What do the different colours of period blood mean?

Knowing your period blood colour meaning is a great way of being aware of menstrual health. The normal colour of your period blood should be aywhere between bright red to dark brown. If your period blood is grey or light red/ pink, you need to consult a doctor as it can be a sign of an underlying problem.

What does pink period blood mean?

When the estrogen levels in your blood drop, it can lead to pink period blood. Pink blood can also appear in the form of spotting at times other than your period. Do consult your doctor if you are experiencing pink period blood.

Why does my period blood turn grey?

Grey period blood is a sign of bacterial vaginosis which is a form of infection of the vagina. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms which might include a foul smell and burning sensation upon urination. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor.

Why is my period blood black?

Black menstruation blood signals to older blood that has taken a longer duration to leave the uterus and consequently oxidised. This is usually seen at the beginning or end of a period and is considered normal. Understanding period blood colour meaning is important to stay abreast of health issues, but black blood is often a sign that the flow was slow.

What do black blood clots mean?

It is common for period blood to be accompanied by clots. However, black blood clots can occur when the menstrual blood that has left the body late has oxidised over time. Basically, black menstruation blood can make blood clots black. This causes the blood and the clots to appear black in colour. If you figure out period blood colour meaning then you will be better able to protect yourself and get appropriate treatment soon.

Is it normal for the colour to be different at the beginning and end?

Yes, it is normal for period blood to change colour throughout the menstruation cycle. In the beginning, it can be bright red or pink blood during a period. This period blood transitions to a darker brown period blood as older blood is expelled from your uterus. It is wiser to learn about the period blood colour meaning to stay one step ahead of potential health issues.

What if my period blood is watery or clot-filled?

As your cycle ends, it is possible that you may experience watery period blood. This particular blood could further darken as the blood begins to oxidise. If your period blood is bright red and watery, it could mean that it is a result of a miscarriage or injury. In such a case, you must seek medical help. Moreover, large blood clots in your periods could mean uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), adenomyosis, endometriosis, polyps, endometrial cancer, bleeding disorders or thyroid conditions. To be certain, you must consult a doctor at once. It also helps if you know about period blood colour meaning.

What Do Different Period Blood Colours Indicate?

What Do Different Period Blood Colors Indicate?

Have you noticed that your period blood differs in colour from day to day and even across different cycles? Well, it's considered to be completely normal. For most women, this varied change of period colour occurs in the initial years of experiencing periods. However, in the later years, experiencing different types of period blood is also considered normal. You may notice a range of colours starting from light red period colour, dark brown period colour to black. But have you ever wondered what each menstruation blood colour (menses) indicate and how it is related to your overall health? Let's find out this and more about period blood colour.

Why Does Period Blood Colour Differs?

Chances are that you would have experienced dark brown period blood at the beginning of the period and it changes to bright red in the next one or two days. The reason behind this change of colour depends on how long the blood stays inside your uterus and vagina. The longer it stays, the more time it gets to react with oxygen, causing the blood to appear darker.

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What Are The Different Types Of Period Blood Colour?

What Are the Different Period Blood Colours and What Do They Mean?

Black
Brown
Bright Red
Pink
Orange
Grey

Black

Black period blood might look a little alarming at first but there's no need to worry. This type of blood usually appears at the start or at the end of your periods. Black period blood is considered to be old blood which takes a longer set of time to leave the uterus and gets more oxidized.

Brown

Brown or dark brown period blood is another type of old blood. This blood takes its own time to exit from the uterus which gives it time to oxidize and change its colour from red to brown. Here are instances when you might experience brown period blood, as follows:

Lochia
:

Brown period colour can be noticed during lochia - the bleeding that occurs in the first four to six weeks after delivering a baby.

Start or end of periods
:

You might experience dark brown period blood at the beginning of the period or at the end, especially if your flow is slow.

Pregnancy
:

Brown blood or spotting is also considered to be early signs of pregnancy also known as implantation bleeding.

Miscarriage
:

In case you experience brown discharge during pregnancy, it may indicate a miscarriage. In such cases, you must consult with your doctor immediately.

Bright Red

Your periods might start with bright red period colour.

