Vaginal discharge from a healthy woman does not have a strong odor; red, yellow or green; impurities of blood, foam. Brown secretion is the result of hormonal imbalance, previous interventions on the organs of the genitourinary system; inflammatory, tumor or destructive processes. Brown discharge before and after menstruation, especially if it occurs regularly, is accompanied by fever, itching and pain in the lower abdomen - grounds for contacting a specialist. For a long time, a woman may not know about the presence of a disease in the organs of the reproductive, urinary, digestive or endocrine systems. The time from the development of the disease to the appearance of the first signs is from several hours (for colpitis, endometritis) to 6-9 months (for cysts, fibroids, malignant tumors). Before consulting a doctor, taking medications or heating the lower abdomen is contraindicated (even if the heat procedure seems to reduce discomfort).
Symptoms
When visiting a gynecologist, you should list the main worrying signs. This information will allow you to quickly determine the severity of the clinical picture, help determine a preliminary diagnosis and understand what types of examination the patient needs.
Brown discharge that occurs before and after menstruation is accompanied by other symptoms:
- increased body temperature
- pain in the lower abdomen
- increased frequency of urination
- decreased performance
- unpleasant sensations in the lower back
- the appearance of blood after intimacy
- disruption of the menstrual cycle
- frequent constipation
- general weakness
- dizzy
Other signs are a strong odor from urine, loss of appetite, pallor, hair loss, skin rash, decreased blood pressure, and lack of libido. Depending on the characteristics of the clinical case, the condition may be complemented by other symptoms: the appearance of clots in menstrual blood, itching in the vagina, difficulties in adopting a comfortable body position.
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Discharge after sex
During intense sexual contact, microdamage to the mucous membranes of the vagina may occur, accompanied by the release of drops of blood, which upon contact with air acquire a frightening dark brown color. In this case you need:
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene, select suitable intimate gels, do not use soap and do not resort to douching to avoid infection of damaged mucous membranes.
- Use lubricant purchased at a pharmacy or specialty store, and be careful during intimacy.
Causes
Physiological reasons for which brown discharge appears before and after menstruation: ovulation, the onset of sexual activity or menopause, the formation of the menstrual cycle after childbirth. In other cases, the discharge of brown secretion from the vagina is one of the manifestations of pathological conditions. Even taking into account the fact that secretion is related to the reproductive system, the main cause of pathology is not always located in the urogenital tract.
For example, the appearance of vaginal secretion, which in consistency resembles melted chocolate, is promoted by dysfunction of the thyroid gland. This emphasizes the importance of undergoing a full diagnosis, including the differential (comparative) part of it.
Myoma
A benign neoplasm that occurs in the walls of the uterus is caused by hormonal disorders, curettage, or interrupted pregnancies. Myoma is a node prone to rapid growth. The tumor is characterized by a risk of blocking the outflow of urine and the movement of digested food masses through the intestines.
General signs of fibroids:
- regular nagging pain in the lower abdomen
- aching sensation in the lower back
- disruption of the menstrual cycle
- the release of large blood clots in menstrual blood
- discomfort during intimacy
Brown discharge before and after menstruation is one of the manifestations of fibroids, which does not occur in all cases of the appearance of this neoplasm. But if the presence of such a tumor is confirmed, it is necessary to take into account its tendency to malignancy (degeneration into cancer). Therefore, fibroids need to be eliminated as early as possible - at the initial stage of its development, treatment is limited to hormonal therapy.
Adaptation to oral contraceptives
The use of oral contraceptives does not always occur without associated symptoms. Especially at the very beginning of taking contraceptives, when the body is just getting used to the pharmaceutical load.
Contraceptives are made based on synthetic hormones. During the first 3-4 months from the start of taking oral contraceptives, an imbalance of these biologically active substances occurs. Hormonal disorders are manifested by ovarian dysfunction. Therefore, along with other signs, a woman observes brown vaginal discharge, and it appears mainly before and after menstruation.
Installation of an intrauterine device
The IUD is one of the effective ways to combat unwanted pregnancy, which can be used by women of reproductive age, provided there are no contraindications. The intrauterine device is installed within half an hour. After placement of the IUD, complications may occur within 2 days, including brown discharge.
This is the body’s reaction to the implantation of a foreign body; in normal health, it is eliminated on its own. If the duration of discharge increases, you should consult a doctor, since there may be inflammatory processes in the pelvic cavity.
