- When brown discharge is normal
- 7 diseases that cause brown discharge
- 1. Irritation of the cervix
- 2. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- 3. Ovarian cyst
- 4. Polycystic ovary syndrome
- 5. Sexually transmitted infections
- 6. Endometriosis
- 7. Cervical cancer
- Can brown discharge be pregnancy?
- When to go to the gynecologist
- How to prevent vaginal discharge
The brown discharge is normal after menstruation because it is common for some blood clots to escape until a few days after the end of menstruation. In addition, brown discharge is also common after intimate contact or due to irritation of the walls of the vagina, especially during menstruation or pregnancy.
The brown discharge when it lasts more than 3 days can also indicate the presence of vaginal infections, cysts or even changes in the cervix. For this reason, when the discharge does not go away or when it causes some kind of discomfort, such as itching, it is important to consult a gynecologist to identify the problem and start the appropriate treatment.
When brown discharge is normal
Brown discharge is normal in the following situations:
- Adolescence; After intimate contact during pregnancy; In the first days after menstruation; When the woman presents hormonal changes; Exchange of contraceptives;
However, if the discharge occurs in large quantities, with odor, irritation or for more than 4 days, it is recommended to consult the gynecologist to start the appropriate treatment. Know what each color of the vaginal discharge means.
7 diseases that cause brown discharge
Sometimes the brown discharge may not be normal and may be a sign of illness. Some of the possible causes of brown discharge include:
1. Irritation of the cervix
The cervix is a very sensitive region and some simple situations, such as a pap smear or frequent sexual contact can cause this inflammation of the uterus and, consequently, the release of brown discharge.
How to treat: no specific treatment is needed for cervical irritation, because the amount of secretion is low and no other symptoms are present. Keeping the area clean and dry is usually enough to control this discharge in less than 2 days. However, intimate contact should be avoided until the discharge has disappeared.
2. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease refers to an inflammation in the woman's internal genitals, such as endometritis, salpingitis or inflammation of the ovaries, which can also be accompanied by fever, general malaise and ovarian abscess, for example.
How to treat: after performing tests to identify what is causing this inflammatory disease, the gynecologist may indicate antibiotics for oral use or in the form of an ointment to introduce into the vagina and medicines to lower the fever and anti-inflammatories, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, for example. If there is no improvement in symptoms in 3 days, the doctor can replace the medications with others. As these diseases are usually sexually transmitted, it is not recommended to have penetrative sexual intercourse until the treatment has ended. Here are some names of remedies indicated for pelvic inflammatory disease.
3. Ovarian cyst
The ovarian cyst can cause bleeding before or after menstruation, which mixed with a woman's natural secretions can become a brown discharge. However, in these cases, other symptoms usually appear, such as pain during ovulation, pain during or after sexual intercourse, vaginal bleeding outside menstruation, weight gain and difficulty in becoming pregnant.
How to treat: specific treatment is not always necessary, because the appearance of cysts in the ovary is a common situation in young women, but the gynecologist may indicate taking the birth control pill. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove the ovary to avoid further complications such as torsion of the ovary or cancer, for example. Learn all about the types of ovarian cysts and other common questions.
4. Polycystic ovary syndrome
In polycystic ovary syndrome, it is common to have a dark discharge due to the presence of blood, in addition to other symptoms such as irregular menstruation, excessive coarse hair, weight gain and acne.
How to treat: The treatment can be done with the use of the contraceptive pill to regulate menstruation and control hormonal irregularities, indicated by the gynecologist, since it is not any pill that can be used. Check out the teas that can help treat this syndrome.
5. Sexually transmitted infections
Some sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, are also an important cause of the appearance of brown discharge. These cases are more frequent after protected sexual intercourse and are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as pain when urinating, a feeling of pressure in the pelvic area or bleeding during intercourse, for example.
How to treat: sexually transmitted infections usually need to be treated with antibiotics, so it is very important to consult the gynecologist. See more about sexually transmitted infections in women and how to treat them.
6. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition that affects many women and consists of the growth of tissue in the uterus in other places, such as the ovaries and bladder, for example. Some of the most common symptoms include dark discharge, severe pain in the pelvic area, more frequent menstruation, pain during intercourse and even difficulty urinating or defecating.
How to treat: The treatment for endometriosis must be well oriented and adapted to each woman. For this reason, it is very important to have regular consultations with the gynecologist. Some treatment options include using an IUD, anti-hormonal drugs or surgery. Check out the main types of treatment used.
7. Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer can cause brown discharge, in addition to other symptoms such as bleeding before, during or after menstruation, and pain in the pelvic area after intercourse, for example. Check out other symptoms that may indicate cancer of the uterus.
What to do: in case of suspicion, you should go to the gynecologist to perform tests such as pap smears and colposcopy, and check if it really can be cancer and then indicate the most appropriate treatment, which can be conization, brachytherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery for removal of the uterus, depending on the tumor's staging.
Can brown discharge be pregnancy?
Usually, the brown discharge is not a sign of pregnancy because it is more common that, at the beginning of pregnancy, the woman presents a small pink discharge that indicates the implantation of the embryo in the uterus. Find out what the first signs of pregnancy may be.
However, in women who are pregnant, the release of a dark menstrual-like liquid and brown discharge may indicate blood loss through the vagina, and this should be assessed by the obstetrician, especially if it is accompanied by a bad smell or other symptoms such as pain. abdominal, itchy vagina or heavy bleeding. This change may indicate, among other possibilities, ectopic pregnancy or an infection.
When to go to the gynecologist
It is recommended to consult a gynecologist when the brown discharge:
- It lasts more than 3 days; It appears accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, a foul or itchy smell in the vagina or vulva; It is interspersed with bright red bleeding.
In these cases, the doctor will diagnose the problem by observing the discharge and using the speculum to check the inside of the vagina and cervix, recommending the most appropriate treatment.
How to prevent vaginal discharge
To prevent dark discharge, it is recommended to avoid the use of intimate showers, washing only the outer region of the vagina daily during the bath or after intimate contact. Panties should preferably be made of cotton so that the region is always drier, and you should also avoid wearing shorts and tight jeans because they muffle the area, facilitating sweating and the proliferation of microorganisms that cause infections.
