Scarlet discharge during menstruation (menstruation)

The monthly discharge of blood from a woman’s vagina is absolutely physiological. During menstruation, the body gets rid of old particles of the endometrium - the inner layer of the uterus, which prepares it for a possible pregnancy.

Many women are interested in what color blood should be during menstruation, and whether there are any norms and standards.

Menstruation is bright scarlet - how dangerous is it?

Menstruation is a natural physiological process that any sexually mature woman who does not have health problems regularly experiences.

From a physiological point of view, the appearance of bloody discharge indicates the beginning of the process of rejection of excess cellular tissue formed in the uterine cavity on the eve of ovulation. The day your period arrives is considered the starting point for counting the duration of the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual flow is characterized by:

1 low coagulation coefficient;

2 darker shade compared to vascular blood.

The peculiarities of menstrual flow are determined by their chemical composition, in particular, the increased content of enzymes.

To understand why discharge of scarlet blood appeared during menstruation, it is necessary to understand which menstruation should be considered normal, and which menstruation may be malfunctioning.

Menstruation without abnormalities - normal periods

Menstruation, which occurs without deviations, is characterized by standard discharge:

1 regularity of discharge;

2 absence of painful sensations, the stomach should not hurt during menstruation (menstruation), and if pain appears in the stomach (lower abdomen), then it should be felt in intensity as discomfort or a weak nagging pain in the lower abdomen;

3 a dark shade of discharge during menstruation (menstruation) is considered normal;

4 discharge of average duration and intensity.

If menstruation does not disrupt a woman’s usual way of life and does not cause her discomfort, then it is considered to proceed without deviations. However, even in this case, you should not forget about regular visits to the doctor, since some menstrual cycle disorders can manifest themselves indirectly, for example, in the form of scarlet discharge during or after menstruation.

Abnormal menstruation

What are the types of menstruation disorders, deviations of menstruation, menstruation cycle? The most common menstrual abnormalities include:

1 change in color and/or odor of bloody discharge during menstruation. If the spotting during menstruation becomes a different color, when scarlet blood appears instead of menstruation and other symptoms;

2 a menstrual cycle that is too short or too long can also be considered deviations defined by irregularities in the menstrual cycle;

3 irregular periods (menstruation);

4 the appearance of symptoms such as itching or an unpleasant odor from the vagina against the background of scarlet discharge is one of the symptoms of a woman’s menstrual cycle;

5 A reason to consult a doctor may also be a change in the normal course of menstruation, when menstruation does not proceed as usual, if menstruation comes too early or there is a delay in menstruation, if the discharge is too heavy or, on the contrary, there is scanty discharge during menstruation.

Not all changes during menstruation indicate the presence of pathology. For example, it is allowed to change the color of the discharge during menstruation in favor of a darker shade at the end of the cycle. On average, during menstruation, a woman loses a couple of tens of milliliters of blood per day, but this figure does not take into account the individual characteristics of the female body, so it can vary upward or downward depending on the specific situation. It is important to remember that scarlet blood during menstruation or scarlet blood after menstruation are all symptoms for which you should make an appointment with a gynecologist.

In what cases should you immediately make an appointment with a gynecologist if your periods are abnormal:

1 the appearance of scarlet blood (normally, the color of the discharge should change from light to dark, but not vice versa);

2 the appearance of blood clots.

You can read in more detail about which periods can be considered abnormal in the article: vaginal discharge is yellow, green, brown, yellow, causes of abnormal discharge during menstruation.

The most common menstrual cycle disorders include the appearance of scarlet discharge, when scarlet blood appears during menstruation. To determine what causes such a pathology as scarlet blood during menstruation and what it can mean, it is worth turning to the physiology of the female body.

Different color of blood during menstruation: what does it mean?

Brownish discharge can be present even in completely healthy women. They usually appear shortly before the approaching menstruation, as well as after it. Such a daub does not need treatment.

Brown discharge and pain are a reason to consult a doctor

Sometimes girls who take hormonal contraceptive medications encounter this phenomenon. It is also considered normal when brown discharge is a consequence of insufficient lubrication during sexual intercourse.

Brown color may indicate existing abnormalities. In this case, the condition is characterized by a painful sensation in the lower abdomen. The temperature rises and there is a fever. There is itching of varying intensity in the vagina.

Brown discharge needs treatment and is the result of:

• erosion;
• malignant process;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• endometritis.

Black discharge causes the most distress. Worries are not always justified. During menstruation, a sufficient volume of old blood accumulates, which has not had time to be released physiologically.

