Table of Contents
Introduction
Menstruation is one of the common biological processes that women in the reproductive age go through.
Although it is a common thing, not many of us are aware of period blood colors. Most women panic when they see any other period blood color other than red.
In this article, let’s discuss in detail about the period color meaning and various period blood colors and their meaning in brief.
What Does Your Period Blood Color Mean?
The color of one’s period can give a lot of information about their menstrual health.
While it is normal to have period blood colors in the shades of red, there are other colors including green, black and brown which we shall discuss.
Why Does Your Period Blood Change in Color?
The color of one’s period blood could change because of several factors including the hormonal imbalance, underlying medical condition such as endometriosis, fibroids, anemia and so on.
Apart from this, the period blood color can be different during the start, end and middle of menstruation. After period light pink discharge can also be found which can be spotting or implantation blood.
Types of Period Blood Color
Bright Red
Bright red period blood color is one of the common things most women have and is said to be normal.
Most women have bright red-colored blood during the initial days of the menstrual cycle as the blood shed is fresh.
Dark Red
Once the period progresses or when you reach towards the end of tour periods, the period blood color becomes dark red.
This is because the blood is stored for a longer duration in the uterus and it becomes dark in color.
Brown
If you have dark brown discharge instead of period, it can be implantation bleeding as brown period blood is pretty common during early stages of pregnancy.
Apart from that, it is also possible for women to have a dark brown period blood during the beginning or towards the end of one’s menstrual cycle.
It means that the blood has been oxidised with the oxygen content in the body which causes the change in color of the blood.
Black
Black period blood might sometimes mean implantation or miscarriage bleeding.
In other cases, if you have black discharge instead of period, it could be an infection or if the blood has been in the uterus for longer duration and is exposed to oxygen.
Pink
Pink or light red period blood colors can possibly occur during the initial days of a menstrual cycle or if you have anemia.
Orange
Orange period blood color is one of the least common colors and it is a mix of cervical fluid and blood. In some cases, orange period blood can also mean any infection in the vaginal area if accompanied by foul smell.
Gray
Gray period blood is yet another unusual period blood color and it denotes an infection or an underlying medical condition in the reproductive system. Gray period blood requires immediate medical help.
Purple
Purple period blood is abnormal color of menstrual blood. It could be due to the higher levels of estrogen in the body.
If you don’t seek medical help as soon as you find a purple or dark blue discharge, it can lead to medical conditions such as fibroids, cysts and endometriosis.
Green
Green period blood is not at all normal and it indicates an infection in the reproductive system which requires immediate medical help.
When to See Your Gynecologist?
Although it is common for women to have other colors of period blood apart from red, certain colors including green and purple should not be discounted.
It is important to consult with a gynecologist of the period blood color is consistently anything but bright red or shades of red as it could be due to an underlying medical condition
It is also important to consult with a gynecologist if you experience:
- Unusual colors than your usual period color
- Fishy or foul smelling odour
- Persistent pain before and during periods
- Bigger blood clots than normal
Conclusion
Period blood color is important to note as it can predict one’s reproductive health easily.
Apart from medical conditions, the early pregnancy period blood colors can be dark brown, dark red and sometimes even black which either happens around implantation or a few days later.
When it comes to period blood bright red and watery, it is considered healthy and safe as it is the fresh flow of blood from the uterus.
If you have bright red blood not period, it can be spotting or can be a result of an injury.
Ensure to contact your gynecologist if you have abnormal period blood color than usual to ensure not just your reproductive health but also your overall well being.
For consultations with the best gynecologist in Chennai Dr. Deepthi Jammi, contact Jammi scans at 7338771733 for easy appointments.
