Period Blood- 3 Different types, colors & Meaning

Normal Period Blood Color

The period blood may differ in colour, sometimes from bright red to crimson to brown or black. This variation in period blood colour is normal and completely depends on the flow of the blood, i.e., how fast it is leaving the uterus and how old it is.

The bright red or crimson colour is normal during the initial few days of your menstrual cycle, when the flow is heavy. The uterine lining that is freshly shed contains plenty of oxygen, which gives it a brighter shade of red. As days pass, the blood flow lightens, and the blood can then become crimson or brown. Since this is older blood, it has had time to oxidize and lose its oxygen.

The darker shade of blood towards the end of your period is just older blood. This brown or black colour of the blood is not an important cause of concern, until it has a foul, fishy odour. 

Old Period Blood 

The crimson or brown/black colour of the blood during your period is simply because of the longer time taken by the blood to exit the body. Blood in the body grows older as it takes time to flow through the reproductive system and then to the vagina to exit. The older the blood, the darker the colour as compared to that of the bright, fresh blood. 

The blood flow during periods is not always the same, which impacts how quickly the blood is exiting the body. Lighter flows allow the blood to stay inside the uterus and vagina for a longer time. By the time this blood leaves the body, it has become older and had time to oxidize and change it’s colour. This is the main reason for seeing darker period blood colours. 

The uterus size, flow speed, and cervix opening size are the factors in an individual that are responsible for the time taken by the blood to exit the body. Hence, the crimson or dark brown blood towards the end of your period is very normal. The blood has had to wait longer to age before being shed. As long as it is not accompanied by other indications like pain or heavy bleeding, there is no cause for concern. 

Light Flow Period Blood

When the blood flow is light, you often see pink or light red blood flowing. This happens because the blood has less time to oxidize before leaving the body. Due to oxidation, the blood turns from bright red to dark brown or black. If the blood flow is light, the blood does not stay in the uterus for long enough to oxidize. Therefore, it has a pinkish or bright red colour.

At the beginning and end of your periods, a smooth flow of fresh, unoxidized blood is seen. This can even happen if you naturally possess a light flow. An individual should not worry if pink or light red discharge is seen during the period. 

Birth Control Effects on Period Blood 

Several birth control techniques can also impact the colour and flow of period blood. Lighter and shorter periods are also caused by the hormones in birth control pills, patches, shots, and IUDs. The progesterone hormone released is used to thin the uterine lining, so there is less tissue to shed each month. This causes a lighter red or brown colour flow. But if you suddenly experience lighter bleeding after starting hormonal birth control, it is necessary that you inform your doctor. It potentially indicates an issue like abnormal bleeding. 

Although a light pink or brown shade is very common while using the hormonal birth control technique, the synthetic hormones help prevent ovulation and alter the build-up and uterine line shedding. The amount of discharge and the colour are much decreased in comparison to a natural menstrual cycle. Additionally, hormonal imbalance treatment is quite effective.

Period Blood during Ovulation

During ovulation, which occurs roughly two weeks before your period, this release may pick up some blood and appear pinkish. The variation in the release of the colour of the blood is because of the small drop in estrogen exactly before ovulation, which causes a little bit of bleeding. 

The blood during the time of ovulation is mostly light pink or crimson in colour. Only a liner or light tampon is required, as the flow is quite light. This ovulation bleeding mostly lasts for a day or two. Bleeding during ovulation only signifies that your body is functioning properly. 

Period Blood during Infection

Yellow or green hues may indicate infection. This happens when bacteria get into the uterus and mix with menstrual blood. The most common causes of yellow or green period blood from infection are:

The yellow and green complexions are indications of infection. This usually happens when bacteria enter the uterus and get mixed with the menstrual blood. The common causes of yellow and green tinges in period blood from infection are:

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV): The overexcess of bacteria in the vagina and uterus often causes a yellow-green discharge in between the periods. But this can also cause discoloured or colourless period blood. 
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): PID is an infection that is caused in the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. It is generally caused by STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. PID can also make the period blood look yellow or green.
• Cervicitis: Cervicitis is an inflammation of the cervix that usually occurs due to a sexually transmitted infection. It might cause yellow-green discretion and spotting between periods or during the time of menstruation.  

Visit a medical professional if your period blood looks green or yellow, particularly if you have other indications like pain or abnormal discharge. Antibiotics may be required to fight these infections. To help reduce infections that can cause white or colourless menstrual blood, getting regular STI testing and practicing safe sex are necessary. 

Endometriosis

When the endometrial tissue that usually lines the uterus grows outside of the uterus, endometriosis takes place. The growth of the tissue on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures. When an individual has endometriosis, the tissue breaks down and bleeds during each menstrual cycle, yet it has no other route to exit the body. The blood that is to be released gets stuck and can cause inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue.

The endometriosis blood is usually darker in colour and can persist right through the menstrual period rather than just at the beginning or end. The brown or black blood is the older blood that has taken longer to exit the uterus through the vagina. 

The consistent occurrence of dark or brown blood during the menstrual cycle can be a sign of endometriosis. However, the only way to treat endometriosis, for instance, is through laparoscopic surgery. If you experience dark brown bleeding frequently and pelvic pain during your period, it is a good idea to consult your doctor and get examined for possible endometriosis. 

Polyps or Fibroids

Women might go through the development of non-cancerous growths in the uterus called polyps or fibroids. Small, bulb-like growths attached to the inner wall of the uterus by a thin stalk are known as polyps, while fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus. Polyps and fibroids are both common, affecting up to 30–40% of women. 

Polyps and fibroids are both growths that don’t cause symptoms. In spite of that, some women with polyps or fibroids might experience heavy bleeding and blood clots during their period. This heavy bleeding is caused by the growths near the lining of the uterus, interrupting usual blood flow at the time of menstruation. As the blood flows rapidly over the growths of polyps or fibroids, it has no time to turn black before being sheared. Hence, the blood appears bright red and not crimson or brown. 

If a woman continuously experiences heavy, bright red period blood, it is necessary to take advice from a doctor. A sonography or ultrasound can detect polyps and fibroids. Small polyps can be removed with minimal procedures, whereas fibroids might require surgery. Medicating polyps and fibroids can help decrease heavy menstrual bleeding and symptoms. 

Menstruation blood colour can differ from bright red to dark brown or black. The usual colour range is because of the breakdown of blood cells and tissues as they leave the body during periods. Bright red blood is a sign of fresh blood flow. The oxidation and blood turning dark red or brown are due to the trapping of blood in the uterus and vagina. The light flow of blood appears more brown; hence, the blood moves slowly. 

Menstrual flow can be reduced through hormonal birth control. Lesser tissue evacuation and light periods are a consequence of the hormones’ thinning of the lining of the uterus. Since it is older blood, ovulation bleeding in the middle of the cycle tends to be a light pink or brown. 

An inherent medical condition might be detected by unusual periods of menstruation. Fibroids or polyps might be recognized by bright red, abundant bleeding, or clots. A bacterial or yeast infection is indicated by an awful fishy odour through a green or dark discharge. 

Consult your doctor if you experience heavy bleeding, severe cramps, or abnormal discretion to rule out any serious complications.