Black discharge is also not always a sign of a problem if it goes away after 3 days

Even before it comes out, the blood has time to come into contact with oxygen, which promotes oxidation. It is for this reason that the discharge becomes dark in color. Usually everything returns to normal by the 3rd–4th day of menstruation.

Pathology may be indicated by a blackish discharge that has not disappeared by the 3rd day. In this case, menstruation usually comes out in clots. It is also important to pay attention to your well-being.

You should be wary of a situation where the discharge has always been red, and then suddenly turns black. Often such periods occur against the background of:

• stretching of the uterus after pregnancy;
• the presence of benign neoplasms;
• endocrine pathological processes;
• endometriosis.

Pathological conditions are usually accompanied by additional negative signs. The patient's condition is deteriorating. An immediate visit to a doctor is required for diagnosis.

Sometimes black discharge indicates the presence of formations in the uterus

Brown spotting of all shades during menstruation is a sign of “old blood”: it was red, but simply oxidized due to the fact that the discharge was not too abundant and it took a long time to leave the uterus.

Brown blood may be due to:

• the beginning and end of menstruation
• lochia
• pregnancy (a sign of stopped bleeding: urgently need to see a doctor!)
• frozen pregnancy (you must urgently consult a doctor)

When a symptom is normal

Menarche is a consequence of hormonal changes that occur in the body of a teenage girl. 2–3 years before their appearance, the ovaries, under the influence of pituitary hormones, begin to produce estrogens.

Sex hormones influence the growth and development of the uterus and contribute to the formation of secondary sexual characteristics - female-type hair growth, enlargement of the mammary glands.

Cyclic changes in hormone levels lead to the rejection of the functional mucous layer of the uterus and the appearance of the first menstruation.

In the first year after menarche, the menstrual cycle is irregular. The next period may appear only after 2-3 months; the girl should not worry about such long breaks. How long should the first menstruation last? It can last 1–2 days, instead of the usual 3–5, like in an adult fertile woman.

Menarche is usually very scanty and appears as small spots on the underwear. Due to hormonal changes, their color may differ from the usual. Menarche are usually brown, dark red or burgundy in color.

The blood itself should not have a light pink tint. Normal shades of menstruation include:

• scarlet;
• Dark red;
• brown.

Menstruation should not be accompanied by burning and itching. Pain should be absent or moderate in severity. Blood should not be black. This symptom requires an urgent visit to the doctor.

Normally, periods come at regular intervals.

Normally, menstruation is regular and comes at the same time. The duration of critical days should not exceed 7 days. The volume of discharge is 150 ml for the entire period of menstruation.

Often, pink periods require a visit to the doctor, since they are a manifestation of an existing pathology. The physiological causes of this symptom are presented in the table.

Light red discharge at the very beginning of menstruation is considered normal. The color may become darker in the evening or the next day.

The discharge should be red

2Dark red blood

Dark red blood often occurs after you wake up or move around after sitting or lying down for a long time

A dark color may mean that the blood has simply been in the uterus for a long time, but not long enough to oxidize and turn brown.

That’s why women’s blood often darkens towards the end of menstruation, when the amount of bleeding decreases.

Dark red color of blood is characteristic of:

• last days of menstruation
• lochia

Infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause bleeding between periods

When bleeding, the amount of discharge exceeds 70 ml. This can be recognized by the need to change the pad more than 4 times a day. The need for a shift can arise every hour. The discharge contains a large number of clots.

The pathological condition is accompanied by poor health. There is severe fatigue and weakness. The painful feeling is localized in the lower abdomen. Anemia appears. You should immediately consult a doctor if the following pathological signs appear:

• paleness of the skin;
• active hair loss;
• brittle nails.

Bleeding can also be suspected if your period comes early.

If you see blood before the approximate start date of your period, it makes sense to see a doctor.

During pregnancy, bleeding may or may not be a cause for concern. Sometimes this can be a sign of a miscarriage, sometimes not: every case is unique, so you should see your doctor whenever you experience any bleeding during pregnancy.

Another cause of heavy bleeding during menstruation or other phases of the menstrual cycle can be polyps or fibrosis. These benign growths can cause these symptoms, as well as pressure and pain.

Any unusual discharge (unusual structure, smell, or occurring at an unusual time) may be signs of infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Take care of your health, you only have one and remember: it is easier and easier to treat any disease if treatment is started as early as possible after it is discovered!

Most often, a light shade of blood indicates the need to visit a doctor. Often the symptom is pathological in nature. The disorder may occur when the intrauterine device grows in, if one is installed in the vagina.