Your periods might start with bright red period colour. This colour refers to fresh and steady blood flow. Here are instances when you might experience bright red period blood

Infections
:

Bright red bleeding between periods can be a sign of sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Fibroids
:

These noncancerous growths in your uterine lining can lead to heavy, bright red bleeding. This type of blood is often accompanied by sharp cramps.

Pink

Pink period blood might occur on the days when you are spotting.

Pink period blood might occur on the days when you are spotting. If you are wondering why my period blood is light pink and watery, it's because this blood gets mixed with the cervical fluid, resulting in a light colour. Here are instances when you might experience pink period blood,

Dealing with lower estrogen levels
:

If you are taking birth control pills, your body would have low estrogen levels. These hormones stabilise the uterine lining and in its absence, your uterus sheds lining and you notice pink spotting.

Small tears in the vagina
:

Intercourse leads to small tears in the vagina. These tears allow blood to mix up vaginal fluids and result in pink period blood.

Lochia
:

You might experience pinkish discharge from the fourth day of your lochia bleeding.

Miscarriage
:

A release of pink fluid from the vagina is an indication of miscarriage.

Other factors
:

Imbalanced diet, extreme weight loss or anaemia can also result in light red or pink period blood colour.

Orange

Orange blood is a result of blood that mixes with cervical fluid. This type of blood colour is a sign of infection like bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. If you spot orange bleeding, you should watch out for signs like foul-smelling discharge, vaginal itching and discomfort. Usually, it's not always the case but you should consult with the doctor and get your doubts cleared.

Grey

Grey blood is a direct response to an infection called bacterial vaginosis. In case you experience grey blood, you should consult with your doctor.

If you are still wondering what normal period blood looks like, the answer ranges from bright red to dark red colour. Remember that everybody is different and your period blood colour and consistency can change during a period or from month to month. In case you experience any unusual bleeding, you should speak to your doctor at the earliest and get your doubts cleared.

What If the Colour of Your Period Blood Changes Mid-Cycle?

Period blood can change to different colours during the course of menstruation. These colours can be bright red, to pink to even brown. The different colour of menstrual blood can mean different things. Often, they are not something you need to worry about. However, there is the occasional possibility that you might need to see a doctor. For instance, black menstruation blood is generally older blood that has been in your body for a long time. This happens when your flow is lower or towards the end of your period. Meanwhile, pink blood during your period often indicates a lighter flow. This is also mixed with cervical fluid. This occurs at the beginning or the end of your period. Pink blood is associated with low oestrogen, miscarriage, lochia and ovulation.

What About Clots in Period Blood?

Blood clots passed during your menstrual cycles are normal and not a cause for worry. For different people, the bleeding length and frequency can vary. However, if you notice abnormally large blood clots in your menstrual blood, then you must reach out to a healthcare professional. This could mean you have a serious health issue, and it needs to be thoroughly evaluated. If you have black menstruation blood it could be accompanied by clots of the same colour. Meanwhile, pink blood during a period, generally indicating lighter flow, might show fewer clots. In either case, you need to consult a healthcare professional and make sure that you have no health issues.

When Should You See a Doctor?

While variations in period blood colour can be normal, there are certain situations when you should consider consulting a doctor. Mentioned below are some of the reasons when you may need to see

If your period lasts for longer than 7 days or is so heavy that you keep soaking through a pad or a tampon every few hours
If your cycles are irregular or change too much in length then you must seek medical advice.
If your cycles are shorter than 24 days or longer than 38 days
If your period lasts three months or longer
If you bleed between your periods
If you are pregnant and notice bleeding or spotting
If you notice grey discharge, which could indicate miscarriage or perhaps an infection
If your bleeding is coupled with unbearable pain

Understanding period blood colour meaning is crucial in identifying potential health issues. While brown period blood is generally older blood taking longer to exit the body, persistent occurrences, especially outside your regular cycle, should be evaluated. Similarly, pink blood during your period, usually a sign of a lighter flow, may be linked to hormonal imbalances if persistent. If these changes are accompanied by severe pain, irregular cycles, or unusual symptoms, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended to ensure your reproductive health is on track.

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