Brown menstrual blood clots, is this normal?

Despite the name blood, menstrual blood is not always bright red. Menstrual blood color for each woman can vary, depending on the level of viscosity or blood volume. However, many women complain that their blood is brown. When this happens, the main question that usually arises is whether the color of brown menstrual blood is normal?

Brown menstrual blood, is it normal?

In most cases, brown menstrual blood is considered normal. The brown color indicates that the blood has been in the uterus long enough so that it is no longer fresh. Brown blood usually appears at the beginning and end of the menstrual cycle.

If brown blood appears at the start of your menstrual period, it could be leftover blood from the previous cycle that was passed too late. Meanwhile, the brown blood that appears at the end of menses indicates that the blood is at its final point because the work of the uterus to shed its walls has slowed down.

When is brown menstrual blood considered abnormal?

The color of brown menstrual blood is generally normal and harmless. However, if you experience brown bleeding accompanied by the following signs and symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Menstrual duration of more than 7 days.
Irregular (the distance is very fast between two cycles or even more than 35 days apart).
Not having a period for more than three to six months.
Vaginal bleeding in the middle of two cycles.
Bleeding occurs after sex.
Bleeding occurs after menopause.
Spotting occurs all the time even when it is not menstruating.
Pain in the vagina or lower abdomen.
Fever (can indicate infection).
Fatigue.
Brown bleeding that occurs after using contraceptives.
Bleeding brown when using tamoxifen, a drug for breast cancer.

Another cause of brown menstrual blood

Apart from aging blood in the uterus, there are many other things that can cause brown menstrual blood. Some of them are equally normal, while others you may need to check with your doctor.

Here are some of the causes of brown menstrual blood:

KB side effects

The color of menstrual blood that is dark red-brown usually indicates excess estrogen levels, which causes the lining of the uterus to become very thick. So during menstruation, your menstrual blood volume will be more and more intense in color.

Well, birth control pills contain artificial estrogen hormone, so their effect in the body can disrupt natural estrogen and progesterone levels. The side effects of using birth control pills can make your menstrual blood turn brown for at least the first 3 months. Birth control implants such as nexplanon are also a cause of brown menstrual blood.

Pregnancy

Brown spots after you feel late can be an early symptom of pregnancy. This spotting is known as implantation bleeding. You may see only 1-2 drops of blood, and it usually only lasts about a few hours (maximum 1-2 days).

If after the pregnancy test, the red or brown bleeding continues for more than 5 or 7 days, it is not normal. This could be a sign of a miscarriage, especially if it is accompanied by:

Stomach pain and cramps
Shoulder pain
Feel dizzy and weak
Do not experience nausea or other normal pregnancy symptoms

Perimenopause

Perimopause is the phase before menopause. In this phase, you will find brown menstrual blood color. As long as it is not accompanied by other abnormal symptoms, brown menstrual blood discharge before the age of menopause is safe.

If after menopause you still have brown vaginal bleeding, this may indicate swelling in the vaginal lining, noncancerous polyps in your cervix, or other problems in your uterus, including cancer.

If you are menopausal but still bleeding, then immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause.

PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone disorder that can cause menstrual blood to turn brown. In addition, PCOS is also characterized by symptoms such as:

Irregular menstrual cycle
Abnormal hair growth on the body and face
Obesity
Acne
Ovarian cysts
Fertility problems

If the color of your brown menstrual blood is accompanied by these symptoms, then consult a doctor immediately. If left untreated, PCOS can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, infertility, and cardiovascular disease.

Dilation of the uterus

Women who experience an enlarged uterus after childbirth are at risk of developing brown blood during the next menstrual cycle.

This often occurs because the uterus that is enlarged and dilated after childbirth sometimes does not return to its original size. The dilated uterus takes more time to collect and clot blood before it is expelled.

As a result, the blood flow during menstruation is heavier than usual with a thick texture and dark blood, both red and dark brown.

Endometriosis and adenomyosis

Endometriosis and adenomyosis are conditions where abnormal tissue grows where it shouldn't. Endometriosis occurs when tissue forms outside the uterus and usually occurs after menopause. Meanwhile, ademiosis occurs when uterine lining tissue grows inside the muscle wall of the uterus.

Both of these conditions can cause your period to run long because the uterus takes time to collect and clot blood before it is expelled. This blockage of menstrual blood will be accompanied by large brown menstrual blood clots and pain.