It's probably not the first time you're weirded out by your period — you might be confused by the smell, the irritating symptoms like cramps or acne, and even the color. While most seemingly weird things about your period are totally normal, it's also completely OK to double check that everything's fine down there! Periods can be pretty ~mysterious~ and embarrassing to talk about with your squad, so sometimes you just need to warm up to having real AF conversations with a doctor to get the full picture.
So today, we're talking about the color of your period blood, and more specifically, dark brown period blood. What does it mean? Is it normal? Well, you're about find out. Seventeen chatted with Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, an OB-GYN and panelist for
Vagisil’s Vaginal and Sexual Health Education Council (vSHEC), about reasons your period blood might be dark brown.
Before we dive in, it's important to understand that period blood can come in a range of different shades of brown and red, as well as different consistencies, depending on where you're at in your cycle. And for the most part, these changes are perfectly normal. So what does brown blood specifically mean?
Why is my period blood dark brown?
According to Dr. Minkin, brown period blood is basically just old blood that's been hanging around for awhile. "It's blood that may not have come out right away, so the blood has been oxidized," she says. This means that when your blood leaves your body, it's red, but as it's exposed to oxygen, the blood turns a little bit darker.
You'll likely see dark brown period blood towards the very beginning or end of your cycle, when your flow is pretty light. Brown period blood tends to be associated with a lighter flow, Dr. Minkin says. "It generally correlates with amount," she says. "Most people who are bleeding heavily will not have dark blood — it'll just be fresh red blood in copious volumes."
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Should you see a doctor for it?
You don't have to! It really doesn't have much medical significance, says Dr. Minkin. "It just happens and it can happen sporadically. Most of the time, people come see me for it and I'll check to make sure nothing else is going on, but I don't think I've ever had anybody have anything wrong."
When it comes to your period, Dr. Minkin stresses that it's about what's usual for you and your cycle that counts!
So when should you see your doctor?
While a slight change in the color of your blood isn't something to worry about, Dr. Minkin says there are a few things that you should probably see a doctor for.
When your period is extra heavy
If you have an abnormally heavy flow — your period lasts five or six days and you're bleeding enough to change your period products every hour — you should check in with your doc. While a light flow is nothing to worry about, if you have an extra heavy flow, you want to make sure you're keeping up with your blood loss, says Dr. Minkin. A doctor can (safely) intervene and help to lessen your blood flow.
According to Dr. Minkin, people can also develop heavier periods over time. You might normally have a three to four day period that evolves into a five or six day period, which can definitely be a little unnerving. Dr. Minkin says an extra heavy period can put you at risk for significant blood loss, and be linked to conditions like hypothyroidism (where the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones), and endometriosis. While these conditions are all totally manageable or treatable, it's always good to see your doctor about any concerns.
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When you're bleeding or spotting in between periods
Another period-related concern you should pay attention to is bleeding or spotting in between periods or after sex. According to Dr. Minkin, bleeding in between periods could be a sign of an abnormality in the cervix or a precancerous situation, so it's super important to get checked out (even more so than the heaviness of your period).
When your period is irregular
If your cycle is changing by just a matter of days — your cycle used to last 28 days and now it's 33 days — you don't need to worry. But when you start going two to three months or even longer without a period, you should chat with your doc, says Dr. Minkin.
"If you go a long time without a period, you can end up developing overgrowth of the lining of the uterus, if it's not cleaned out on a regular basis," she says. This could also be a sign of a hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Doctors can prescribe a hormone called progesterone to help regulate your period and avoid the possibility of overgrowth, so be sure to pay a visit to your provider if you're experiencing this symptom.
Plus, if you are sexually active and pregnancy is a concern, you should take a pregnancy test after missing a period.
What color period blood is most normal?
Most people have blood that's on the redder side, says Dr. Minkin. While people generally have brighter reddish blood, a little bit of dark staining is perfectly common.
In addition, when you have a lighter flow, the discharge of the blood will appear somewhat thicker than a reddish flow. But again, this isn't anything to worry about.
Find out more about what your period blood says about your body here.
