Brown Discharge

Brown vaginal discharge does not have to be a cause of concern each time. But sometimes, any unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting can alarm us, if it happens between periods. Although vaginal discharge is a normal event in every woman's life, a slight discoloration can sometimes create loads of doubt in our minds. This happens especially when the discharge is darker or thicker than normal, and it appears in between periods. Clear and red discharge are considered to be the most common and factual vaginal discharge a woman will go through in her life. But when there is a change, such as brown discharge, our minds automatically go through a series of reasons and how to treat it. Whether you have experienced such a type of discharge before, after it or while your period is on, it is highly essential to rule out any serious issues. In order to do so, let's look at what causes a dark ruddy, brown discharge.

Common Causes

The most common cause of brown discharge is the release of old endometrial tissues which were left behind. During menstruation, a woman's body casts the uterine lining, which is why she bleeds from her vagina. Sometimes, some of the lining gets left behind and eventually exits the body after the period is over. This is the reason for light to dark-colored discharge to clean itself out from the vagina.

Although having discharge between your periods does not point towards any serious diseases, while accompanied with other symptoms, it may take a serious role. These symptoms can be sudden loss of appetite, unusual abdominal pain and infertility. Usually, these symptoms indicate Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. PID is an infection inside the uterine lining, ovaries or fallopian tubes. There can be different occasions where PID can be contracted, such as sexual intercourse or contamination during recent visit to your gynecologist.

Now, when you see such a discharge in early pregnancy, it can be a sign of miscarriage. Although normal vaginal discharge occurs during pregnancy which is thin, white/milky in appearance, and has a mild odor. However, this discharge could be indicating miscarriage or sometimes the Verruca Virus. If you have contracted the Verruca Virus, you must be experiencing burning, itching and sometimes pain in the vaginal area. This is often accompanied with the discharge.

Course of Treatment

Obviously, a visit to a qualified health care provider or gynecologist is essential, as he/she will help explain the reason behind the cause of brown, smelly discharge. Every woman is different, hence, the course of treatment would differ as well. If the release of old endometrial tissue is the culprit, then there are certain things you can follow to stay tension-free. You need to incorporate daily exercise into your lifestyle (if you haven't already). In addition to that, drinking sufficient amounts of water every day is also necessary. To check if you are drinking adequate water, see if your urine is yellow or clear. If it is a brighter yellow, then you may not be consuming enough water. Healthier diet plan should be included as well, where your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables in adequate.

But if there are any other symptoms or are still concerned, immediately contact your health care provider. Before your appointment, write down all the list of symptoms (if you notice any) that appears along with the discharge. According to the diagnosis made by your doctor or gynecologist, after knowing the real causes, he/she may take a different course of treatment. Remember, don't hide any details, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem to you. Who knows, they might just be the key to knowing, what is causing this discharge in your case.