Why is there black blood during menstruation? Main reasons. Why menstruation is brown Dark discharge during menstruation causes

By the way menstruation proceeds, one can first judge the state of a woman's health and the features of her physiology. Black discharge that occurs during menstruation, before them or in the middle of the cycle is perceived as a pathological sign, although this is not always the case. The shade of menstrual flow in women at different periods can vary from light red to dark brown or brown in a satisfactory state of health or changes not associated with diseases. Black periods are nothing more than blood clots that accumulate in the uterine cavity under the influence of various factors.

Reasons for the appearance

Menstrual bleeding actually contains some blood. For one regulation, about 40-100 ml is released, sometimes less. It flows out, mixing with the mucous secretion of the endometrium, cervical canal and vagina, bringing out an unfertilized egg and an unnecessary functional membrane, cleansing the uterus. A uniform bright red shade of selection is not always preserved. Often, women notice very dark, almost black clots. They may appear on the first day of menstruation, closer to its end, or acyclically. Sometimes black periods repeat several cycles in a row. This picture is due to the property of blood to quickly clot. Coming out of the vessels into the uterine cavity, it quickly darkens due to oxidizing iron. If clots of mucus and endometrium, saturated with blood, are not rejected immediately, but linger for a long time, then strange-looking dark masses are subsequently brought out. The main physiological reasons why menstruation can be black:

Hormonal imbalances. During puberty and premenopause in women, the endocrine glands rebuild their work. The menstrual cycle "floats", may be delayed for several days or weeks, critical days have different durations. Such desynchronization contributes to the accumulation and thickening of blood clots in the folds of the uterine cavity. A similar condition is also characteristic when taking hormonal contraceptives, when the ovaries begin to adapt to the rhythm dictated by the drug.
Pregnancy. The process of conception and development of the fetus is often accompanied by pseudomenstruation - a small amount of mucus with blood that has a blackish tint is released from the genital tract.
External provoking factors. Situations such as a sudden change in lifestyle, moving, severe physical or nervous stress, exhaustion inevitably affect the course of the cycle. In case of long delays, and sometimes during its normal duration, menstruation begins with the release of black clots.

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Pathological and conditionally pathological factors include everything associated with diseases or external interventions:

Surgical operations, minimally invasive diagnostic methods, the use of intrauterine devices. As a result of mechanical injuries of the epithelium of the genital organs, clots accumulate in the uterine cavity, coming out during its contractions.
Endocrine systemic diseases.
Inflammation and destructive processes taking place in the reproductive system.

Infections and inflammatory processes

Blackish clots in menstrual flow are possible with the development of pathological processes in the uterine cavity and appendages. The presence of endometriosis, endometritis, fibroids, polyps, cysts, endometrial dysplasia lead to disruption of the timely separation and removal of the functional mucous layer to the outside.

Inflammatory diseases: endometrium, salpingitis, salpingoophoritis, parametritis and other pathologies are the result of hypothermia, complications of existing diseases of the pelvic organs. The risk of formation of neoplasms and inflammation is always higher during the period of age-related hormonal changes, when the endocrine glands synthesize an insufficient amount of estrogens. Their deficiency leads to a decrease in local immunity, impaired peripheral blood supply, and a tendency to edema. Uncompensated diabetes mellitus leads to severe systemic disorders in the body, including inflammatory processes in the reproductive system.

One of the provoking black monthly factors are medical and surgical, diagnostic curettage. In all cases, rough pharmacological or surgical intervention affects the balance of hormones, violates the fragile integrity of the mucous membranes. The consequences are often strictures, adhesions, aggravating the pathology.

In addition to hormonal disorders, sexually transmitted diseases remain an important cause of inflammatory processes in the genital organs. Among them:

secondary and tertiary syphilis;
gonorrhea;
trichomoniasis;
ureaplasmosis.

The presence of diseases of an inflammatory and infectious nature can be signaled by other symptoms in addition to dark clots that stand out:

pulling pains in the lower abdomen, radiating to the lower back;
pain, itching, burning in the vaginal area;
redness, swelling, strange rashes in the perineum;
subfebrile or high temperature;
unpleasant putrid;
copious leucorrhoea outside of critical days.

But additional symptoms that indicate pathological processes and the development of STDs are not always present.

Black discharge before period

Most often, clots that have accumulated near the cervical canal come out at the beginning of menstruation. On the first day, the uterus begins to contract intensively, pushing them out. If this happened for the first time, and this was preceded by a cycle longer than usual, severe stress, hypothermia, exhausting stress, menstruation can be very plentiful, and clots do not come out for long - within a few hours or minutes, and their onset is preceded by a slight feeling of fullness and discomfort in the uterus . Sometimes there are no painful sensations, just a few dark strokes appear. In the case of a single appearance of such clots, physiology is usually to blame, but a regular picture may indicate a violation of the integrity of the uterine cavity, leading to internal accumulations of blood.

