Photographed by Ashley Armitage. Show If you're not trying to get pregnant, and are worried that you might be, then seeing blood in your underwear can feel somewhat reassuring. Bleeding means you have your period, which means you're not pregnant, right? Not necessarily, because there's always a chance that you're experiencing implantation bleeding, which means the exact opposite: pregnancy. That's why anyone trying to conceive might actually feel a surge of hopefulness at the sight of a little blood. When a fertilized egg is in the process of attaching to the uterine lining, sometimes it can cause light bleeding, also known as "implantation bleeding," says Raquel B. Dardik, MD, an Ob/Gyn at NYU Langone Medical Center. During implantation, it's almost as if the embryo is "trying to burrow into the uterus," so it's normal to have some spotting, Carolyn Alexander, MD of the Southern California Reproductive Center told Refinery29 last year. It's easy, at first, to confuse implantation bleeding with your period. Hey, hoping to be pregnant and hoping to NOT be pregnant can both be pretty intense situations. Rather than losing it over a little blood, learn to spot the difference between the two, so you'll know right off the bat what you're dealing with. In general, implantation bleeding tends to be spotty and light, not necessarily flowing like a period, Dr. Dardik says. The blood itself is usually pink to light brown, she says. Some people say that it kind of looks like rust, and doesn't look like their typical period blood. But implantation bleeding can happen near the time that you get your period, which causes some people to think it's just an early flow, Dr. Dardik says. Often, the timing can actually indicate whether you have implantation bleeding or your period. A fertilized egg typically implants about 10 days after ovulation, Dr. Dardik says. "So, on a 28-day cycle, you would ovulate on day 14, implant on day 24, and skip your period on day 28," she says. That is, it could be implantation bleeding if it's happening a few days before you expect to get your period. "This assumes you are very regular," she says. "If you have cycles that tend to vary in length, even by a few days, it may seem to happen when you anticipate your period." So you can see why this could get confusing. Implantation bleeding can last a few hours or a few days, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The bleeding will go away on its own, and you don't really have to do anything when it happens — although it might be a good time to take a look at your calendar or pill pack and figure out where you are in your cycle, to see if it might just be an early period. Really, the only way to know whether you are pregnant or not is to take a test. Of course, you'll have to wait a few days for an accurate read. After a fertilized egg implants, the placenta forms and produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is what pregnancy tests are looking for, according to the Mayo Clinic. HCG enters the bloodstream first and then moves into urine, so that's why you pee on a pregnancy test. For an ASAP answer as to what's going on, head to your doctor for a blood pregnancy test. Otherwise, wait a few days until you expect your period to arrive and, if it doesn't, test then. If you are trying to get pregnant, paying attention to symptoms like implantation bleeding can later help you and your Ob figure out exactly how far along you are (romantically keeping tabs on the dates you've had sex helps with this, too). If you already know you are pregnant, and are experiencing light bleeding, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. Some spotting early in pregnancy is usually not a big deal, and happens to 15 to 20% of people during the first trimester, according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology. But heavier bleeding, or bleeding later in pregnancy can be a sign of something more serious. Welcome to Mothership: Parenting stories you actually want to read, whether you're thinking about kids or not, from egg-freezing to taking home baby and beyond. Because motherhood is a big if — not when — and it's time we talked about it that way. What is a period? Brown discharge before your period may be due to starting birth control, implantation, uterine fibroids, vaginal infections, or menstruation. Also called a period, menstruation occurs when the lining of a female's uterus is shed through a flow of blood. It's a crucial part of the menstrual cycle, which is a normal and healthy process that prepares your body for a potential pregnancy. The hormone-driven menstrual cycle typically lasts 28 days. The first day is when you begin your period (bleeding), which usually ends after about three to five days. This time in your cycle is also referred to as menses. Somewhere around day 14 is when you ovulate. If an egg doesn't get fertilized after this stage, your hormone levels drop and the egg begins to dissolve around day 25. In addition to bleeding, other signs of menstruation include:
