Menstrual flow colors: what is normal and when to consult a gynecologist.
How much would you know about your menstrual cycle? Are you able to describe the smell of your menstrual flow, the color of the blood from your period, or if the texture is more liquid or clotted?
If you have wrinkled your nose and thought that these questions are something unpleasant: it is normal.
It is normal for you to pout when thinking about all these details because society has led us to hide certain things, to think that they are taboo, or that they cannot be discussed out loud.
Menstrual health is one of these things that is not talked about. And yes, we are improving, it is becoming more and more normal to talk about a painful rule, to mention that you have your period, or that girls do not hide the pads when they go to the bathroom.
But despite this, there are certain things about our menstrual cycle that are still very unknown. In most cases, our knowledge of female physiology is limited to knowing if we have the period regularly or not, and how long it usually lasts.
It would be very convenient if sex education, both at home and in schools, included much more specific attention to the female menstrual cycle and all its cyclicity.
Why is it so important to know about female menstruation?
Because this cyclical process offers Lots of information on women's health. The menstrual cycle is the result of the general functioning of the organism. It is not an alien process, but a result of it. And, therefore, alterations in the characteristics of the cycle - its color, its intensity, its smell - can offer clues about what is happening in the body as a whole.
In addition, the fact of not knowing all the possibilities and the functioning of female cyclicity generates doubts and concern.
Sometimes a change in the amount, odor or texture of vaginal discharge can unnecessarily worry you: there are a wide variety of characteristics that are considered normal and actually follow a cyclical pattern.
This much-needed knowledge would also allow us to be alert to any changes that do not fall within what is considered normal.
Why does menstruation change color?
The menstrual cycle has its own color chart. From pink to purple, through intense red. And there is a physiological explanation for each of them.
In most cases, it is something normal and physiological, in response to a certain hormonal or physical situation. But it is true that sometimes not. What is certain is that it is a good scale to know how well a woman's body works.
In general, a rule with a crimson red would be a good sign of health.
Different shades of menstrual blood and their causes
As we have seen, period blood can have many different shades, and the vast majority are physiological. We detail them and let you know when you should visit your gynecologist.
bright red blood
Menstrual blood is usually not as brightly colored as a cut finger, for example. This is because it is mixed with tissue from the endometrial desquamation. The color ends up being slightly darker overall.
The bright red color tells us of a correct and recent desquamation of the endometrium. This color corresponds to the time of maximum menstrual flow.
This means that the blood is fresh and flows quickly. When too much blood is released, it does not have time to clot, so it takes on a brighter color. Any clot that can be seen in it may be due to endometrial particles or elements of an interrupted ovum.
The blood it may stay that way for the entire period or it may darken as the flow decreases.
dark red blood
Blood darkens because it oxidizes. This occurs both when there is not a very large volume of blood, and when the process of expelling it is slowed down.
In fact, if there is little bleeding, it will tend to come out more slowly, so it will be easier for it to rust. If this color corresponds to not very abundant bleeding or to bleeding at the end of the cycle, it could be considered physiological.
It is also possible to observe this color when waking up in the morning. The lack of gravity when sleeping can cause the blood to condense and come out darker.
Blood of pink hues
Seeing light red or pink blood can occur when your period is lighter than usual.
As there is little blood and it mixes with other fluids, it is diluted, with a paler color.
Causes of a pink period:
- moments of stress,
- excessive exercise,
- a very limited fat diet,
- a significant weight loss.
- Some hormonal contraceptives that do not contain estrogen,
- ovulation itself,
- the onset of the climacteric.
But if your period becomes lighter month after month, it could be an indicator of a vitamin or nutrient deficiency, or low estrogen levels, so you should see a specialist.
ruler in shades of brown or black
The blood that may remain attached to the uterus can remain in it until the next menstruation. This is the main reason why dark brown bleeding may appear at the beginning of menstruation. It is due to incorrect desquamation of the endometrium in the previous cycle.
Sometimes, a cervical opening that is too narrow can hinder the menstrual flow in some way and favor extraordinary remnants. Or situations like endometriosis can also generate darker fluids.
The color black, on the other hand, is no longer so physiological. if you experience this black color of menstruation you should also consult a gynecologist, since it can be the result of an infection or a sexually transmitted disease.
Orange or rust-colored blood
If your period blood has an orange tint, but the consistency and smell don't seem any different from your usual period blood, it's most likely nothing to worry about.
It may be the result, as in the previous case, of a mixture with the cervical fluid. However, if the texture or aroma have also changed, it may have to do with a sexually transmitted disease or infection.
On the other hand, some women agree to identify a slight orange or pink staining when they suspect that implantation has occurred, between 10 and 14 days after conception. It would be called implantation spotting and not all women experience it, but it is true that it can have this color.
Blue or purple blood
Although it seems surprising, a menstrual flow with this hue can also appear. It is coagulated blood and the explanation will be similar to the brown discharge that we have already talked about.
Purple menstrual flow is often related to excess estrogen in the system. A diet rich in fiber, reducing refined grains and taking a detox infusion may be enough to reverse this situation. Consult a specialist to promote the correct metabolism of sex hormones.
Greyish ruler
Here things no longer seem so physiological. Grayish blood is associated with infections such as bacterial vaginosis. Pay attention to the appearance of this color, especially if it is accompanied by changes in the smell of menstruation, pain, itching or even fever.
In addition to the color of the blood, it is very important to also analyze the smell and the texture and amount of flow in each menstruation.
It may interest you:
- 📌 Benefits of acupuncture in fertility
- Learn about your menstruation: what your period can tell you about your health
Related products
- Geller, S.E., et al. Differences in Menstrual Bleeding Characteristics, Functional Status, and Attitudes toward Menstruation in Three Groups of Women. Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine VOL. 8, NO. Four. May 2009.
2. Dasharathy, S.E. et al. Menstrual Bleeding Patterns Among Regularly Menstruating Women. American Journal of Epidemiology Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2012. Vol. 175, No. 6