Red Discharge: 10 Causes Of Reddish Brown Discharge

Question: Is reddish brown discharge due to pregnancy? Is it abnormal if I experience red discharge before period?

If you have reddish-brown discharge from your vagina, it’s normal you will be concerned something’s wrong.

Here’s an email I received from Ava (one of my readers)

Hi, Doc,

I am 32 years old, and I’m currently being treated for polycystic ovarian syndrome. For 2 years after getting married, I have been trying to conceive.

Just a few days back, I noticed a light red discharge on my panties. Its three days now and I’m yet to see my menstrual period. I also feel my breast is heavy and sore with general body weakness. Could this be a sign of pregnancy? Please reply!!

Just like Ava, a reddish brown discharge can cause women to be worried. The truth is your vaginal discharge can change its color from time to time, and in most cases, whether it’s whitish or red in color, there is no reason to panic yet. Mayo Clinic+1

Red discharge before period starts may sometimes indicate implantation bleeding (a possible early sign of pregnancy), but many other things can also cause it. Cleveland Clinic+1

If you’re trying to conceive and had sexual intercourse during your ovulation period, a red or pinkish brown discharge before period may be a sign of pregnancy, but the only way to know for sure is to do a pregnancy test. Cleveland Clinic

Having said that, you should be aware of other reasons that may cause reddish discharge. Endometriosis, ovulation, pelvic infections, rough sexual intercourse, birth control medications, cervical cancer, slow shedding of the uterine lining (sometimes called “uterine incapacity”) and a ruptured ovarian cyst may cause a red discharge. Mayo Clinic+1

This article explains the causes of red discharge from vagina, signs that show you are pregnant, and when to worry.

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Why is my discharge red in color?

It’s normal that women will see a whitish stuff from their vagina from time to time. A whitish discharge without smell and vaginal itching is normal.

If your discharge becomes mixed with blood from the uterus, cervix or vaginal wall, it turns red in color. In most cases, it may not be due to anything serious. For example, at the very beginning or end of your period, or when old blood is leaving the womb, discharge can look brown or reddish-brown and still be normal. Mayo Clinic+1

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What causes Reddish brown discharge in women?

If you are experiencing a red brown discharge, here are possible causes:

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1. You are pregnant

Red discharge before period starts could be due to implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding can be one of the first signs some women notice in early pregnancy and occurs because your baby attaches to the wall of the uterus. Cleveland Clinic+1

After sexual intercourse, sperm is released into the female genital tract where it moves into your fallopian tube and fertilizes an egg.

After fertilization, your baby begins to divide and subsequently is transported back to the uterus where it burrows into a thickened endometrium that covers the uterus.

If this happens, blood is released from the endometrium and moves slowly to your vagina through your cervix and forming a reddish brown discharge.

Because it will take hours or days for you to see implantation spotting, blood released loses oxygen and turns reddish brown.

If you’ve had sexual intercourse weeks back and now experience a reddish brown discharge before period, pregnancy is one possible cause, especially if the spotting is light and short-lived, but many women with brown discharge are not pregnant. Take a pregnancy test if your period is late. Cleveland Clinic+1

Other pregnancy symptoms you may notice too are:

Breast pain and swelling

When pregnant, there are many ways to know, and you can start perceiving changes to your breast and other parts of your body. This occurs because hormones change your breast and make it heavy, feels sore and tender when touched.

Excessive vaginal discharge

It’s normal that your vaginal discharge frequency and volume will vary before, during and after ovulation. In most women, a dry vagina before period occurs because of a decreased level of menstrual cycle hormones.

Should you be expecting your period and have a red discharged followed by an excessive white watery discharge, it could be a sign of pregnancy. However, if discharge changes color, smells bad, or comes with itching or burning, it may be an infection and not pregnancy. MedlinePlus+1

Other signs of pregnancy are a missed period, dull abdominal cramps, fatigue, mood changes, food craving, and vomiting.

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2. You had a rough sexual intercourse

Reddish discharge can occur after you’ve had a good time with your boyfriend or after forceful vaginal entry or rape.

Your vaginal epithelium and cervix may get traumatized during a rough vaginal sexual activity resulting in minor bleeding and a red discharge. Usually, it will take only a few hours or days to feel okay again.

