Is Colour of Your Period Blood Brown or Black? What does the Colour Tell About Your Health

Every period is unique. Some women may have shorter or longer period cycle, accompanied with cramps or no cramps or even spotting to heavy flow. Menses are prime indicators of a woman’s health. And what happens down under in your va-jay-jay, is important to pay attention to. The colour of your period plays an important role to understand your health. The colour can vary from light pink to dark reddish brown. Therefore, before discarding your tampon or sanitary, ladies, have a look at the colour of your period. Don’t know what the colour indicates? Read on as we decode the colour of your period.

If it’s pink…   

It means that your period is typically light in flow. Low estrogen levels can cause your period to be light. Studies have found that excessive exercising can lower your estrogen levels and your periods can even gradually disappear. This is quite common among female athletes or runners. Other potential culprits of a pinkish flow can include poor nutrition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or perimenopause, which is when your ovaries start producing less estrogen in preparation for menopause.

If it’s white & watery…

A nutritional deficiency can be the culprit for this change of colour. A white-ish diluted flow can be a symptom of severe anaemia. However, being anaemic can be quite confusing. Instead of having lighter period, you might end up having a heavier flow. When you have period every month, the iron in the red blood cells is lost and your iron absorption is not replaced. This is typically associated with people that have heavy menstrual flow. It is recommended for people to get their iron levels checked if they are bleeding through pads or tampons in less than an hour, change their pads more than often or who regularly feel tired and foggy. Furthermore, a watery period may also be an indication of fallopian tube cancer. This scenario is extremely rare, but it is still important to be aware of this.

If it’s dark brown…

This is completely normal, and you don’t need to panic. This usually means that you have older uterine lining that is now making the way out of your body. And it is completely normal at the beginning and ending of your cycle. Moreover, blood clots are normal on your heaviest days and can appear a dark red, dark brown or even black. If you are on a birth control pill, this may also give you a brown coloured flow as it affects your hormone levels. Make a note if your flow is brown throughout your menstruation, you could be lacking water and specific nutrients.

If it’s jam-coloured red with clots…

Some clotting is normal, while, the size (smaller or larger) may indicate a serious hormonal imbalance. It is recommended to reduce the consumption of dairy, soy and sugar and see if any changes occur. Another possibility are Uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumours in the uterus. They are often benign, but they can be painful and may lead to clot-filled periods. Clotting becomes more prevalent before you enter menopause.

If it’s grey…

This is unpleasant and may shock many. If you see a grey discharge accompanied with a foul smell it indicates an STD/STI infection. Also, women who miscarry also see a grey tissue.

If it’s cranberry red…

This indicates you have a healthy period. A consistently bright red flow is a sign that everything is working as it should.

If you notice any of the above changes in your flow, it is advised to seek out a medical professional. An ultrasound may be conducted to investigate the potential reasons for any changes. Staying in tune with your body and understanding these changes will help you improve any future health conditions. Ladies, it is crucial to know about your lifestyle habits as they determine your menstrual health.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2018 06:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).