Light Brown Discharge

The light brown discharge is actually a mixture of blood and discharge. The presence of blood may give color to the vaginal discharge. The color may range from pink to brown. The brown discharge is not heavy like a period. In fact, it is very light. Many-a-times, it is only a couple of drops. It may occur as one of the consequences of the various hormonal changes that take place during menopause. Light brown discharge before period is also a possibility sometimes. It may or may not be a cause for concern. However, seeking medical intervention is always advisable.

Causes of Light Brown Discharge

Perimenopause: Perimenopause is defined as the time period in which your body starts its transition into menopause. It may take place from anywhere between 2 and 8 years before the occurrence of menopause. Some hormonal changes take place during perimenopause in your body. The level of estrogen rises and falls unevenly. You may experience lengthening or shortening of your menstruation. You may have periods wherein you don't ovulate. The beginning of perimenopause and its length differ from case to case. During this particular phase of life, you may experience several unusual symptoms. Some of such symptoms are hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, insomnia and light or dark brown discharge from the vagina. Therefore, if you are in your late 30s or 40s, perimenopause may be the reason behind light brown discharge.

Vaginal Atrophy: Vaginal atrophy occurs due to loss of estrogen in the body. Drop in the level of estrogen makes the vaginal tissues thinner, less elastic, drier and more fragile. The blood vessels become weak, and more prone to bursting spontaneously. Vaginal atrophy may occur during several physical conditions. Some of them are during perimenopause, breast-feeding, radiation therapy for pelvic cancer, chemotherapy, and after menopause. It may also occur as one of the side effects of hormonal treatment for breast cancer. Vaginal atrophy quite often results in spotting. The small amount of blood takes time to reach the outside the vagina from the uterus. Because of the time gap, the discharge turns pink or brown in color.

Uterine Polyps: Uterine polyps are described as the growths which are attached to the inner wall of the uterus and are protruding into the cavity of the uterus. This is caused by the overgrowth of cells in the endometrium. The size of uterine polyps may range from a few millimeters to several centimeters. The outgrowth remain attached to the wall of the uterus by a thin stalk or a large base. They may occur as single or in group. The uterine polyps generally occur in women who are over 40 years of age. If you are suffering from it, you may suffer from a number of uncomfortable symptoms. They include irregular menstrual bleeding, bleeding after menopause and light brown discharge from the vagina.

Pregnancy: Early stage of pregnancy can be a cause for light brown discharge. When the fertilized egg gets implanted into the uterine lining, light bleeding (called implantation spotting) occurs. The implantation bleeding may show up in the form of light brown vaginal discharge. In some cases, such a happening continues to take place during the first three months. Brown discharge in early pregnancy is most of the time not a serious medical condition. However, consulting a doctor is recommendable to be on the safe side if you are experiencing light brown discharge during pregnancy.

The medical conditions described above are only some of the possible reasons behind the occurrence of light brown discharge. There can be some more causes. Thus, relying on self-assessment is never a wise idea when it comes to light brown discharge after period, during pregnancy or during perimenopause. In case you are suffering from such a health issue, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.