Another reason you may have a red spotting is insufficient vaginal lubrication. It’s important to be fully aroused before intercourse to prevent vaginal tear and bleeding. If you regularly bleed after sex, or if it happens after menopause, please see your doctor to check your cervix and rule out infections or precancerous changes. ACOG+1

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3. Ovulation

Ovulation is the mid-cycle release of one or more eggs from your ovary. During ovulation, and due to hormone changes with a drop in estrogen levels, some women may see reddish stuff from the vagina.

If you have a 28 days menstrual cycle, a reddish brown discharge a week after period may be due to ovulation. This is usually very light spotting and lasts less than a day or two.

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4. Pelvic infections

If you’ve already had unsafe sexual intercourse (that is, without consistently using a condom), you could have contracted sexually transmitted infections.

Most times, you won’t know or have signs of infections; So, it’s important that you check for chlamydia, gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted infections yearly if you are at risk (new partner, multiple partners, age under 25, or partner with an STI). MedlinePlus+1

If you are symptomatic, red spotting from your vagina can occur. Other pelvic infections symptoms are:

• Burning sensation during intercourse and when you are urinating

• Redness of your vagina

• Vaginal and vulva swelling

• Green vaginal discharge

• Lower abdominal pain, fever, or pain during sex

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s likely because of pelvic infections. Talk to your doctor quickly, as untreated STIs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Cleveland Clinic

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5. Birth control pills

Because you are trying to avoid pregnancy, you may have requested contraceptive medications from your doctor. If you did, and you experience a red discharge within the first 3–6 months, it’s nothing serious for most women.

It’s not unusual that you are spotting on the pill, and like most women, you will feel better in few months time.

if you are on IUCD (intrauterine device), it could also cause vaginal bleeding and red discharge. If spotting continues after the first few months, or bleeding is heavy or painful, talk to your doctor to review your method.

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6. Uterine incapacity

Sometimes, after menstruation has ended, you may notice mild cramps and spotting for a few days. This is often just your womb finishing the process of expelling the last bits of endometrial tissues (old blood). Some people call this “uterine incapacity”, but doctors usually see it as slow clearing of menstrual blood if it lasts only a short time and you feel well.

If this happens, you will notice a reddish brown discharge that lasts only for a few days.

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7–11. Other causes

7. Cervical cancer – especially bleeding after sex, between periods, or after menopause (needs urgent check). Mayo Clinic

8. Ruptured ovarian cyst – sudden sharp one-sided lower abdominal pain with bleeding.

9. Endometriosis – painful periods, pain during sex, and spotting between periods.

10. Bleeding disorders – platelets or clotting problems that make you bruise or bleed easily.

11. Uterine fibroids – benign growths in the womb that can cause heavy periods and spotting. NCBI

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Red discharge: 7 Reasons to worry

If you notice a red discharge, you should inform your doctor if you also experience any of the symptoms:

• Your vaginal discharge smell offensively

• You notice a yellow or green discharge with itching

• You are experiencing a sudden sharp lower abdominal pain, either on the right or left side of your tummy

• Your abdomen feels heavy and distended

• You experience heavy vaginal bleeding on birth control

• You think you may be pregnant (especially if bleeding is more than light spotting or you feel dizzy or unwell) ACOG+1

• Red discharge for days to weeks that turn bloody

• You have already reached menopause (no period for 12 months) and now see red or brown discharge Mayo Clinic+1

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Pinkish red discharge but no period

If you are expecting your period to begin in a few days time, and then notice a pinkish red discharge, it could be due to pregnancy, delayed ovulation, vaginal infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, sexual intercourse with vaginal trauma, and uterine fibroids.

Reddish brown discharge but no period can have many causes. Pregnancy is one of them, so it’s important to confirm pregnancy by taking a pregnancy test, especially if your period is late. Cleveland Clinic+1

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What causes reddish brown discharge before period

A reddish brown discharge before period may be due to many reasons. If you’ve had sexual intercourse 2 or 3 weeks ago, and have breast pain, body weakness, vomiting, nausea, mood changes, a red discharge before period could indicate you are pregnant, but the same symptoms can also be caused by PMS and other hormonal changes. Take a pregnancy test, and see your doctor if the test is positive and the bleeding is more than light spotting. ACOG+1

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What causes reddish brown discharge after period

Reddish brown discharge right after period occurs because of uterine contractions to expel leftover endometrium tissues. However, it could be due to ovulation bleeding, pelvic infections, birth control side effects, chlamydia and gonorrhea infections. If brown or red discharge continues longer than about a week after your period, or you have pain, fever, or a bad smell, you should see your doctor. ACOG+1