Another probable reason is oncological processes. In this case, menstruation is watery and in volume exceeds the accepted norm. The discharge has an unpleasant odor.

Benign formations are accompanied by copious discharge. There is obvious discomfort. There is pain during sex. After an abortion, light critical days indicate that particles of the fertilized egg still remain in the uterus. Gradually, the discharge may acquire a bright color.

For any deviations, you should visit a gynecologist

Any illness requires consulting a doctor. Ignoring any changes is strictly prohibited. Otherwise, complications will occur.

If light blood comes instead of normal menstruation, the possibility of pregnancy should not be ruled out. Diagnostics needed to rule out:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• risk of miscarriage.

In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus. The condition requires urgent hospitalization. The woman is prescribed surgery. If the operation does not occur on time, the risk of death increases.

You can recognize the course of an ectopic pregnancy by the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• decreased performance;
• intense vomiting;
• sharp pain in the abdomen;

With an ectopic pregnancy, a girl may feel sharp pain in the abdomen

• bowel dysfunction;
• headache.

At first, there are no pathological symptoms. Then the condition worsens greatly. We urgently need to call an ambulance. An ectopic pregnancy, like a regular one, can be confirmed using a special test.

3Bright red blood

Bright red blood often occurs at the beginning of menstruation, when bleeding is most intense.

The color of the blood may be the same throughout the entire period of menstrual bleeding or become darker towards the end.

Bright red blood color may also be due to:

• infections - for example, with chlamydia or gonorrhea, there is bleeding between menstruation; if you see bleeding before the expected onset of menstruation, it is better to consult a gynecologist for advice.
• pregnancy - if you are pregnant and notice bloody discharge, you should consult your doctor to rule out a miscarriage, pathology or infection.
• polyps and fibrosis - these non-carcinogenic neoplasms can cause intense periods or bleeding in other phases of the menstrual cycle, as well as cause a feeling of pressure inside and pain; consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.

4Pink color of blood

Menstrual blood may be pink at the beginning or end of your period, especially if you have spotting

A light shade most likely means that the blood has simply mixed with cervical secretions, simply making the color of the blood less intense.

Pink and light red blood colors can also be associated with:

• postpartum bleeding (lochia)
• low estrogen levels
• bloody spotting in the middle of the cycle during ovulation
• miscarriage
• bloody discharge after fertilization of the egg

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

It is necessary to carefully monitor women's health. Any alarming changes must be noticed and eliminated in a timely manner. Light menstruation requires consulting a doctor in the following cases:

• more than 35 or less than 20 days have passed between periods;
• menstruation is scanty or, on the contrary, abundant and lasts more than 7 days;
• a large number of clots are observed;
• failures in the cycle are regular;
• menstruation remains light until the end;
• the discharge smells like rotten fish;
• additionally there is itching and dryness.

The listed signs are pathological. Even one symptom is a good reason to see a doctor.

5Orange

When blood mixes with cervical discharge, it can also have an orange tint, so the reasons for the appearance of blood of this color are the same as those for pink and light red discharge.

Orange blood color may also be due to:

• spotting after fertilization of the egg - some women notice orange or light red and pink spotting soon after fertilization or 10-14 days after fertilization. This does not happen to all women, but if you notice spotting that does not develop into menstruation, then it makes sense to take a pregnancy test.
• Infections – Any unusual color of discharge may be a sign of a bacterial infection or STD.

What diagnostics

The cause of the appearance of light blood during menstruation can only be determined through comprehensive diagnostics. The patient is referred to:

• Ultrasound for a general examination of the reproductive organs;
• blood test to assess hormonal levels;
• colposcopy to identify possible malignant processes;
• a vaginal smear to confirm or refute a probable infectious process;
• histology for scraping.

If necessary, other examinations may be prescribed, but only based on individual characteristics.

6Gray

Gray blood color may be due to:

• infections - this shade may mean you have a bacterial infection. Other signs of infection include fever, pain, foul odor and itching.
• miscarriage - if you are pregnant, this color of discharge may be associated with a miscarriage.

What treatment

Treatment is also chosen privately. Self-medication is prohibited. Depending on the main diagnosis, the girl may be recommended:

• hormonal medications;
• antibiotics;
• antifungal medicine;
• surgical intervention;

Treatment is often done with antibiotics

• radiation or chemical therapy.

What kind of prevention

As a preventive measure it is recommended:

• maintain personal hygiene;
• use contraception when having sex with an untested partner;
• Healthy food;
• avoid severe stress and hypothermia, as well as excessive physical activity;
• give up bad habits;
• take any medications only in consultation with your doctor;
• Visit a gynecologist annually for preventative care.