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Frequent black discharge before menstruation, usually a few days before they begin, signals a possible endometriosis, hyperplasia, or an infectious disease. Probably also a hormonal imbalance. A typical picture is the onset of scanty spotting black discharge a week before menstruation. It does not necessarily have other symptoms.

After or at ovulation

During menstruation, the internal microflora changes, the number of conditional pathogens increases, the reproductive system becomes especially vulnerable to pathogens. Black discharge after menstruation (in the last days or a few days after the end of the regulation) is often observed in infectious and inflammatory diseases. This is confirmed by the presence of itching, burning inside, soreness during urination, pulling pains.

In some cases, dark discharge a week after menstruation is the result of severe stress, hypothermia or heavy physical exertion.

In some women, individual physiological characteristics allow, according to some signs, to determine the time of ovulation with an accuracy of several hours. Their well-being is disturbed: they feel dizzy, the temperature may rise, after a few days, already in the second half or at the end of the cycle, there are black discharges, usually very scarce, in the amount of several strokes.

Instead of menstruation - black discharge

In addition to dark secretions in the middle or end of the cycle, which cause many changes in the body of a woman, there are situations when the type of menstruation completely changes in this way.

Black discharge instead of menstruation is likely after the surgical intervention. Many massive blood clots could have been preserved inside the uterine cavity, which had time to clear and become dark. At the onset of the next regulation, dissolved by mucus, they color it black. Their intensity is higher than usual.

Taking oral hormonal contraceptives almost always causes black scanty discharge instead of menstruation, signaling the "tuning" of the ovaries. The functional endometrium in these cases is formed much thinner and little mucus comes out. With postcoital contraception, such acyclic menstruation can occur over several cycles.

Abundant dark discharge with a strong unusual odor, an admixture of pus, accompanied by pain and other adverse symptoms, repeated repeatedly, may be a sign of oncological formation or severe inflammation.

Normally, menstrual flow in women is red and does not have a strong odor. Any change in these characteristics is cause for concern. So, the discharge can sometimes take on a black color and change its smell to an unpleasant one. About why menstruation becomes black and whether it needs to be treated, we will tell further.

Causes of black menstruation

Black menstruation can be due to a number of reasons:

hormonal changes;
inflammation;
sexually transmitted diseases;
stress;
surgical intervention.

Hormones

Hormones are one of the main factors in the regulation of the cycle and secretions in women. During pregnancy, and also for some period after it, the hormonal background in women changes. The result of such changes in the postpartum period or during the period of breastfeeding a child can be almost black menstruation.

During lactation, a woman may experience scanty discharge, up to spotting, they can also be black or brown. This color is given to menstruation by drops of blood in a small amount that have fallen into the discharge.

If women in the postpartum or lactation period have no additional symptoms in the form of a sharp and unpleasant odor or pain, black menstruation is considered the norm.

Other changes in the hormonal background are fraught with a number of problems, and therefore, if black blood appears during menstruation, it is worth contacting a specialist. To identify violations in the hormonal background will help analyzes and ultrasound of the thyroid gland.

Black menstruation can be the result of inflammatory processes in the appendages, ovaries, etc. The nature of menstrual flow also changes during infection with STDs and with oncological diseases.

All of these reasons for the appearance of black menstrual flow, as a rule, are accompanied by other symptoms in the form of an unpleasant odor, pain, itching or burning.

With accompanying symptoms, it is imperative to consult a doctor with a problem. Examination and tests will help to make a more accurate diagnosis or exclude diseases and inflammations from among the possible causes.

Treatment for black menstruation is aimed at eliminating the causes that caused them.

stress

Strong experiences, loads leading to stress or depression change the course of processes in the body and, as a result, during menstruation, the discharge can change its color. At the same time, regular other problems become, for example, changing the cycle, delaying menstruation, etc.

Black clots during menstruation

Another cause for concern in women is black clots that can be released along with normal menstruation. Normally, there may be clots, but their color is not much different from the main secretions.

Black clots are blood coagulated in the uterine cavity that did not come out immediately. There may be several reasons for this, in addition to the above. So, clots can be the result of anatomical features of the uterus, for example, a narrow cervical canal, or a sign of a miscarriage. The latter case is also characterized by black discharge instead of menstruation.

