Bloody Discharge: What Causes Blood In Discharge?

Bloody discharge (blood in discharge) that occurs before or after your period is simply a mixture of blood with your normal vaginal discharge. Sometimes this happens from normal body changes like ovulation, early pregnancy or minor injury during sexual intercourse. However, any new or unusual bleeding between periods, after sex, during pregnancy, or after menopause should be discussed with your doctor to rule out more serious causes such as infection or abnormal uterine bleeding.

Normal causes of bloody discharge include ovulation, pregnancy and sometimes aggressive sexual intercourse with your partner.

However, there are abnormal causes of blood in discharge that you should know. They are endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, atrophic vaginitis, endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids and ruptured tubal pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy).

In this article, we will explain blood in discharge, the causes and how to treat your abnormal bloody discharge.

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How should my normal discharge look like?

It is normal for you to have discharge as a woman. You dont have to worry about your discharge if it is white in color. Most women with white vaginal discharge get worried when there is change in color of their discharge.

Normal vaginal discharge is usually clear to milky white, may change during your cycle, and may become a little thicker around ovulation or before your period. You can read more about normal and abnormal vaginal discharge. 

If your discharge becomes pinkish or brownish in color, then you still dont always have to worry. In many women, it can be due to ovulation or early pregnancy. But if this change is new for you, lasts more than a few days, or comes with pain or a bad smell, it is safer to let your doctor check it.

Have you also noticed a yellow discharge? It could also be normal though can be a sign of an infection. I already discussed about yellow discharge in this article. If yellow discharge is thick, smelly, or associated with itching or burning, you should see your doctor. 

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Why do i have vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge is a simple natural way to get your vagina always clean and healthy. It usually consists of bacteria, vaginal cells and cervical mucus. It is normally odorless and does not smell. Any vaginal itching with smelly discharge is likely due to an infection. 

If your discharge suddenly changes color, becomes very foul-smelling, or you notice bleeding outside your normal period, it is a good idea to see your health care provider. Guidance on when to see a doctor for vaginal discharge can also help you decide. 

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What are the normal causes of bloody discharge in women?

Bloody discharge can sometimes be due to normal changes in your cycle. It occurs due to mixture of blood and your discharge. Some of the common “physiologic” causes of bloody discharge are:

Early pregnancy sign

If you get pregnant, you may experience light blood in discharge. This is sometimes due to implantation.

What is implantation? After the egg produced by your ovary is fertilized by the sperm, it is transported to the uterus. At the uterus, it burrows into the endometrium covering the uterus. This is implantation.

This burrowing can cause some women to have slight bleeding. This bleeding when mixed with your cervical mucus can form a bloody discharge. It usually clears up in few days (1–2 days) and some women may complain of mild abdomen pain too.

Not all women have implantation bleeding, and light spotting in early pregnancy can also be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, so you should do a pregnancy test if your period is late and speak with your doctor if you notice bleeding. MedlinePlus+1

Bloody discharge as an early sign of pregnancy is often mild and short-lived and does not usually require any treatment. However, if bleeding or discharge continues for days, becomes heavier, or you feel pain, dizziness or fainting, then you should inform your doctor ASAP or go to the hospital, because this may not be due to normal pregnancy.

A sign of ovulation

It is possible to have blood in discharge when you’re ovulating. Not sure about your cervical mucus while ovulating then read this ovulation guide.

Ovulation is a normal process that occurs in women during their reproductive years. It is the cyclical rupture of the most mature follicle in your ovary with release of the egg. This egg is then fertilized by the sperm.

This rupture will cause slight bleeding or spotting that comes out as bloody discharge. You should not worry as it usually clears in few days. These other ovulation symptoms will give you a clue. They are abdomen pain, fertile cervical mucus that is clear and watery discharge, increased libido.

Blood in dischrge at the middle of your menstrual cycle can be normal, except:

• You notice abnormal smell, vaginal itching and painful sexual intercourse

• Your bloody discharge continues for days without stopping with increasingly bright red color.

If this happens, you should immediately let your doctor know about your symptoms as its abnormal.

During sexual intercourse

During intercourse, it is possible to have blood in discharge. This is due to vaginal wall tear with slight bleeding that can occur. This blood mixes with your discharge to form bloody vaginal discharge.

If you have bloody discharge after intercourse once, then it may be due to a small vaginal tear or dryness. However, bleeding after sex (postcoital bleeding) that happens more than once is considered abnormal and can also be due to conditions like endometrial hyperplasia, cervical polyps, vaginal infections or cervical cancer and should be checked by your doctor. nhs.uk+1

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When should i worry about blood in discharge?

Now that you understand the normal causes of bloody discharge, it is important to know if your discharge is abnormal. Causes of abnormal blood in discharge are:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Cervical cancer

• Uterine polyps

• Uterine fibroids

• Endometrial cancer

• Atrophic vaginitis and other hormonal changes (especially after menopause)

Any bleeding or bloody discharge in pregnancy, after menopause, or persistent bleeding between periods should be taken seriously and reviewed by a health professional. MedlinePlus+1

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

This is an ascending infection, caused often by sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea, that affects the fallopian tubes, abdomen and your womb. Other bacteria that are not sexually transmitted can also cause PID. CDC

PID can damage the fallopian tubes and cause infertility. Also, PID is a common cause of ectopic pregnancy in women. Early treatment of PID is necessary to prevent complications.

Treatment involves the use of prescription antibiotics, usually for at least 10–14 days depending on your doctor’s plan, and sometimes injections or hospital admission if the infection is severe. PID or any other vaginal infection can cause abnormal blood in your discharge.