The recommendations listed above help to avoid many problems that lead to disturbances in the cycle and nature of discharge.

Source: https://roddom4ufa.ru/blog/tsvet-mesyachnykh-norme-foto/

Scarlet discharge - scarlet blood during menstruation (reasons)

The individual characteristics of the female body have a huge impact on the course of menstruation. For example, it has been observed that women with low hemoglobin levels have menstrual discharge that is lighter in color and has low viscosity. Therefore, red blood during menstruation may not always be a sign of a problem. Very often, scarlet spotting is a consequence of taking hormonal contraceptive pills, other means of hormonal contraception, such as an IUD (intrauterine device), hormonal patch and others. Information about why pink vaginal discharge appears and the causes of pink discharge may also be useful.

Scarlet blood during menstruation is often observed in adolescents during the formation of the menstrual cycle, as well as in women during menopause. Another reason that causes the appearance of scarlet blood during menstruation is hypomenorrhea, accompanied by rare and scanty discharge.

Brown color

This color would be normal for teenage girls. The reasons for brown periods in a woman of reproductive age can be either pathological or completely innocent.

The latter include:

• inappropriate hormonal contraception;
• following a strict diet and sudden weight changes;
• breastfeeding period;
• depressive states;
• hard physical work, excessive sports training.

But you should not ignore brown discharge, especially if it is accompanied by abdominal pain, itching and burning in the genitals, an unpleasant smell of discharge and other signs of trouble - the reason may not be so harmless:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• inflammatory process in the pelvic organs as a consequence of abortion or inflammation of the appendages;
• sexually transmitted diseases, in particular syphilis and gonorrhea;
• complications after genital surgery;
• disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.

Is scarlet blood normal or pathological? What to do if scarlet blood appears during menstruation?

Scarlet blood during menstruation does not always signal health problems. For example, at the beginning of the cycle, the presence of red discharge with a sour odor is quite acceptable. You should be wary if scarlet blood does not disappear by the middle of the cycle or appears at the end of menstruation, and its smell is similar to the smell of vascular blood. In this case, we are talking not so much about menstruation, but about bleeding, which may indicate the presence of serious health problems. Therefore, if there is any suspicious discharge, you should immediately consult a doctor. So, if scarlet blood or bright red discharge began in the middle of the cycle, or bright red bloody discharge appeared after the end of the menstrual cycle, then these are reasons to make an appointment with a gynecologist. If scarlet blood and pink discharge appeared before the onset of menstruation, then useful information on this issue can be found in the article: causes of pink discharge before menstruation.

Scarlet blood and clots during menstruation, reasons, what to do?

If during menstruation a woman experiences scarlet blood, if the vaginal discharge is bright scarlet in color and along with it there are blood clots, clots of scarlet discharge, then this may indicate the process of endometrial rejection, which in turn occurs due to the process of non-fertilization at the right time. Very often this process is accompanied by heavy bleeding from the vagina, clots of scarlet blood and other unpleasant symptoms often appear. To understand whether scarlet blood clots are dangerous and what they can mean, it is enough to know that scarlet blood clots during menstruation can be considered normal only if a woman experiences heavy vaginal discharge during menstruation. The reasons for the appearance of scarlet blood clots during menstruation may be the use of a hormonal IUD or intrauterine device as the main method of contraception. But when using an intrauterine device, the clots are usually burgundy in color, not scarlet. Black or burgundy clots during menstruation may also indicate the development of certain gynecological problems.

Could there be pregnancy?

Symptoms of pregnancy often appear even before a missed period. Some women, especially first-time mothers, may not even be aware of the changes occurring in the body.

Sometimes this happens during pregnancy.

At the expected date of menstruation, scanty dark-colored discharge may appear. This symptom is implantation bleeding and indicates the attachment of the fertilized egg to the walls of the uterus.

A woman may think that a hormonal imbalance has occurred and her periods have changed, but in fact, successful fertilization has occurred and in 9-10 months the girl will become a mother.

Early pregnancy is also accompanied by the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• weakness;
• change in gastronomic preferences;
• disturbance of sleep and stool;
• weight gain;
• fast fatiguability;
• irritability;
• mood variability.

If you suspect pregnancy, you should take a pregnancy test. You also need to donate blood for hCG or undergo ultrasound diagnostics.