Menstrual irregularities are associated with hormonal imbalances. Various internal and external factors can cause a hormonal imbalance. Sometimes the problem is solved by adjusting lifestyle and nutrition. But long-term therapy and the use of hormonal drugs may be required. When do black discharge appear instead of menstruation?

In the female body, certain transformations occur every month associated with the development of the egg, ovulation, and menstruation. A slight deviation in the hormonal background causes a violation of menstruation. So, shortly before they begin, black discharge appears. For the same reason, they are present for several days after the end of menstruation.

In a situation where, instead of normal menstruation, sulfuric spotting, age should be blamed. A girl is given 2 years for the formation of the menstrual cycle. During this time, the hormonal background of the girl is still unstable. There is a prolonged absence of menstruation - from 1 to 3 months, frequent menstruation - 2 times a month. The nature of the secretions is also not the same. Black periods are often present, which in general is not a pathology if they last no more than 5 days.

At a certain age, a woman's reproductive function begins to fade. The hormonal background is again disturbed. Then sulfuric spotting indicates the onset of menopause.

Where does black discharge come from?

Many women are not so much afraid of the amount of menstrual flow as their black color. Where does it come from? In the second half of the menstrual cycle, the uterus begins to prepare for pregnancy, even if fertilization has not occurred. The inner layer of the endometrium thickens. A week later, the body understands that there is no pregnancy, the level of progesterone drops, and menstruation begins. During menstruation, the endometrium is shed. The thicker it is, the longer the period lasts. If there is nothing to reject, menstrual flow is scanty. Due to an imbalance of hormones, the inner layer of the uterus could not fully form. Too little blood flow. They pass through the cervix and into the vagina. In the process, the blood is exposed to oxygen, the secretion of the penis, and black is already on linen or hygiene products. In the absence of other alarming symptoms, there is nothing to worry about. But you need to consult with a specialist. Before that, women should analyze the events of the past month. Perhaps there are obvious factors that could cause cycle disorders and contributed to the appearance of black periods.

Obvious factors of violation of menstruation - the appearance of black discharge

A woman takes hormonal drugs to prevent pregnancy or regulate the menstrual cycle. However, at the beginning of taking the pills and due to long-term therapy, it is just disturbed, menstruation may appear black. Contraceptives block the normal activity of the ovaries. They stop producing hormones. At the same time, their necessary composition is replenished from the outside. All efforts are aimed at preventing ovulation. But an insufficient amount of progesterone in the second phase interferes with the normal development of the endometrium. As a result, black menstruation appears. With prolonged use of the drug, the hormonal background of a woman is so disturbed that the body fails. There are no periods, and when they appear, they are frightened by the presence of black. It is considered normal if the situation is observed for the first 3 months, while the body adapts to new conditions of existence.

Normal discharge is black in the presence of an intrauterine device for the first 3 months. The spiral is inserted into the cervix, preventing the fertilized egg from attaching to the walls of the uterus. It is not noticeable to the woman herself, but the sexual organ perceives the spiral as an alien object, trying in every possible way to get rid of it. With such a contraceptive, menstrual flow becomes increased, but menstruation may be black. Especially if not just a spiral is inserted, but a hormonal system like Mirena. Then, in addition to barrier protection, there is also hormonal protection. The situation is normal if the duration of black menstruation does not exceed 5 days.

After an abortion, the hormonal background changes dramatically. Even if it is successful, the next menstrual cycle may be disrupted. The appearance of black menstruation indicates an imbalance of hormones in the body. If the black discharge does not cause pain, has ended within 7 days, there is no particular cause for concern. Normally, if the next cycle, menstruation will pass as usual.

Monthly black color after childbirth is normal. Since after labor, the body will have a long recovery. On average, as long as the pregnancy itself lasted. Breastfeeding increases the hormone prolactin, which prevents the normal production of sex hormones. Black discharge of the first menstruation after childbirth is considered the norm.

Pregnancy and black periods

It is considered normal if there is no menstruation in the presence of pregnancy. However, in medical practice, the situation was also called the norm when the first 3 months of pregnancy there are black discharge. This situation indicates an insufficient amount of progesterone. It is he who is responsible for the full development of the egg and the transformation of the body in the first 3 months of pregnancy. In case of violation of menstruation, the appearance of black discharge is regarded as a reason for contacting a gynecologist. There is too much progesterone for normal periods to go, and not enough for the full development of pregnancy. Hormone adjustment is required if the decision is made to keep the pregnancy. Otherwise, the violation of menstruation, the appearance of black discharge is a sign of premature failure or ectopic pregnancy.

