Some people may find that their blood stays bright red throughout their period. Unusual spotting or bleeding between menstrual cycles may be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection , such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Growths in the uterine lining, called polyps or fibroids , can also cause unusually heavy bleeding. Rarely, bright red bleeding may be a sign of cervical cancer. Other symptoms of cervical cancer include:. Using hormonal birth control can lower estrogen levels in the body, which can lead to a lighter flow with a pinkish hue during periods.
Sexual intercourse can create small tears in the vagina or the cervix. During pregnancy, pink discharge that contains tissue and occurs alongside cramps may indicate a miscarriage. It is important for women who experience vaginal bleeding while pregnant to see their doctor or obstetrician. Orange blood or discharge often indicates an infection, such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis.
People with orange blood should check for other telltale symptoms, such as vaginal itching, discomfort, and foul-smelling discharge. Although orange period blood or discharge does not always indicate an infection, it is a good idea for a person to see a doctor or gynecologist for an evaluation. Gray discharge is usually a sign of bacterial vaginosis, a condition that occurs due to an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the vagina.
People with symptoms of bacterial vaginosis should see a doctor or gynecologist. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial vaginosis. During the later stages of pregnancy, gray discharge containing clots can indicate a miscarriage.
Women who experience bleeding during pregnancy should see their doctor or obstetrician. Period blood can vary from bright red to dark brown according to changes in flow. Infections, pregnancy, and, in rare cases, cervical cancer, can cause unusual blood color or irregular bleeding.
Healthy period blood can contain visible pieces of the uterine lining. You may also experience minor cramping. If the pregnancy continues, you may go on to experience minor spotting throughout the first trimester. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself into tissue outside of your uterus. If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy, seek immediate medical attention.
Ectopic pregnancies can cause life-threatening internal bleeding if left untreated. Perimenopause is the time leading up to your final period. Until then, you may experience spotting, missed periods, long stretches of time between periods, and other irregularities. These changes are a result of your fluctuating hormone levels. These could be signs of an ectopic pregnancy , which is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Those in menopause should always follow up with a healthcare practitioner if they experience spotting. It can be an early sign of uterine cancer and other vaginal diseases. Spotting is lighter than a period and may indicate that you have an underlying condition. Call your doctor if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. Abnormal uterine bleeding is any vaginal bleeding that occurs between periods. Learn when a light period is nothing to worry about, and when it may be the sign of something more serious.
You may see red, brown, and even black blood during your period. Bleeding that mixes with fertile cervical fluid can appear light red or pinkish. Watery, pink vaginal discharge that occurs irregularly without a pattern and not related to your menstrual cycle may be a sign of cervical cancer and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider 6.
If you have grayish discharge, this could be a sign of an infection. If you experience heavy bleeding with pieces of grayish tissue, this could be a sign of a miscarriage. Seeing a healthcare provider is a recommended for either situation. Reproductive and menstrual health is still gravely misunderstood, and pushed aside compared to other aspects of health.
The lack of proper education and research on aspects of female health negatively impacts people globally in so many ways. Changes in the color of your period blood are not anything to worry about. Article was originally published on Oct.
When a miscarriage occurs very early in pregnancy, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a miscarriage and a heavy period. Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum. When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, If you experience unusual menstrual bleeding or clotting, discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Different women have different amounts of period blood, and amounts of period blood also vary across the menstrual cycle. It's normal for some women to have very light blood flow throughout their periods while others have extremely heavy blood flow.
Extremely heavy, fast menstrual bleeding may be a sign of an underlying bleeding disorder. This is particularly true if you have any family history of a bleeding disorder or have ever been treated for anemia. Periods come in a wide range of normal. How wide a range? There's also the question of what's normal for you, which may be different than what's normal on a population scale. Menstrual blood may be thick, thin, pink, or even black.
Some people can use only one or two pads or menstrual cups over the course of a day, others need to change them every couple of hours.
Some people have no cramps, others regularly employ a hot pad or pain killers. Paying attention to the appearance of your period blood, and what your menstrual cycle feels like, is a great way to figure out what's normal for you.
Tracking your period— on paper or with an app —helps you realize if something is different than usual that might make you want to seek care. Around the world, up to a quarter of reproductive-age women experience some type of abnormal uterine bleeding. Abnormal uterine bleeding takes on a variety of forms including periods that:.
For many such women, there are interventions that can help. Addressing the underlying causes of abnormal uterine bleeding can make a big difference in their lives.
For some people, it's the difference between being successful at work or school, and not being able to function. There are a number of medical conditions where changes in your menstrual bleeding can be a symptom. Not all of them are serious or need medical attention.
However, signs that you should see a healthcare provider about your period include:. Blood color during menstruation varies from almost black or brown to shades of red and pink, and none of these are considered abnormal. If you are concerned about the color or appearance of the blood in your cycle, speak to your healthcare provider.
Typically, other symptoms are more of a cause for concern such as large clots, severe cramping, and excessively prolonged periods.
Yes, it is normal to pass some small, yet visible, blood clots during menstruation. Blood can be mixed with mucus and look like a clot. However, if you see a clot the size of a quarter or larger, that is not normal, and you should call your healthcare provider, as this is a sign of menorrhagia. Tracking your period can also help you realize if your normal is something that needs to change —even if it's not an emergency or even an urgency.
It may be normal for you to be regularly disabled by heavy periods or painful cramps, but it shouldn't have to be. Therefore, if it's appropriate, let the data you've collected through tracking your period inspire you to talk to your healthcare provider.
Another bonus of period tracking? It gives you all the information you need to have a good discussion about your care.
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