Causes of scarlet blood during menstruation

Women often wonder why bright red discharge and scarlet blood appeared during menstruation. The reasons for the appearance of scarlet discharge are very diverse. So, the reasons for the appearance of scarlet blood during menstruation may be a simple hormonal imbalance or be a consequence of the use of a hormonal IUD (intrauterine device) as the main method of contraception. The reasons for the appearance of scarlet blood during menstruation may also be due to the appearance of an infection that is transmitted through sexual contact. Other reasons for the appearance of symptoms such as bright scarlet blood during menstruation (menstruation) are the appearance of a tumor in the uterus, the appearance of pregnancy in which pathologies can be observed, be the result of a recent abortion, or be symptoms of recently performed gynecological operations. Also, scarlet blood instead of menstruation is often a consequence of taking hormonal birth control pills. You can learn more about why scarlet blood appeared instead of menstruation while taking hormonal OCs at an appointment with your gynecologist. Considering that scarlet discharge can indicate many serious health problems, it is recommended to make an appointment with a specialist with such a problem.

It is especially important to consult a doctor if scarlet discharge appears along with mucus clots, if there is scarlet discharge and an unpleasant odor, if the discharge is accompanied by blood clots.

Taking into account all the above described reasons for the failure of menstruation, we can conclude that scarlet blood discharge during menstruation (menstruation) is most often the result of problems such as:

1 sexually transmitted diseases;

2 hormonal imbalances;

3 postoperative complications;

4 oncological diseases;

5 termination of pregnancy;

6 pathologies of fetal development in the womb;

7 individual intolerance to means of protection against unwanted pregnancy (intrauterine device, OK)

Timely treatment of the disease, when a woman first notices changes in her menstrual cycle, if menstruation lasts too long or if menstruation fails due to the appearance of scarlet blood from the vagina, scarlet discharge, is the key to health and longevity. That is why, if there are any changes in the menstrual cycle (color, smell, volume, intensity of discharge), you should immediately contact a specialist. You can read about dangerous and non-dangerous reasons for the appearance of discharge before menstruation in the article: what discharge before menstruation can be considered normal.

Characteristics of the symptom

Brown discharge at the beginning or end of the regulation is considered as a variant of the norm. In the first days of menstruation and at the final stage, a brownish tint to the discharge means that there is little blood in the secretion. When it is released from the uterus, it combines with the local environment, oxidizes, coagulates, and at the exit has this color. Such discharge can be light, dark brown, burgundy, in the form of dark clots or daubs.

Spotting

Instead of menstruation, it occurs due to physiological changes in the body or the development of pathological processes. This symptom is most often indicated by:

• hormonal fluctuations;
• age-related changes (juvenile bleeding or menopause);
• taking hormonal medications;
• pregnancy (normal and pathological);
• recovery in the postpartum period;
• the presence of anomalies in the structure of the genital organs;
• diseases of the reproductive system;
• endocrinological diseases;
• metabolic disorders and weakening of the protective function (immunity);
• the presence of emotional stress, stress;
• following a strict diet;
• improper lifestyle;
• rehabilitation after abortion or surgery.

Find out in the article at the link about the nature of discharge after an abortion. And also follow the link to find out why pink discharge may occur instead of menstruation.

What diseases can cause scarlet discharge during menstruation?

The main types of pathologies during menstruation:

Some of the common types of diseases that can contribute to the appearance of such a symptom as scarlet blood during menstruation are infectious diseases of the reproductive system, endometriosis, artificial termination of pregnancy by one of the possible methods (abortion, especially in the early stages of pregnancy), miscarriage, fibroids uterus, polyps in the uterus, ingrowth of the intrauterine hormonal device into the cervix, cancer. The causes of scarlet discharge can be found out only after a comprehensive diagnosis of the existing symptoms by a specialist doctor.

How does endometrial hyperplasia manifest?

One of the reasons that is considered abnormal in the occurrence of brown periods is endometrial hyperplasia, a pathogenic growth of the endometrial layer associated with hormonal imbalance. The thickness of the endometrium significantly exceeds the normal level.

If the thickness of the endometrium increases, then endometrial hyperplasia begins

Endometrial hyperplasia occurs for the following reasons:

• endocrine diseases leading to changes in hormonal levels, such as ovarian dysfunction or hypofunction, hypo- or hyperthyroidism;
• metabolic disorders, such as carbohydrate, fat, etc.;
• fibroids;
• abortions, medical curettages, etc.

One of the symptoms of endometrial hyperplasia is brown blood during menstruation. The disease often leads to an increase in the production of testosterone by the body, which ultimately affects the body with increased hairiness, a masculine figure, and secondary infertility. Foci of inflammation form in the organs of the reproductive system.