Overview

Blood throughout your menstrual cycle can have different colours, including brilliant red, pink, brown, and more. Don't panic if, when you check, your period isn't crimson. Different blood colours may indicate different meanings; period blood is not necessarily red.

Typically, there is no reason to be concerned with varying blood colours. Nevertheless, sometimes, they could indicate a condition that calls for a visit to the doctor. We reveal the meaning behind each colour, ranging from vivid red to black and all shades in between, along with possible solutions.

Dark Red Blood

You may observe dark red period blood when you wake up in the morning or after sleeping for a while. The intense red colour might be caused by gravity holding the blood in the uterus for a prolonged period, but not long enough for it to oxidise and turn brown.

Dark blood is related to:

The end of your menstrual cycle. Your flow may slow down around the end of your period, resulting in dark crimson blood.
Lochia. For the first three days after giving birth, postpartum haemorrhage(or lochia) is frequently dark red and intense. After that, the bleeding slows, and the blood becomes darker.

Bright Red colour

Bright red is the colour of freshly drawn blood flowing quickly, such as during the beginning of your menstruation. Some people may have a full-blown bright crimson bleed. As the flow slows, it could get darker for some people.

The following other conditions can also be indicated by bright red period blood:

Infection. Bright red blood sometimes indicates infection in the body. A normal blood profile can indicate the same.
Intermittent Bleeding. It is a side effect of several sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), including gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Additionally, STIs can result in burning when you urinate, unpleasant-smelling discharge, or discomfort during intercourse. Testing with a healthcare provider is smart if you think you may have an STI. Irritation of the vagina can also result in bleeding from other illnesses, such as yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
Miscarriage. Spots or bleeding during pregnancy may indicate a miscarriage, although not always. For confirmation, consult your healthcare provider if you have any bleeding while pregnant. Bright crimson blood or clots may result after a miscarriage. Some women also get dizziness, cramps, and stomach discomfort during a miscarriage.
Fibroids or uterine polyps. Throughout your periods or at other points throughout the menstrual cycle, these noncancerous growths in the uterus may produce excessive flow. They can cause pressure and discomfort in the pelvis and might be big or small.

Pink blood

Usually, pink blood at the start or end of your period, especially if you're spotting, is blood diluted by cervical fluid.

Lochia. Lochia, or postpartum haemorrhage, can become pink or brownish starting on day four.
Minimal Oestrogen Levels. Low amounts of oestrogen in the body might occasionally be indicated by pink menstrual blood. The uterine lining is stabilised by oestrogen. Without it, you could occasionally lose the lining at other points during your cycle, resulting in pink or other coloured spots.
The Ovulation Stage. Spotting can occur during ovulation, often in the middle of the cycle for some individuals. Increases in cervical fluid brought on by ovulation may also dilute blood and give it a bright pink or red colour.

Brown blood

The distinct colour of brown discharge is often caused by old blood that has had time to oxidise. It is connected to a few things:

When your menstrual cycle starts or ends. It takes longer for blood to leave your body throughout your menstrual cycle since the blood flows more slowly at these times. It will oxidise and turn brown the longer it remains in your body. Brown blood may even occasionally be residual from a prior menstrual cycle.
Being Expectant. An early indication of pregnancy, known as implantation bleeding, might be brown blood or spots. It normally happens ten to fourteen days after fertilisation.

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert Gynecology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion

Particularly at specific life phases, such as when you've just begun menstruating or are approaching menopause, the colour and texture of your period blood might vary from cycle to cycle or day to day. While most variations in the colour of the menstrual cycle are not significant, it is nonetheless important to record them together with any other symptoms.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/period-blood
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-does-menstrual-blood-look-like-2721937