Period blood can range from light pink to black in colour, and it's completely normal. The only time you should be concerned is if you notice pink discharge in between your periods, or period blood clots larger than a 10p coin.
Pink or brown discharge or spotting before a period may be an early sign of pregnancy. Not every pregnant person will experience this symptom, but some do. This discharge is caused by implantation bleeding that can happen when the fertilized egg burrows into the uterus lining.
Pregnancy-specific symptoms
While your breasts may feel tender during PMS, they can be tender during the early stages of pregnancy as well. “You may also be pretty fatigued,” Giles added. “The key difference between the two, however, is that with pregnancy, your period doesn't occur.”
Black period blood points to the presence of something stuck inside the vagina. If you notice black blood, it can be due to foreign objects like a tampon, or contraceptive devices lodged in the vagina. “This can be problematic for the vagina and cause infection.
Miscarriage: When you are having a miscarriage, you can have many different kinds of vaginal bleeding including black discharge. However, you may also have some black discharge with a normal pregnancy.
Black blood may suggest implantation bleeding, which can happen as a sign of conception. So, if you notice black spotting and haven't had a period, you may want to consider taking a pregnancy test. You may also notice black blood during your regular menstrual cycle, usually at the beginning or end of your period.
In most cases, black discharge is a normal part of the menstrual cycle. However, black discharge can also be a sign of certain medical complications such as hormone imbalance, STIs, and (in rare cases) cervical cancer.
Spotting is light bleeding that can occur between periods. It usually appears as a small amount of blood when wiping or on underwear. Possible causes include birth control, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
Darkened blood color is often observed in critically ill patients generally because of decreased oxygen saturation, but little is known about the other factors responsible for the color intensity. In addition, quantitative blood color examination has not been performed yet.
Darker blood is usually seen with heavy bleeding. Conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis can cause the uterine lining to be thicker before shedding (4, 8). This can make the blood look a purplish color (1, 4). Blood may look black if it sat in the uterus or vagina for a while.
Orange, Gray, or Green Period Blood Colors
It can occur when a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall. This takes place between about 10 and 14 days after conception. However, orange, gray, or green tinges to your period blood or vaginal discharge are often a sign of infection, such as: Trichomoniasis.
Your cycle should last 26-32 days - anywhere in between is fine as long as it is regular and consistent for you. Your bleed should be the color of cranberry juice from start to finish, with no clots. A nice, strong, flow that isn't inconveniently heavy and has you running to the bathroom every hour.
High stress levels are associated with: Painful periods. Presence of premenstrual symptoms like nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, and weight changes. Irregular menstrual cycles, with longer or shorter cycles than normal.
You may experience spotting instead of a period for a number of reasons, including pregnancy, menopause, ovulation, stress, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Other medical conditions, trauma, smoking, and taking birth control pills can also cause spotting.
Menstrual blood leaves the body much more slowly than rapidly flowing urine. That's why the pads you use to manage your period will likely not be able to quickly absorb enough for incontinence needs. In addition, some people find a period pad will bulk up on them (talk about uncomfortable!)
Polycystic ovary syndrome can cause dark discharge due of the presence of uterine blood.
Endometriosis blood clots may appear as dark or bright red clumps or blobs in menstrual flow. The clots can vary in size and texture, ranging from small and grainy to larger and more jelly-like in consistency.
If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period. They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.
You might be having an early miscarriage if: you're bleeding from your vagina. you've cramps in your lower abdomen – these can feel like bad period pains. there's fluid or tissue coming from your vagina.