What Does Brown Vaginal Discharge Mean? Causes & What to Do

Key takeaways:

• A brown vaginal discharge typically means older blood is mixed in with vaginal fluid..
• Red blood cells turn brown when the oxygen in their hemoglobin is depleted.
• Any type of vaginal discharge can become brown when blood mixes with it.

In red blood cells, the hemoglobin (a protein that makes blood red) is designed to transport oxygen to tissues. When the oxygen is depleted, the blood cells’ red color darkens. This process happens and can cause brown vaginal discharge for a number of reasons, many of which require medical evaluation.

Is it normal to have brown vaginal discharge?

There is only one time when a brown vaginal discharge is considered normal: during your menstrual period.

That’s when the old uterine lining begins to shed. The tissue that’s shed is composed of blood varying in age from recent (red color) to old (brown color). This tissue is the actual uterine lining that falls away as part of your menstrual cycle’s “period.”

What is brown vaginal discharge?

When blood that’s collected in the vagina is no longer held by the vaginal walls, it becomes vaginal discharge.

If it’s brown, it means the blood has collected for some time. It could also mean the uterine lining took longer than usual to be shed.

Common causes of brown vaginal discharge

Any bleeding from vaginal tissue, the cervix, or the uterus can collect and then leak out of the vagina.

It can mix with whatever discharge is present, whether it’s a normal discharge (known as “leukorrhea”) or a discharge caused by infection. Whatever the cause of the discharge, it is easily discolored brown when blood mixes with it.

Normal discharge with a change to brown

Vaginal lubricating secretions are normally white, filmy, and/or thin. These secretions can turn brown if there is bleeding due to an infection, or even without infection when there’s been a change in pH acidity. You can learn more about different types of vaginal discharge and their colors.

Brown yeast infection discharge

The typical yeast infection discharge is white, thick, and/or has a cream cheese-like appearance.

This discharge is typically associated with burning and itching. When it is brown, this could be a sign of inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis), which can cause microscopic tears that bleed and mix with the discharge.

Brown discharge with bacterial vaginosis

A condition known as bacterial vaginosis (BV) occurs when normal vaginal bacteria are replaced by other types of bacteria. The vagina then becomes less acidic. No one knows the exact cause of BV, but some contributing factors have been identified.

These include sexual activity (especially with a new partner), antibiotics, and douching, the latter of which should be avoided. Cervicitis can cause bleeding that mixes with the otherwise gray or white discharge, and can have an odor similar to ammonia.

Brown discharge with Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis (trich) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that’s caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.

Irritated vaginal cells can bleed, mixing with the otherwise green, yellow, or gray discharge from the infection. That can contribute to brown-colored vaginal discharge.

Brown discharge with E. coli infection

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a group of bacteria that can cause infections in the GI tract and other parts of the body.

When E coli infects the rectum, its proximity to the vagina makes iit easy for infection to spread The cervicitis and vaginitis can leak red blood cells to discolor its discharge brown.

Brown discharge with STIs

Sexually transmitted bacterial infections, such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and others, can result in a foul-smelling vaginal discharge.

This discharge may be accompanied by pelvic pain, fever, and a greenish or pus-like discharge. Vaginitis, cervicitis, and even bleeding from the urethra can turn its discharge brown.

What brown discharge may mean based on appearance, texture, or another symptom or condition

Depending on how much a brown, bloody discharge mixes with vaginal discharge, the consistency and color can vary significantly.

