Female representatives often have vaginal discharge, which play an important role in the work of their reproductive system. The characteristic features of these secretions depend on the age category of the woman, on the ratio of hormones and the intensity of sexual activity. Normally, they should not have a smell or impurities. If the discharge changes its cream or transparent shade to brown, this usually indicates the presence of clotted blood. Brown discharge before menstruation, what does it mean? To this question, which is of interest to many ladies, we will try to answer in this article.
Non-threatening discharge
The uterus of the fair sex, has the peculiarity of preparing for the onset of menstruation in advance. The main signs of a full onset of critical days in this situation are considered to be brown discharge a week before menstruation. They appear because in the second part of the menstrual cycle, the endometrial layer, which completely leaves the uterus during the time period of menstruation, is significantly thickened. To get rid of particles of the endometrium, the uterus contracts, and in the process of this action, its mucosa can be damaged. This leads to the appearance of an insignificant amount of blood, which coagulates and becomes brown.
Usually this phenomenon does not threaten a woman’s health, but if a representative of the weaker sex constantly asks herself the question: “What does brown discharge before menstruation mean”, she needs to listen to her body. A long delay in menstruation, accompanied by these secretions, may indicate a decrease in progesterone levels. They can reduce the amount of this hormone: bad habits, hypothermia, nervous irritability, food and other factors that a woman may simply not pay attention to.
In healthy women, brown secretions may continue to be released for some time after the completion of menstruation. The prerequisites for this phenomenon are the individual structure of the uterus and other characteristic features of the woman’s body.
Brown daub during pregnancy
Light brown discharge before menstruation, the fair sex is often observed on their underwear for 9-14 days before they occur. This time, according to experts, is very conducive to the conception of the baby.
The appearance of this daub before the critical days can be observed during pregnancy. In such unusual situations, if you take a brownish daub for uncharacteristic periods, ladies may not be aware of pregnancy for as long as 3-4 months.
Minor discharge, not accompanied by certain symptoms, usually does not threaten the course of pregnancy in the first months. However, there are cases when they signal the detachment of the ovum. A brown daub at a later date often indicates a placenta located incorrectly in relation to the cervix.
Having resorted to the help of professionals, pregnancy in most cases can be saved. The expectant mother, in order to achieve the desired result, is usually forced to be in a medical institution under the supervision of doctors, to observe bed rest.
Natural causes
Brown discharge before menstruation can appear on the underwear of the weaker sex, who do not have health problems. The following reasons may cause them:
- Adolescent puberty. In girls in the first years after the onset, menstruation can occur irregularly, be plentiful or, conversely, insignificant. Critical days in them are often preceded by a brown daub, accompanied by pain in the abdomen.
- Taking contraceptives. Contraceptives are able to affect the hormones of women and provoke the appearance of these secretions in them.
- The intrauterine device in certain situations also causes the appearance of a brown daub.
- The vestibule of menopause. Brown discharge before menstruation, observed in women who have crossed the forty-five-year age limit, may indicate that menopause is "just around the corner".
- Ovulation is also considered one of the prerequisites for the appearance of these secretions.
- Sexual intercourse, accompanied by microtrauma of the vagina, can be able to provoke a slight brown daub.
There are also diseases, the main signs of which are brown discharge from the vagina. Further, in this article we will consider some of them.
Endometriosis and endometritis
Representatives of the fair sex are often of the opinion that these diseases are similar to each other. However, endometriosis and endometritis, which are the causes of brown discharge before menstruation, although they have similar symptoms, are treated according to different schemes.
Endometriosis, resulting from disorders in the hormonal background, is the proliferation of glandular tissue of the uterus beyond. Menstruation with this disease can sometimes last more than seven days. Endometritis is a process of inflammation inside the uterus caused by a certain variety of pathogenic microbes. With these diseases, long brown discharge is always observed before menstruation.
Treatment of endometriosis, depending on the area of its distribution, involves the use of hormonal drugs. In the case of endometritis, antimicrobial, immunostimulating and absorbable agents are prescribed.
Endometrial hyperplasia
This disease, the main reasons for the development of which are malfunctions in the functioning of the thyroid gland and hormonal imbalance, is directly associated with excessive proliferation of the endometrium. According to statistics obtained from studies of female representatives, with endometrial hyperplasia, estrogen levels increase, and progesterone becomes significantly lower.
Doctors say that this ailment is almost asymptomatic. However, it is always accompanied by dark brown discharge before menstruation, observed from cycle to cycle. You can successfully fight hyperplasia with a course of hormone therapy and medication.
Polyps
With the development of certain pathologies in the uterine cavity, certain benign neoplasms can form on its mucosa, the growth of which is facilitated by disorders in the hormonal background and inflammation. The main signs of polyposis are brown discharge before menstruation, which does not cause pain, but becomes more abundant after physical work or sexual contact.
If this disease is detected and based on the results of a histological examination, a long course of hormone therapy is prescribed. In some situations, polyps are removed by surgery.
Erosion
Brown discharge before menstruation after sexual contact is observed with erosion of the cervix. With this disease, which can easily be found at a routine examination by a specialist, they are fighting with the help of various cauteries. Doctors observe the patient especially during pregnancy.
If atypical tissues are found, then doctors replace cauterization with excision of the area affected by erosion, and then decide whether to continue medical treatment or not.
Sexually transmitted diseases
The development of such ailments is usually provoked by fungal microorganisms that enter the body during unprotected intercourse. Experts suggest that diseases transmitted during sexual intercourse have the following symptoms:
- brown discharge before menstruation, endowed with a specific smell;
- constant delays of critical days;
- itching in the groin area;
- burning sensation during urination;
- the appearance of ulcers on the labia.
Timely completion of the necessary treatment can minimize the negative impact of infection on the genitals. In the presence of certain indications, the course of treatment is carried out in a hospital.
Ectopic pregnancy
"Why are brown discharge before menstruation?" - Ask the doctors of the fair sex of childbearing age. They need to know that these secretions can accompany the course of an ectopic pregnancy.
If the test showed the treasured two strips, and the state of health leaves much to be desired: in the abdomen there is heaviness and pain radiating to the back, the woman should hurry to go to a specialist. Identification of an ectopic pregnancy at the initial stage, helps to prevent rupture of the fallopian tube, which in the future gives a woman a chance to get pregnant.
Diagnosis of causes
In order to determine the exact cause of brown discharge, as well as completely eliminate the development of cancer, doctors recommend that women who are faced with this phenomenon undergo certain examinations and procedures.
Diagnosis, which allows to establish the causes of brown daub, includes the following set of measures:
- examination by a gynecologist;
- removal of biomaterial from the vagina of a woman;
- the study of certain blood tests;
- biopsy
- histology;
- colposcopy;
- study of the history of heredity.
General conclusions
Discharges of brown color before menstruation sometimes appear in absolutely healthy ladies. In such situations, they can be safely called the harbingers of the coming menstruation. On the other hand, there are situations when a brown daub directly indicates the development of certain diseases that pose a serious threat to health.
The appearance of these secretions is a good reason for visiting a specialist. Only he can soon determine the cause of the brown daub and competently write out an effective course of treatment. According to statistics, usually patients are prescribed treatment that can stop inflammation, which is supported by certain adjustments in nutrition, a decrease in physical activity. Often, menstrual irregularities and brown discharge are observed in women involved in professional sports.
It is not recommended to resort to self-medication: take baths with oak bark, consume fish oil or follow the advice of girlfriends. Even if there is no cause for concern, only a visit to the doctor can completely dispel doubts.