead of menstruation, brown discharge is observed in a woman planning pregnancy, then this will undoubtedly be the best prognosis.

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