What Causes Black Period Blood Before Or After Period?

Do you have black period blood at beginning of period? Are you worried your period is getting darker than normal? Do you feel your dark period is due to pregnancy or a medical problem?

Black menstruation on the first day of period is mostly normal for most women. It occurs as blood stays longer in the uterus or vagina, loses oxygen and gets darker, brownish or black in color. While it’s most likely not a problem, it may be due to an underlying health problem, especially if it is very heavy, painful or happens at unusual times. 

This article explains the causes of black blood during period and when to worry about it.

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Why is my period blood black or dark?

Blood during menses can be — light, bright red, brown or black. Bright red blood is usually fresh blood flowing out quickly, while darker brown or black blood is usually older blood that has stayed longer inside and changed color.

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What causes black period blood?

These are the reasons you may see a dark period blood

1. Normal period

During your period, it is normal to see black blood coming out of your vagina before the start or after your period. Black blood before your period starts is due to the removal of old tissues of the endometrium from your uterus in preparation for your period.

Some women may notice a dark brown discharge before period or a black discharge. This is normal and there is no need to worry about it.

Also, dark period blood can occur days after your period ends. This is due to the removal of endometrial tissues not removed during your period. This black blood from vagina resolves in a few days without any bad smell or itching.

What to do if you notice dark blood before and after period?

Normal black blood before or after your period does not last long. It does not smell or cause any vaginal itching. It resolves in a few days.

However, if you had an abnormally heavy period or with vaginal pain, smell or itching, then it’s time to let your doctor know. MedlinePlus+1

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2. Uterine fibroid

These are abnormal growth in the uterus that can be small or huge affecting fertility in women sometimes. They can also cause heavy prolonged periods with black colored blood. There are different fibroids types.

• The submucous fibroid – Found beneath the endometrium and can result in dark blood with clots.

• Fibroid polyps – These are polyps attached to the uterine wall that can cause bleeding

• An intramural fibroid is found in the muscle of the uterus

The submucous fibroid cause women to bleed heavily sometimes. This can result in dark period blood.

What should I do?

Inform your doctor if you have any of these fibroid symptoms.

• Heavy prolonged bleeding in between periods

• Body weakness or fatigue during a heavy period

• Black period blood with large period clots

• Abdominal swelling with feeling a hard mass inside

• Difficulty in getting pregnant for years

While trying to inform your doctor, you may also be advised to take iron tablets or other supplements if you have heavy bleeding to prevent anemia. These vitamins for heavy periods may help, but they do not replace seeing your doctor. Mayo Clinic+1

You can read more here: ACOG uterine fibroids. ACOG

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3. Uterine polyps

Sometimes uterine polyps may be the reason why you have a black period blood. A uterine polyp can obstruct the cervix resulting in accumulation of blood in the uterus. This can cause blood to become dark while coming out of your vagina. ACOG

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4. Hormonal imbalance

Fluctuations in hormones either due to a medical condition or months after you start your period for the first time can cause women to have bleeding in between periods that can be black or dark.

In young women, this may resolve in a few years as you grow older, but heavy or very frequent bleeding should still be checked by a doctor. AAFP+1

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5. Ovulation

Ovulation is the rupture of a developed follicle in the ovary with the release of egg or ovum. This egg, when fertilized by the sperm, make you pregnant.

During this rupture and release of the ovum, slight bleeding may come out from the vagina as brown or dark spotting about a week or two after period ends. In some women it is a sign that you’ve ovulated and usually stops in a few days with some cramps.

If you experience black blood in the middle of your menstrual cycle, then it may be because you are ovulating, but it can also be from other causes. Other symptoms and signs of ovulation are

• Ovulation cramps or pain

• Stretchy clear watery discharge

• Increased body temperature after ovulation

• Slight dip in basal body temperature just before ovulation

• Increased sexual desire

Black blood due to ovulation is usually not a problem and resolves in a few days. If it is heavy or keeps happening, see your doctor. ACOG+1

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6. Pregnancy

If you notice brown black blood a week or days before period, it may be due to implantation bleeding or pregnancy.

Implantation occurs when a fertilized egg released during ovulation burrows into the inner covering of the uterus. While it’s not common in every pregnancy, it’s an early pregnancy sign if you’ve had intercourse without any contraception and the bleeding is light. Many other signs of pregnancy include body weakness and feeling very tired, mild abdomen cramps, change in your mood and activity, breast tenderness and soreness. Cleveland Clinic

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7 Reasons to worry about your dark period blood

• It occurs every time during your period

• It occurs anytime you have intercourse. This may be due to a polyp obstructing your cervix.

• Your abdomen gets bigger. This may be due to a large fibroid mass.

• Your period lasting 2, 3, 4 weeks with very large blood clots during period

• You experience a vaginal odor or itching down there. Smelly vagina may be a sign of an infection

• You are more than 40 years with black blood from your vagina. Dark blood from your vagina after menopause may be a sign of endometrial cancer or hyperplasia. Inform your doctor ASAP. ACOG+1

• You inserted an Intrauterine device and you have black blood coming out. You should inform your doctor.

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Frequently Asked Questions about black period

The truth is that most women get very scared when they notice black blood from their vagina either after period ends or before it starts. Here are some common black period questions from our community.

What does it mean when your period is black or dark?

Period black blood is usually old blood coming out of your vagina. It could be due to blood and endometrial tissues that were not expelled quickly during last menstruation.

Why is my period black at the beginning of my period (First day)?

If you’ve started your period and notice black blood coming out on the first day, then it may not be abnormal. Old black blood, due to endometrial tissue not expelled during the previous period, may be expelled at the beginning of period.

Also, during menstruation, periods may be heavy with some clots in the first few days too. This gradually gets lighter as your period ends. Mayo Clinic+1

Black period blood, I’m I pregnant?

If you are worried that you may be pregnant because of black blood from the vagina, then you should get a test done. Also, if you’ve had a missed period and notice black or dark blood coming out, it could mean implantation bleeding, your period starting, or sometimes a miscarriage.

Other symptoms of pregnancy are — abdomen cramps, nausea, getting tired easily, problems with smell and taste and breast pain. Get a pregnancy test done to confirm and talk with your doctor if you are not sure. Cleveland Clinic

What causes black blood before period?

Black blood before period is due to old tissues from previous period being expelled. However, other causes are

• Ovulation — if black blood occurs 2 weeks before period

• Vaginal infections

• Uterine polyps

• Uterine fibroid

Because bleeding between periods can be a type of abnormal uterine bleeding, it is safer to let your doctor know if it keeps happening. MedlinePlus

What causes black period blood on the pill or IUD?

Do you experience any black discharge or black blood after just starting a pill? Did you miss your pill for a day or stopped taking it? Are you worried about bleeding in between periods on birth control pills?

Bleeding in the first few months after starting contraceptive pill is usually because your body is adjusting to your pills. After a few months, it often resolves.

You should inform your doctor if you have large period clots, very heavy bleeding, or get uncomfortable with your contraceptive plan so that other options can be discussed. Mayo Clinic+1

Still worried why your period is black on the first day of period? Let us know.

You can read more about normal and abnormal bleeding from ACOG heavy and abnormal periods and MedlinePlus vaginal bleeding. ACOG+1