How to know your blood in discharge is due to infection?

• It occurs anytime in your menstrual cycle

• There is pain, fever, low abdomen pain, pain during intercourse and dysuria

• There is vaginal itching, smelly discharge and sometimes soreness

• You have had unprotected intercourse in the past

• You feel weak and tired

Can PID be cured? Yes it can. You should let your doctor know about your symptoms early.

You can read more about pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). CDC+1

Ectopic pregnancy

If your fallopian tube is damaged, due to PID infections, the fertilized egg may be implanted outside the womb. This will cause ectopic pregnancy.

Women may experience slight bleeding from an ectopic pregnancy that can mix with your vaginal discharge and form bloody or brown discharge. Some women also have sharp one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder tip pain, dizziness or fainting. This is a common emergency and requires urgent care and treatment. 

Not sure if you have an ectopic? Then you can learn more about ectopic pregnancy and see your doctor or go to the emergency room if you suspect it.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer can also cause bloody discharge in women. It usually shows no symptoms in early disease. However, as the disease pregresses, you may notice:

• Vaginal bleeding that is unusual for you – during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause

• Menstrual bleeding that is heavier and lasts longer than usual

• Foul-smelling watery or bloody discharge

• Pelvic pain or pain during sex nhs.uk

This is not a common cause of bloody vaginal discharge in women. However, presence of the above symptoms means you should see a doctor urgently to rule out cervical cancer. Regular cervical screening and HPV vaccination also reduce your risk of this disease.

You can read more about cervical cancer symptoms. nhs.uk+1

Uterine polyps

These are abnormal growths that can protrude into the cervix. During intercourse or even without sex, they can cause spotting, bleeding and bloody vaginal discharge.

They can be diagnosed by inspecting your cervix or uterus. Treatment is by removal of polyp during a simple surgery.

Uterine fibroid

This is a common cause of bleeding in young women. The most common type that causes bleeding is the submucous fibroid. This bleeding can mix with your vaginal discharge and cause bloody discharge. Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) growths of the uterus but can cause heavy periods, pelvic pressure and fertility problems in some women. 

Symptoms of fibroid include:

• Swelling of the abdomen

• Irregular menstruation

• Difficulty in passing urine and stool

• Miscarriages in pregnant women

• Heavy menstrual bleeding

If the cause of your bloody discharge is due to fibroids, you can be treated medically or surgically. Surgical treatment (myomectomy) involves the removal of the fibroid from the uterus. Depending on your ages and type of fibroid, your doctor may decide to remove your uterus (hysterectomy). Other options like uterine artery embolization may also be discussed.

Endometrial cancer

The uterus is covered with endometrium. If cancer develops in the endometrium, it can result to bleeding in women.

Endometrial cancer is more common in women above 40–45 years and especially after menopause. The most common symptom is abnormal uterine bleeding – heavy or irregular periods, bleeding between periods, or any bleeding after menopause. Some women may also have pain during intercourse or lower abdominal pain. NCBI

Your doctor will take samples from your endometrium for testing (endometrial biopsy). If you have the disease, treatment and cure is possible in the early stages. It involves removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and your ovaries, and sometimes additional treatment.

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Frequently asked questions about bloody vaginal discharge

You asked about bloody vaginal discharge and we answered. Any more questions or comments? Feel free to share below.

What causes bloody discharge after period?

Bloody discharge after period can be due to ovulation, mild vaginal irritation or cervical/uterine problems. It depends on the time it occurs in your menstrual cycle.

If you notice bloody discharge about a week after your period ends, then it may be because you’re ovulating. However, bloody discharge that occurs due to ovulation usually resolves in few days. If your bloody vaginal discharge continues for days, becomes heavier, or comes with pain or a bad smell, then its abnormal and should be checked.

Also, if you had intercourse just before this brown vaginal discharge, then it may be because of a vaginal tear or dryness. This does not last long too, but if it keeps repeating you should see your doctor because bleeding after sex can also be a sign of infection, polyps or cervical changes. MedlinePlus+1

What causes bloody discharge before period?

This can sometimes be due to pregnancy. During implantation of the fertilized ovum into the endometrium, there is slight spotting that can occur in some women. This can mix with your discharge to come out as blood in discharge. This usually occurs about a week before you are expecting your next period.

Should i be worried? Light spotting that lasts 1–2 days and then stops may be harmless, but you should do a pregnancy test if your period is late. If bleeding is heavy, painful or continues, then its likely abnormal and you need to see your doctor to rule out miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or hormonal problems. MedlinePlus+1

What causes brown bloody discharge between periods?

There are many causes of bloody discharge between periods. Two common benign causes are ovulation (mid-cycle) and early pregnancy (about a week before your next period is due). However, infections, fibroids, polyps, hormonal changes and even early cancer can also present this way, so any recurrent or persistent intermenstrual bleeding should be evaluated by your doctor. MedlinePlus

What causes light blood in discharge but no period?

These are some possible causes of streak of blood in discharge without a full period:

• Pregnancy due to implantation bleeding

• Ovulation due to rupture bleeding of the most mature follicle of the ovary

• Infection of the cervix or vagina

• Hormonal changes, polyps or fibroids

If you are sexually active and could be pregnant, always do a pregnancy test first. See your doctor if the spotting keeps happening, is associated with pain, bad odour, or if you are over 40 years or already in menopause.

Now its our turn to share your symptoms and questions. Do you have brown bloody discharge before and after period? Are your discharge due to abnormal or normal causes? Let us know.