Cervical and ovarian cancer
Cancer of the female genital organs develops under the influence of factors that cause the degeneration of physiological cells into a malignant form.
These reasons include:
- working or living near a source of severe toxic exposure
- chronic endocrine diseases
- severe emotional shock
- consumption of foods rich in GMOs
- age over 45 years
- bad habits
- heredity
Signs of cancer of the internal genital organs are severe pain in the lower abdomen, which initially occurs only periodically; the appearance of blood in the urine and its discharge from the vagina, lack of libido. At stage 2 of cancer development, a woman’s condition is characterized by significant weight loss, weakness, lack of performance, pallor, and hypotension. A malignant tumor can form from physiological cells of the ovaries and cervix, or arise as a result of the degeneration of their benign neoplasms.
Cervical diseases
All pathologies of the cervix are classified into background, precancerous, and cancerous forms. Common disorders are leukoplakia, dysplasia, ectopia, papillomatosis. Cervical diseases are characterized by long periods of asymptomatic progression. This explains the identification of these disorders at later stages of their development.
Signs that should serve as a basis for contacting a gynecologist:
- nagging pain in the lower abdomen
- increase in body temperature to low limits
- spotting vaginal discharge
- disruption of the menstrual cycle
- severe discomfort during intimacy
Women over 40 years of age are susceptible to the development of background, precancerous, and cancerous diseases of the cervix. Especially in the presence of disrupted hormonal levels, weak immunity, or a history of urogenital infections.
Ectopic pregnancy
The development of ectopic pregnancy is facilitated by the inflammatory process in the pelvic organs and unprotected intimacy during menstruation. The fertilized egg attaches to the ovary or the walls of the fallopian tube, or less often to the tissues of the abdominal cavity. An ectopic pregnancy is eliminated surgically. During the operation, a transfusion of blood and/or its components is performed.
If the pathology is detected at an early stage, it is possible to perform organ-preserving surgery. Reasons for contacting a gynecologist: discharge that occurs before and after menstruation, breast enlargement and sensitivity, changes in psycho-emotional state.
Endometrial hyperplasia
This is a pathological condition that is characterized by changes in the internal uterine wall, which is caused by hormonal disorders. Endometrial hyperplasia is preceded by the development of chronic endocrine pathologies, liver dysfunction, psycho-emotional shock, and termination of pregnancy. Signs of the condition: failure of the menstrual cycle, the appearance of brown discharge before and after menstruation, discomfort in the lower abdomen that occurs after intimacy or at rest.
Hyperplasia is eliminated mainly surgically; lack of treatment leads to serious health consequences, including infertility. Hormonal therapy (even when combined with curettage of the uterine cavity) provides a therapeutic effect in a small number of cases.
Ovarian cyst
The neoplasm is a benign cavity that contains serous secretion. The disease occurs due to disruptions in hormonal balance, which is facilitated by irregular sex life, endocrine pathology, and termination of pregnancy.
Signs of a cyst: pain in the lower abdomen, menstrual irregularities, discomfort during sexual intercourse, spotting brown discharge that occurs before and after menstruation. The type of neoplasm in question causes dysfunction of the ovaries and can lead to hormonal imbalance or rupture of the organ.
Colpitis
It is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa, which progresses in acute or chronic form. Lack of timely treatment leads to the rapid transition of the disease to a protracted stage.
The main causes of inflammation of the vaginal mucosa:
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules
- unprotected intimacy with a partner who neglects water procedures
- diabetes
- abuse of vaginal tampons
- rough sexual intercourse
- change in urine composition
- recent therapeutic and diagnostic procedures performed with non-sterile instruments
- abuse of products containing glycogen (it is unfavorable for vaginal microflora)
The main signs of colpitis are sharp pain during sexual intercourse, a periodic increase in body temperature, which is preceded by a phase of chills; discharge before and after menstruation (cheesy, bloody, fishy, brown). The disease can spread to other parts of the genitourinary tract, often to the cervix (erosion occurs) and the bladder.
Cervical erosion
This is a pathological condition in which wounds appear on the mucous membrane of the cervix: they bleed and are accompanied by pain and general discomfort. One of the main signs of the disease is the appearance of blood from the vagina after sexual intercourse. Since the color of this secretion differs from woman to woman, the patient may notice that the discharge is brown, and it is observed both before and after menstruation.
