Periods can be heavy or light, come early or late. But kya aap jaante hai ki period blood can be of as many as 7 different shades? Why does that happen and what does each colour mean? We’ll dive deep into those questions in this article.
As you’re already familiar with, period blood is nothing but the broken uterine layer. Every month your body prepares itself for pregnancy by supplying nutrients and blood to the uterus lining. When fertilisation does not occur, this lining breaks down resulting in your period.
Why Does Your Period Blood Vary In Colour?
Period blood comes in a variety of colours, each of which speak volumes about your health.
Your uterus sheds its lining when you have your period. Menstrual blood moves from the uterus through the cervix and out into the vaginal canal. The colour of your blood may fluctuate throughout your period, ranging from deep red to black and brown and a few other shades. Period blood comes in a variety of colours, each of which speak volumes about your health.
It’s normal if you’ve observed varied colours in your period blood. The colour change is usually related to how long the blood has been in the uterus. The length of time blood stays in your uterus depends on your flow. On your heaviest days, you may notice brilliant red blood and on your lightest days, brown blood.
Certain colours, on the other hand, can indicate medical concern, and you should consult your doctor. Make an appointment to be checked out if you see a colour that is grey or other strange shades. Additionally, any bleeding during pregnancy should be reported to your doctor.
Here’s how to figure out what the 7 period blood colours might say about your heath.
7 Different Period Colours & Their Meaning
1. Black Period Blood
Black blood might show up during the beginning or end of your period.
Black blood might show up during the beginning or end of your period. The colour usually indicates that the blood is old and has taken a long time to exit the uterus. While it was inside, it had time to oxidise, turning brown or dark red first, then eventually black.
Another reason could be a blockage inside your vaginal canal. This can cause black blood. Other signs and symptoms of a vaginal obstruction include:
- Discharge with an unpleasant odour.
- Fever
- Urination problems
- Irritation or swelling in the vaginal area
2. Brown Period Blood
This is more common in younger girls who are just starting to have periods, women who use birth control, and women who are approaching menopause.
Towards the end of your cycle, brown blood is common. The blood is generally red when your body sheds the uterine lining in the first few days of your cycle. However, the blood that is released at the end of your cycle is older and may be dark coloured.
Spotting or brown discharge can occur at any point during your period, including during ovulation. This is more common in younger girls who are just starting to have periods, women who use birth control, and women who are approaching menopause. If you’re bleeding between periods, consult a doctor or nurse practitioner to make sure it’s not a sign of something more serious.
If you’re pregnant and have brown-colored blood, call your doctor immediately away. This could indicate a problem with your pregnancy. You may require immediate medical attention.
Read: 10 Symptoms Your Period Is About To Start (& Yeh Kyun Hote Hai?)
3. Dark Red Period Blood
When you wake up during your period or after resting down for a long time, you may notice dark red blood.
When you wake up during your period or after resting down for a long time, you may notice dark red blood. The dark tint could just indicate that the blood has been sitting in the uterus for some time but hasn’t oxidised enough to turn brown.
However, the following health conditions has also been linked to dark red blood:
Lochia
The bleeding after giving birth is heavy at first and may contain clots. For the first three days, it may appear dark red before turning to diverse colours and textures. Women who have undergone caesarean section may only have significant bleeding for the first 24 hours after the procedure.
End Of Period
You may also notice this shade of colour toward the end of your menstrual period as your flow slows down.
4. Bright Red Period Blood
It’s possible that your period will begin with bright crimson blood. This indicates that the blood is new and flowing freely. Your blood may remain this colour throughout your period or darken as your flow diminishes.
The colour red is also linked to:
Infection
Some diseases, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can cause periods to be missed. If you’re spotting blood before your period is supposed to start, talk to your doctor.
Pregnancy
Bleeding of any colour during pregnancy may or may not be cause for concern. However, it might also be an indication of miscarriage. It’s best to consult your doctor if you notice blood while pregnant.
Read: 9 Period Products By Indian Brands You Didn’t Know You Needed
5. Pink Period Blood
Your blood may seem pink at the start or conclusion of your period especially if you’re spotting. This lighter colour means that blood has combined with your cervical fluid, diluting the colour.
The colour pink is also linked to:
Low Oestrogen
Pink period blood can sometimes suggest a lack of oestrogen in the body. Oestrogen helps to keep the uterine lining in place. You may shed the lining at different periods throughout your cycle if you don’t have this hormone, resulting in spotting of various hues, including pink. Low oestrogen can be caused by being on an oestrogen-free hormonal birth control pill or perimenopause.
Mid-Cycle Spotting
This colour may appear around the time of ovulation. When blood from your uterus mixes with clear cervical fluid, the colour may appear pale red or pink
6. Orange Period Blood
Some women report seeing orange or pink spots 10 to 14 days after conception, or around the time of suspected implantation.
Some women report seeing orange or pink spots 10 to 14 days after conception, or around the time of suspected implantation. Implantation spotting isn’t experienced by all women, and it can come in a variety of colours. It’s a good idea to take a pregnancy test if you have spotting that doesn’t convert into a period.
Any discharge that is unnaturally pigmented or odd could indicate these medical conditions
- Bacterial infection
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
7. Grey Period Blood
This colour would suggest the presence of an infection, such as bacterial vaginosis.
It’s time to consult your doctor if you notice a grey or off-white discharge. This colour would suggest the presence of an infection, such as bacterial vaginosis. Other infection symptoms include:
- Fever
- Itchiness
- Bad odour
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