What are Periods?

Periods are popularly known as the menstrual cycle. It is a biological process that makes the female body suitable for pregnancy. It is a 28 day cycle and may vary from individual to individual with a span of 21- 35 days .

The cycle can be divided into several phases:

• The menstrual phase

• The Follicular phase

• The Ovulation phase

• The Lactel Phase

What is Brown Discharge?

Brown discharge before a period can be very concerning, but it often has benign explanations. Understanding the causes requires some knowledge about the menstrual cycle and the various factors that can influence vaginal discharge.

Here are some detailed reasons for experiencing brown discharge before a period:

1. Old blood

It was noted that the most common reason for brown discharge before the menstruation is the presence of old blood. Researchers have proved that if the blood takes a longer time to get discharged from the uterus it oxidises and as a result the colour of the blood changes from brown to red.

This phenomenon generally occurs either at the beginning or at the end of the particular menstrual cycle, it happens because as the flow is lighter it remains in the uterus for a long period of time.

2. Ovulation Spotting

Recent researches conducted all around the world proved that a section of women experience signs of spotting at the time of ovulation.

Most probably the spotting can occur in women approximately fourteen days before they get their periods. The spotting can either occur in pink or in brown.

Ovulation means the release of eggs from the ovaries, which leads to a small amount of bleeding in some women.

If the blood appears in brown colour one can make it sure that the blood has taken longer time to travel through the vaginal canal and if it is pink it only took some time to travel through the vaginal canal.

3. Implantation Bleeding

This happens in the case of women who are pregnant, the bleeding that occurs as a part of implantation can be a brown discharge.

This happens because the fertilised egg gets attached to the lining of the uterus, almost around ten to fourteen days after the fertilisation happens.

The thing which is to be noted is that the bleeding that happens as a part of implantation is always shorter and lighter than that of the periods.

4. Imbalance of Hormones

Females hormones like oestrogen and progesterone can cause problems like irregular periods and spotting in between the periods.

Medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disorders, stress and so on can interrupt the hormone level adversely.

5. Birth Control

Yes, it is true contraceptive methods like birth control pills,patches, injection can cause spotting particularly when the female body is new to it.

This is because the human body takes some time to adjust to the foreign body and the new hormonal level.

6. Perimenopause

It is seen that elderly women who are approaching Menopause often experience changes in their menstrual cycle.

This phase is called Perimenopause and can not only affect irregular periods but also to spotting. This phase may appear many years before the menopause happens.

7. Infections

It is observed that vaginal infections like bacterial infections and sexually transmitted disease lead to the discharge of brown fluid.

This may lead to inflammation and bleeding. Apart from this there can be associated discomfort like itching, burning sensation and foul odour.

8. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a medical condition when tissue similar to that of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This can lead to severe menstrual cramps and associated pain.

Women with Endometriosis might experience brown discharge due to bleeding from these abnormal tissue growth.

9. Cervical Erosion

Entropion can lead to brown discharge.Erosion involves the soft cells from inside the cervical canal growing on the outside of the cervix, making it more prone to bleeding.

Polyps are small, benign growths on the cervix that can also lead to irregular bleeding.

10.Stress and Lifestyle Factors

High stress, sudden weight loss, or severe exercise can affect the menstrual cycle. Stress directly affects the hypothalamus which is entrusted with the task to regulate hormones that are closely associated with the menstrual cycle.

11. Medicines

Certain medications, especially those that influence hormonal balance like anticoagulants, thyroid medications, and psychiatric drugs, can cause changes in menstrual bleeding patterns, including brown discharge.

12. Cervical Cancer

Although less common, cervical cancer can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge. Routine screening through Pap smears is crucial for early detection and management.

13. Pregnancy-Related Complications

In some cases, brown discharge can be an early sign of pregnancy complications such as a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. These conditions are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as severe pain and heavy bleeding.

In conclusion, periods are popularly known as the menstrual cycle and different phases associated with it. It is a biological process that makes the female body suitable for pregnancy.

It can be noted that there are several reasons like issues related to pregnancy, cervical cancer, medicine and so on.