If the black-brown discharge turns into bloody, the process of egg rejection begins, and signals a rupture of the tube, damage to another part of the penis.

Black highlights that are easy to adjust

Menstruation black can appear for various reasons. In some cases, the situation is so banal that a woman can easily adjust the monthly cycle on her own.

Pathological causes of black menstruation

The body, by changing menstruation, notifies of the presence of problems in the reproductive system. In this situation, there are additional alarming symptoms:

This is just a small list of sensations that appear along with diseases. You can't make a diagnosis on your own. The woman will have to undergo an examination, take tests. What can cause black periods?

uterine fibroids;
endometriosis;
endometrial polyps;
Cervical erosion;
Inflammation;
Cyst;
Cancer tumor.

Provoke a violation of the monthly cycle, contribute to the appearance of menstruation black venereal disease. Then the woman observes pain during urination, sexual intercourse, an unpleasant smell of discharge, itching, burning of the genitals.

Black periods appear due to impaired activity of the ovaries, organs of the endocrine system. Since they are responsible for the normal level of hormones in the body.

Black periods make a woman pay attention to her health. If there are no diseases, they may appear in the absence of a proper response to the problem. Any deviation from the norm should be discussed with the doctor. Diseases are treated faster at the initial stage.

The most important physiological process in the body of every woman is the menstrual cycle. It starts from the first day of menstruation. It is considered normal when the color of menstruation is red and there is no pungent odor, and the amount is approximately 50 ml. You should not immediately sound the alarm if there are any changes, come up with a diagnosis for yourself and, moreover, self-medicate. There is not always a reason for excitement, and black blood should not always be a sign of serious physiological changes in a woman's body, as well as talk about any diseases. Why are periods dark? What is considered the norm, and when to sound the alarm?

Dark blood: what could it be connected with?

There are many reasons that can provoke changes in menstruation. Most often it is:

age characteristics of the female body;
diseases of the genital organs of an infectious nature;
quality and frequency of sexual life;
surgery, pregnancy, postpartum period, breastfeeding;
moving to other climatic conditions, changes in lifestyle and diet;
rapid weight loss;
medical treatment;
excessive physical activity, constant fatigue, stressful situations;
trauma;
poisoning;
exposure to harmful chemicals;
deviations affecting metabolic processes.

Now let's dwell on the main causes of black menstruation in more detail.

Black discharge after or before period

Dark discharge before the onset of menstruation is considered the norm, because this natural process in the life of every woman is a consequence of the death of the egg and the death of the endometrium, which are excreted from the body, but the process is slow.

If black periods occur on the first day and subsequent ones and last more than a day, then it is better to consult a specialist.

If after the end of spotting, small discharges last less than three days, this can be considered normal. This phenomenon suggests that the reproductive organ is naturally cleansed. If the duration of the discharge is much longer, this may signal the presence of endometriosis or uterine fibroids.

Age features and black menstruation

At the age of puberty, young girls, when menstruation is just beginning and the menstrual cycle is normal, there may be a black or brown shade of discharge. This condition is considered normal during the first year after the onset of menstruation.

If the discharge is dark every month, then it is better to seek the advice of a specialist and undergo an examination.

It is considered normal if dark periods appear in women when menopause occurs. It is perfectly acceptable to have dark brown menstruation during this period. Such changes in secretions may be due to the extinction of the ovaries and a decrease in the production of sex hormones.

If dark discharge appears instead of normal blood during menstruation, you need to consult a doctor. The reasons may be that an early menopause has come, which is more often diagnosed every year.

Menstruation is black and an interesting position

The fact that there are hormonal imbalances can be indicated by a delay in menstruation, and then a small amount of discharge, after which menstruation begins a few days later. If the menstruation after the discharge did not begin, we can talk about the fact of conception. In this case, you should conduct a test to confirm or refute your guesses. Small discharge due to the fact that the embryo has embedded itself in the wall of the genital organ, and from that moment it will grow and develop until childbirth.

The first weeks of pregnancy can be scanty discharge, which indicates a lack of hormones that are necessary for the successful bearing of the baby. The most dangerous, in terms of the risk of miscarriage, is the day when menstruation usually begins. It is then that progesterone drops, and the likelihood of endometrial detachment on this day is very high.

The cause of black discharge can also be such a pathology when the fetus grows outside the genital organ, in other words, during uterine pregnancy.

Surgery, childbirth and breastfeeding

Why are periods dark? Black periods can be caused by various types of interventions on the female genital organs, in particular: abortion, removal of part of the uterus, fibroids, ovarian cysts, interventions after an ectopic pregnancy, curettage for diagnostic purposes.