• Light brown vaginal discharge: Mild bleeding from a change in vaginal pH (acidity) causing cervicitis.
• Dark brown vaginal discharge: More intense bleeding mixed in with vaginal discharge.
• Thick brown vaginal discharge: Often seen during a menstrual period, thickened with actual tissue.
• Brown, watery, or egg white-textured discharge: Midcycle bleeding associated with ovulation. This leads to cervical mucus becoming thinner and stretchy to create a more accommodating passage for sperm.
• Brown discharge with odor: Bleeding from vaginitis and/or cervicitis due to a bacterial infection or a foreign body, such as a lost tampon. Learn more about vaginal discharge and odors.
• Brown vaginal discharge during pregnancy: This implies bleeding, which is always a concern during pregnancy. While pregnant individuals can experience the common causes of vaginal discharge, any pink, red, or brown color requires ruling out infection, threatened miscarriage, and other possible problems.
• Brown vaginal discharge after sexual intercourse: This occurs with cervicitis (from any cause) and intercourse traumatizes the affected cervical cells, making them bleed.
• Brown discharge after an abortion: This is just old blood. It should trail off but if it doesn’t, or it turns a brighter red, it requires immediate medical care.
• Brown discharge after menopause: The lack of hormones can affect the vagina by making the vaginal wall layers thin, easily traumatized, and irritated. This can cause bleeding, especially after intercourse. Postmenopausal brown discharge could also indicate more serious problems, such as cancer. Because of the uncertainty, any discolored discharge after menopause merits immediate medical evaluation.
• Brown discharge instead of menstrual blood: This means the blood and/or tissue sat for a while in the uterus or vagina.This can happen with hormone problems in which normal tissue cycling is affected or delayed, allowing bloody discharge to discolor over time.

When you should see a doctor about brown vaginal discharge

Whenever vaginal discharge is brown, it’s an indication of blood. This can happen normally, such as during a menstrual period. However, medical attention is needed when:

• It is not associated with a period;
• There is burning, itching, a foul odor, and/or pain;
• During pregnancy or menopause;
• If there’s a possibility of pregnancy;
• When starting on a new birth control pill;
• When taking hormones for symptoms of menopause;
• If you have an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD);
• If you have abnormal cycles.

You should go to the emergency room if:

Whenever a brown vaginal discharge is associated with pain, fever, dizziness, fatigue, or pregnancy, emergency medical care is warranted.

Questions to ask your doctor about brown vaginal discharge

In seeking medical care for a brown vaginal discharge, here are some important questions that need to be answered:

• Do I have an infection?
• How will you diagnose me? And will my treatment depend on the cause?
• Do I need to inform and/or involve my partner?
• What if I’m pregnant or want to get pregnant?

How to clear up or treat brown vaginal discharge

The more crucial goal is to clear up whatever’s causing the bleeding that discolors vaginal discharge.

Antibiotics

A brown discharge that has a foul odor; is green, yellow, or gray; or is associated with pelvic/abdominal pain and/or fever is probably bacterial in origin, requiring antibiotics. Antibiotics are also helpful with bacterial vaginosis and are the treatment of choice for Trichomoniasis.

Antifungal suppository, cream, or oral pills

When there is a diagnosed yeast infection, it can be treated with antifungal medication.

Probiotics

When the normal bacterial balance in the vagina has been altered, it can be replenished in several ways. One is with a type of bacteria known as lactobacillus used in suppository form, and another is using yogurt intravaginally.

Frequently asked questions about brown vaginal discharge

Anything other than the normal moisture of the vagina can be concerning. The brown color–which implies bleeding–adds more urgency to determine an accurate cause and effective treatment.

Do any sexually transmitted infections cause brown vaginal discharge?

Yes, sexually transmitted infections can cause brown vaginal discharge, although the amount of bleeding can vary. That means the discharge can range in color from gray, to yellow, to green, to dark brown.

Can a urinary tract infection cause brown vaginal discharge?

Yes. A urinary tract infection is usually discovered when urine is noticeably bloody. But, it can also cause incontinence, which leads to urine collecting in the vagina that, when bloody, can cause a brown discharge.

Managing brown vaginal discharge

When vaginal discharge is brown, it indicates blood – and the only time that’s normal is during a menstrual period. Any other presentation requires prompt medical attention. Blood, even older blood, can mean many concerning conditions depending on your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and even menopause. If you have even the slightest concern, see your doctor as soon as possible.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Pallabi Sanyal-Dey, MD.

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