The reasons for the development of cervical erosion range from rough sexual intercourse to difficult childbirth. The disease is eliminated by coagulation, the pathology is revealed when examining a woman on a gynecological chair, using mirrors.
Brown discharge during pregnancy
Brown discharge in women of a spotting nature is a case when you definitely need to inform your gynecologist about it. The reasons may be trivial: the appearance in the first months of scanty bleeding at the expected time of menstruation, the body's reaction to ongoing hormonal changes, fatigue, bleeding from the outer layer of the amniotic cavity.
But sometimes spotting is a signal of danger of miscarriage. Therefore, you should tell your doctor if you experience any such episode during pregnancy.
Possible complications
Long-term inflammation of the pelvic organs is dangerous due to the development of adhesions - adhesions that prevent pregnancy. They block the lumen of the fallopian tubes, reducing the likelihood of fertilization of the egg. An ectopic pregnancy is dangerous due to the rupture of the organ inside which the fertilized egg is located (ovary, fallopian tube). Hemorrhage leads to the development of peritonitis and sepsis.
Both conditions are accompanied by increased body temperature, extensive inflammation and are characterized by a risk of death. A rupture of the fallopian tube or ovary can lead to the loss of these organs. Depending on the characteristics (form, stage) of the cervical disease, cancer of this part of the reproductive system may develop. An ovarian cyst adversely affects a woman’s hormonal levels and promotes increased production of estrogen, which is unfavorable for health.
Which doctor should I contact?
If brown vaginal discharge appears, you should consult a gynecologist. If, based on the test answers, problems with the thyroid gland are identified, an appointment with an endocrinologist is recommended. Detection of a malignant tumor of the ovaries or uterus is the basis for consulting an oncologist. When brown discharge that occurs before and after menstruation is caused by sexually transmitted diseases, the patient is referred to a venereologist. Subsequently, the woman’s sexual partner should undergo treatment at the same time.
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Brown discharge when using hormonal contraception (OC)
Spotting is a common complaint during the first three months after starting hormonal birth control pills. If spotting while taking hormonal pills lasts no longer than six months, this can be considered a normal reaction of the female body, which must get used to hormonal contraception. If there is spotting that goes beyond this period or becomes more intense, you should go to the gynecologist and change the type of pills.
Diagnostics
On her own, before seeing a doctor, a woman cannot undergo the correct set of examinations and identify the disorder, which is characterized by brown discharge. Therefore, first of all, you need to make an appointment with a specialist - he will prescribe the scope of necessary diagnostic procedures (taking into account the characteristics of the clinical case).
To determine the cause of brown secretion from the vagina, you need to go through:
- biochemical, clinical blood test
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs
- blood test to determine the level of sex hormones, the content of tumor markers
- laparoscopy
- hysteroscopy
- biopsy followed by histological examination of the tissue sample taken
- ELISA, PCR diagnostics
- examination of a smear taken from the cervical canal
- blood test to determine thyroid hormones
- pregnancy test
- general, bacteriological urine analysis
- examination on a gynecological chair
- HIV blood test, RW
The main list of hardware, laboratory, and instrumental examinations is indicated. Depending on the characteristics of the clinical case, the woman is prescribed the listed diagnostic procedures in various variations and combinations. Additional types of research are indicated only if the listed set of manipulations is ineffective.
Brown discharge before menstruation
It happens that menstruation is preceded by brown spotting. Brown spotting appears, as if menstruation is about to begin, then there is a pause for several days, and then real menstruation begins. This does not mean something terrible, but you need to inform your gynecologist about the problem. Women with regular menstrual bleeding may have so-called symptoms of luteal insufficiency or corpus luteum, which results in insufficient secretion of progesterone.
Women over the age of forty, during menopause, have spotting before menstruation. This is one of the symptoms of a decline in progesterone production due to physiological changes in the body. Also, a lack of progesterone can manifest itself by increased bleeding at the end of menstruation and an increase in its duration.
Treatment
Myoma is removed surgically in every 2 cases. After surgery, a woman is not recommended to become pregnant for 1 year. This is necessary for the complete healing of uterine tissue, which must be strong for the subsequent attachment of the fertilized egg and bearing a child. Colpitis is eliminated with anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs that normalize the vaginal microflora.
Additionally, you must avoid eating foods containing glycogen. An ectopic pregnancy is the basis for immediate surgical intervention. Malignant neoplasms of the female reproductive system are eliminated through surgery. The patient undergoes a full examination beforehand.