It should be noted a rather slow recovery after childbirth and lactation of the menstrual cycle. Dark brown or black blood during menstruation instead of the usual may occur several months after childbirth, as well as after stopping breastfeeding. This phenomenon is considered normal and should pass after a while. In a mandatory case, you need to visit a doctor if it does not go away on its own.

Infection or inflammation

The female body is susceptible to various negative environmental factors. So, scanty dark periods can even be due to hypothermia. It can also lead to discomfort in the external genital area and disruption of the menstrual cycle. Allocations of this kind can be if the uterus, cervix or appendages are inflamed, and they can also be caused by infections that are sexually transmitted.

If it is an infection, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, in addition to dark periods, there may also be such manifestations: pain in the lower abdomen, burning and itching, discomfort and pain during sex and urination.

Hormonal contraceptives

The use of contraceptives containing hormones can cause atrophy of the endometrium and reduce the functioning of the ovaries. If these remedies have been chosen incorrectly, there may be scanty dark periods instead of normal ones.

In the case when this is repeated from month to month, a replacement of oral contraceptives is required.

Any changes in the nature of menstruation should never be ignored. Seeing a doctor will help to avoid many problems with women's health, and if there is any problem, fix it as soon as possible. To carry out the diagnosis, the doctor uses the following methods: gynecological examination, study of anamnesis, ultrasound diagnosis of the pelvic organs, colposcopy, complete blood count, examination of a smear from the vagina, as well as a study of the level of hormones in the female body. If these methods are not enough to determine the cause of black menstruation, diagnostic curettage and subsequent histological examination of the resulting endometrium may be required.

Remember that every phenomenon has a reason. If you cannot determine the causes yourself, consult a doctor.

Many women, seeing during menstruation the blood is not the usual scarlet, but black, suggest that this is a symptom of a serious illness. And in a number of situations, the excitement is fully justified, but much more often the pathological background is completely absent. In any case, every woman should monitor her health, and if the nature of menstruation changes for no apparent reason, you should consult a doctor.

Why can there be black blood during menstruation?

If a woman is pregnant in the early stages and herself is not yet aware of her position, spotting an unusual color at the beginning of menstruation may indicate a risk of miscarriage. In the case of planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to make sure with the help of a test that conception has occurred. Even better, do not waste time, immediately consult a doctor and get tested for hCG. The sooner the pregnancy is confirmed, the more likely it is to keep it.

However, most often the cause of darkening of the blood during menstruation are diseases of the female genital area. The appearance of unusual discharge may be associated with such diseases:

In the presence of serious diseases, in addition to changing the color of the blood, various symptoms can be observed. Depending on the pathology that has arisen, complaints will differ. Here are the main symptoms to watch out for:

pain in the lower abdomen;
a sharp increase in the number of secretions;
burning or itching;
unpleasant odor of discharge;
dizziness, rapid fatigue;
violation of the regularity of the cycle;
hair loss;
skin blanching;
the appearance of bloody discharge in the whites;
the appearance of bleeding in the middle of the cycle.

If during menstruation, in addition to unusual discharge, additional symptoms are also observed, it is impossible to postpone a visit to the doctor!

Other causes not related to the pathology of the reproductive system

If there are no other symptoms, there is most likely no cause for concern. Although for the sake of your own peace of mind, it is better to undergo an examination and make sure that there are no health problems.

Factors that can affect the color of the discharge:

enlarged uterus after the birth of a child;
menopause;
stress;
general hormonal disorders;
surgical intervention;
taking certain medicines.

Also, such phenomena can be the result of a sharp weight gain or rapid weight loss, as they are accompanied by hormonal fluctuations. Often, the discharge of an unusual color during menstruation is accompanied by a change in their consistency, for example, clots appear. Their appearance does not always mean pathological changes; in many women, small clots are normal. But in some cases, they can be a sign of a disease of the reproductive system, especially if they were not observed earlier or the size of the clots increased significantly.

Why the appearance of clots can be dangerous?

During menstruation, women often notice clots. They represent blood that did not immediately leave the body, but coagulated in the uterine cavity and particles of the endometrium. If the clots are red or brown, don't worry. Most likely, they appear because certain features are present in the structure of the uterus (for example, a narrow neck). But the very dark color of the clots in some cases may indicate a miscarriage, hormonal imbalance, endometriosis, and even bleeding.

If you experience any unusual symptoms, it is important to see your doctor right away. Do not trust the advice of friends or go to charlatans. Every woman should have minimal knowledge about her health, carefully monitor the signals of the body, changes in physiological processes.