Brown Mucus Discharge: 7 Causes You Should Know

Do you have a brown mucus discharge before or after your period? Are you worried your brown stringy discharge is a sign of pregnancy or ovulation? Do you experience this type of discharge for more than a week?

This guide will explain the ABCs of brown mucus discharge and when it’s likely abnormal.

Normal discharge: What it looks like?

Vaginal discharge is that white stuff that comes out from your vagina. It is a natural way the vagina cleans itself. It is made up of cells from the vagina, bacteria, and cervical mucus. Normal discharge is usually white or clear. However, it could look slightly yellow, pink or light brown and still be normal.

It can be a thick white mucus discharge or watery clear discharge.

Yellow vaginal discharge is often due to an infection in many women. However, normal white vaginal discharge when exposed to air can turn slightly yellow. This yellow discharge may be normal without any other infection symptoms like smell and vaginal itching. Learn more about yellow vaginal discharge

Pink vaginal discharge may also be normal and is due to a mixture of blood and your vaginal discharge. It is not really a problem when it lasts for a few days. Learn more about pink vaginal discharge.

What causes brown mucus discharge?

Brown mucus discharge is a mixture of old blood with your cervical mucus. It is common in women and can occur around ovulation, in early pregnancy spotting, and after intercourse.

1. Ovulation

Brown discharge can happen around ovulation, but it is not a sure sign you’re ovulating. Ovulation is the process of expelling an egg from the ovary. This egg will fuse with sperm during fertilization to form your baby.

During ovulation, the most mature follicle in the ovary may rupture with slight bleeding. This blood comes down your vagina and mixes with your vaginal discharge to form brown mucus discharge.

Ovulation usually occurs about 12–14 days before you see your next period (but it can vary). If you understand ovulation, then any brown stringy discharge may be because you’ve ovulated.

Before ovulation, you will experience fertile mucus which is a stretchy discharge that is white and clear. Regular intercourse during your fertile window can get you pregnant. It is easier to get pregnant if you have sexual intercourse in the days leading up to ovulation. After ovulation, your chances of getting pregnant reduces.

Brown discharge can still fall within your fertile window. Sexual intercourse around this time can still get you pregnant.

In addition, there are various ovulation kits and fertility monitors in the market that can help you know when ovulation occurs.

2. Pregnancy

If you are expecting, then brown discharge can be an early pregnancy sign. After ovulation, the zygote (which is the fertilized egg) is then transported through the fallopian tube to your womb for implantation.

During implantation, light bleeding (spotting) may occur. This mixes with your vaginal discharge and forms brown stringy discharge. Some women may experience low abdomen pain. However, it resolves in a few hours or days.

Brown stringy discharge in early pregnancy can occur around the time your next period is due. It does not have any smell or itching.

Should I be worried about brown stringy discharge before my period?

No. It is often normal unless you noticed an abnormal feeling of pain during intercourse, vaginal burning, and itching with smell, or if it keeps recurring.

3. Sexual intercourse

During intercourse, your body will increase production of clear discharge from the Bartholin glands. This is necessary to lubricate the vagina and let you enjoy sexual intercourse without much friction or pain. However, you could have a vaginal tear or trauma to the cervix which can cause slight bleeding. If mixed with your white discharge can turn brown.

Should I worry about brown mucus discharge after intercourse?

If it happens once and resolves quickly, it’s often not serious. But brown spotting or bleeding after intercourse that happens repeatedly should be checked (it can be due to infections, cervical polyps, or cervical changes). You should let your doctor know.

4. Vaginal infections

This is also a cause of abnormal brown mucus discharge in women. Some untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially chlamydia and gonorrhea, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and tubal (ectopic) pregnancy. Some common vaginal infections are bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia infection, trichomoniasis and gonorrhea.

How will I know if I have a vaginal infection?

You will notice an abnormal or different type of discharge
Your discharge becomes smelly
You begin to have vaginal itching
You feel burning vaginal pain
Your body temperature increases (fever)
You notice persistent low abdomen pain, pain while having intercourse and while urinating

Both chlamydia and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted. If you’ve had any unprotected intercourse with an infected person, then you may have a vaginal infection. Treatment is usually with antibiotics and has good success rates.

Treating your vaginal infection is not enough. If it is an STI, you should inform your partner about your infections. Talk to him about the need to get tested and use of condoms to prevent reinfection.

5. Birth control pills

Taking some birth control drugs can cause intermittent spotting. This can mix with your discharge and come out as brown discharge. This is normal except if it continues and is persistent. You should let your doctor know about it.

6. Cervical Cancer

Women with cervical cancer can have brown or bloody discharge, but many women may first notice unusual bleeding (like bleeding after sex, between periods, or after menopause).

7. Endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is more common after menopause and obesity is a major risk factor. It is cancer of the lining covering the uterus. If not treated early can cause death in women. However, it is often very treatable when found early, usually with surgery (hysterectomy).

Frequently asked questions about brown stringy discharge

These are some frequently asked questions about brown mucus. Let us know if you have any other symptoms by commenting below.

What causes brown stringy discharge before period?

If you experience brown stringy discharge just before your period, then it may be spotting from your period about to start, hormones, birth control, or early pregnancy.

Should I be worried about my stringy brown discharge before period?

No. It is often not serious and goes away in a few hours or days. But if it keeps happening, has bad smell/itching, or you have pain, get checked.

What causes brown mucus discharge before period?

Brown mucus discharge that occurs before your period is usually old blood mixed with discharge. It can happen in early pregnancy too, but a pregnancy test is the best way to know.

What causes brown mucus discharge during pregnancy?

Are you pregnant? and do you experience any brown discharge during pregnancy? Then you should not get scared yet. Sexual intercourse or any slight vaginal trauma can cause slight spotting that comes out as brown mucus discharge.

However, there are other conditions like threatened miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy that can cause this type of discharge. Because of the risk, any form of bleeding poses to pregnant women, it is always a good idea to let your doctor know about your symptoms.

What causes brown mucus discharge after period?

If you are having a brown mucus discharge after your period, then it is likely normal. If it occurs just after your period, then its likely due to old blood coming out from your womb. This old blood is from endometrial tissues that were not expelled during your period.

Should I be worried? No. It should resolve in few days.

Also, brown stringy discharge a week after your period ends is likely around ovulation. It normally resolves in a few days too and does not need any treatment.

Is brown stringy discharge an early pregnancy sign?

It can be, especially if it happens around when your period is due. Should I be worried? No. Except you were not expecting, it becomes heavy, or if it continues for days.

Why do I have brown string discharge instead of period?

Some women get very worried and anxious when they see an abnormal discharge that is not white in color. Brown discharge instead of your period can happen for many reasons, including early pregnancy, hormonal changes, stress, or birth control. If you’re not sure about being pregnant, it is always a good idea to get yourself tested.

Now it is your turn to let us know when you experience your brown discharge. Is it just after your period or before your period? Share your symptoms and story.