The presence of brown vaginal discharge during pregnancy can be harmless and temporary, but if it recurs, it is important for a woman to visit a gynecologist without fail and get qualified advice from this specialist. We will discuss further the possible causes of this phenomenon.
Features of this phenomenon
Vaginal discharge in its structure is a viscous fluid consisting of a kind of cocktail of transudates, mucus, sweat, fats, menstrual fluids and a layer of vaginal cells.
Each woman has them individually, so she knows what their normal flow is and when there are deviations from the norm.
As a rule, the secreted secret is clear or whitish, depending on the body of the pregnant woman. Its consistency can vary from very liquid to too pasty in structure and usually does not have an unpleasant odor.
These symptoms are not common to all women. With brown discharge during pregnancy, it is necessary to monitor the presence of additional signs:
- aching pain in the lower abdomen;
- deterioration in overall health.
What does brown mucus mean?
The most dangerous indicator of impending disaster is the presence of light brown discharge during pregnancy, one of the signs of a miscarriage. Therefore, the problem cannot be ignored. Women should be careful when this happens, but, as a rule, this is not associated with any pathology.
On the other hand, it is well known that this is not an infection, because in these cases the color of the mucus tends to be more yellowish or greenish.
Light brown discharge during pregnancy tends to occur for a number of good reasons. Let's consider them further.
20% of women notice brown discharge during pregnancy in the early stages during the first 3 months, which can cause some confusion: on the one hand, a woman may think that this is menstruation and that she is not pregnant, and on the other hand, she can count that it is a miscarriage.
How to establish the true cause of the discharge
However, none of the two listed reasons can be established precisely without consulting a gynecologist who will conduct the necessary studies:
- take tests;
- appoint ultrasound diagnostics;
- look at the woman on the armchair.
The cause of brown discharge during pregnancy may be the rejection of the zygote from the uterine wall, which is accompanied by a small discharge of blood.
Finally, there are diseases not related to the reproductive system. They can affect our physiological and hormonal functioning, causing problems such as digestive disorders or stress. If brown vaginal discharge persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, consult a doctor.
Other causes of brown secret
There are even more serious conditions that can cause this brown secret, and to be sure of this, it is important to visit a gynecologist.
One of the causes of brown discharge from the vagina may be ovarian cysts, which are inflammations that occur in these organs of the female reproductive system. Inflammation takes the form of a bag and is full of fluid. In many cases, these cysts are harmless and disappear spontaneously, but they deserve our attention when these brown secretions are accompanied by abdominal pain.
Hemorrhages can also warn us about endometriosis, which is an overgrowth of the inner layer of the uterine wall beyond. However, as in other conditions, this brown secret is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- dark color of secretory fluid;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- pain during intercourse.
When to worry about brown vaginal discharge?
The presence of brown discharge during pregnancy requires consultation with a doctor, when this condition does not stop for a long time or causes pain.
Other symptoms that cause us discomfort:
- any type of pain;
- weakness;
- fever.
If you expect that everything will go away on its own, you can lose time and exacerbate the situation.
Causes of brown discharge outside of menstruation
There are many reasons for the appearance of a brown tinge of mucus, one of which is a delay in the regular menstrual cycle. Below are some of the causes of brown discharge after pregnancy or during this condition.
If a woman is pregnant, the presence of bleeding is not always dangerous for her and the developing fetus. In the early stages of pregnancy, brown discharge may signal that the fetus is implanted in the inner lining of the uterus, the endometrium, resulting in ruptures of the protective layer.
This leads to the appearance of blood stains that are pink or brown. Bleeding at conception occurs within about 2 or 3 days and ends after ovulation.
Another reason for the appearance of brown discharge without pregnancy may be due to the presence of polyps. Polyps, also known as tumors, are abnormal bodies in the uterus and are benign. Bleeding in the uterus due to polyps should be detected by a doctor.
Treatment options
If the situation does not seem normal, then you will need to consult a gynecologist. It is he who will be able to diagnose the exact cause and prescribe the necessary medications.
You may also need to take a test for polyps or other abnormal formations inside the uterus. The growth of these polyps can be reduced with certain medications, but in rare cases, surgery may be an option.
Polyps are benign tumors in the form of a villous or pear-shaped tumor. It has a wide and dense base, which provides attachment to the surface of the mucosa. A polyp may have a narrow long stem or stem. The length of the legs directly depends on the size of the polyp.
These formations can be located in different places:
- on the cervix and body of this organ;
- on the uterine mucosa;
- on the cervical canal;
- on the placenta.
Polyps are also divided into:
- single;
- multiple, which cause the development of polyposis.
Also, depending on the structure, there may be soft and hard types of polyps. They do not harm the body, but modern medicine considers them harbingers of cancer. It is these benign neoplasms that can cause bleeding from the female genital organs, which differ in varying degrees of intensity.
If signs of an inflammatory process are found, it is necessary to get a qualified consultation. The doctor can prescribe both conservative methods in the form of a sparing minimally invasive intervention, and radical surgical intervention in the form of a resection. But after studying this information, one should not immediately suspect these formations.
Although brown secretion often cannot lead to any complications, it is necessary to practice a healthy lifestyle in order to alleviate problems associated with one’s state of health.
The most common causes of dark vaginal discharge if the woman is not pregnant
During menstruation, many women suffer from physical discomfort, such as:
- abdominal pain;
- mood swings;
- cramps.
In many cases, brown vaginal discharge appears a few days after the end of your period. The phenomenon is due to the fact that at this stage the uterus did not use all the old blood that it had, it does this with a certain delay.
If this occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, it is usually associated with a certain hormonal imbalance, especially if hormonal contraceptives such as a pill, ring, and others are used.
The described situation happens with 10% of women who use these methods to prevent pregnancy. But for those who do not, the discharge may also appear without any cause for concern. Especially if it is not accompanied by other symptoms, and if it does not persist for a long time.
If you are taking birth control pills and there is a dark discharge, then your doctor may advise you to change drugs or prescribe pills that are suitable for your body.
What you need to remember a woman in an interesting position
If brown discharge is observed during pregnancy, the cause may be physiological features. Sometimes such discharge indicates the presence of polyps - benign formations that do not pose a danger to women's health. But sometimes they can cause cancer. Therefore, such tumors must be eliminated. Then, it may be necessary both medical treatment and surgical intervention.
Unlike green or yellow mucus, dark discharge does not tend to indicate the presence of infection. If a woman experiences pain in the lower abdomen, discharge does not stop, urgent need to get medical help. After all, these symptoms can become signals of a possible miscarriage.
Some pregnant women experience brownish discharge, which can sometimes be a very annoying factor. The expectant mother is worried whether everything is normal with her.
Before the menstrual period, some women have vaginal discharge that is similar to the menstrual flow. The only difference is that this secret is light brown or dark brown, unlike menstrual fluid, bright red.
To summarize
Brown discharge during pregnancy without pain should not be a cause for panic. But the examination of the doctor is mandatory, since you can not risk your own health and the condition of the future baby.
Let your health be strong, and unpleasant symptoms will not have a place in the organisms of members of the whole family. To do this, you only need to take care of yourself and be examined in a timely manner by medical specialists.