It's normal for women to sometimes experience brown discharge before, during, or after menstruating. It may appear as spotting, which is the presence of blood during the wrong stages of your cycle. This darker discharge is usually a thicker consistency and slower flow than typical menstruation, and is usually caused by old blood coming from your uterus. In rare cases, brown discharge before your period may be cause for concern. If you're experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding of any kind, it's best to reach out to your doctor so they can rule out any underlying conditions. Signs of abnormal vaginal bleedingAbnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding occurs when you bleed:
One sign of abnormal vaginal bleeding is getting brown discharge before your period. Causes of brown discharge before periodThere are multiple causes of bleeding between periods. If you're experiencing brown discharge before your period, it may be due to any of the following: 1. Birth controlIt's common to experience irregular bleeding during the first few months of being on a form of hormonal contraception, or birth control, such as:
Bleeding between periods is a common side effect of all forms of hormonal birth control, which may include brown discharge. Although it can be worrisome, this bleeding is rarely dangerous and should subside after three months. With birth control pills, you may experience irregular bleeding if you don't take it at the same time everyday. Other side effects of hormonal birth control may include:
2. ImplantationAfter one of are some blood vessels that break down. For some women, this can lead to brown discharge consisting of old blood. As opposed to a regular period, bleeding from implantation is light and only lasts a couple of days. 3. Uterine fibroidsUterine fibroids are nonmalignant (non-cancerous) growths of muscle and tissue that grow on your uterus. Many women who have fibroids have no symptoms, and may only be found by a doctor during a pelvic examination. In rare cases, fibroids can grow out from your uterus, twist, and cut off the blood supply. This can cause pain and brown vaginal discharge. 4. Vaginal infectionsThere are several different vaginal infections that may cause brown discharge before your period: Bacterial vaginosis causes an overgrowth of bacteria in your vagina. Trichomaniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite and is spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is an infection that causes vaginal soreness and abnormal vaginal discharge. 5. MenstruationThe brown discharge before your upcoming period may just be blood leftover from your last period. Blood that's stayed in your uterus for a while turns a brownish color. It's common for it to come out at the very end of your period. However, it may not show up until before your next period. Brown blood is more common with lighter flows, as it takes longer to leave your body. SLIDESHOWPelvic Pain: What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain? See SlideshowTests for brown discharge before periodIf you see your doctor to address brown discharge before your period or any other kind of abnormal vaginal bleeding, they will likely have you take some tests. The testing they choose will depend on your age and whether or not you're pregnant. To find the cause of your bleeding, your doctor may perform an ultrasound exam of your pelvic area to look at your uterus and ovaries. They may also perform an endometrial biopsy, which is a test of your uterine lining to check for a change in cells, such as cancer. A hysteroscopy, a procedure involving inserting a camera into your uterus, is another option. If your bleeding is heavy, your doctor might also check your blood count to see if there's been significant blood loss. Health NewsMedically Reviewed on 12/17/2020 References American Family Physician: "Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Associated with Hormonal Contraception." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Diseases Characterized by Vaginal Discharge." Center for Young Women's Health: "I don't think I have "officially" had my period yet, but I recently had 3-4 days of brownish black discharge. I didn’t see any blood in the discharge, but could this have been my period?" Center for Young Women’s Health: "Menstrual Periods." Familydoctor.org: "Abnormal Uterine Bleeding." KidsHealth: "PMS, Cramps, and Irregular Periods." Memorial Care: "What Color Is Implantation Bleeding? Experts Explain." Michigan Medicine: "Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding." Mount Sinai: "You Asked It: Help! My Period Blood is Brown." National Health Service: "What causes bleeding between periods?" Womenshealth.gov: "Uterine fibroids." Why am I spotting dark brown before my period?Brown discharge can be caused by a number of factors, including regular menstrual activity, perimenopause, and the use of birth control, all of which are normal. However, it may also be an indication of a more serious problem, like an infection, ectopic pregnancy, or a tampon left in the vagina.
Why am I spotting for 3 days before my period?A common cause of spotting before or between periods is changes in hormone levels. Women's cycles are ruled by hormones and any sudden fluctuations in those hormone levels can cause unexpected bleeding or spotting.
Is implantation bleeding dark brown?Whether heavy or light, most women are familiar with the color of their period (usually a bright to dark red). Implantation bleeding, however, is typically light pink to dark brown (rust-colored) in color.
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Dark brown spotting 3 days before period
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