What color of your menstrual blood reveals your condition and when to see a doctor

When your period comes, it’s usually accompanied by a number of not-so-funny things, like cramps, bloating, fatigue, and food cravings.

But there is a silver lining to what is usually the worst time of the month; your period can give you very important information about your health.

For example, irregular periods can be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal imbalances, or thyroid problems, while a missed period can lead to a pregnancy test being required.

Another part of your period that can tell you about your overall health is the color of your blood.

It is normal for menstrual blood to change from day to day during your period, but it is always important to keep an eye out for any unusual changes.

Here’s everything you need to know about what the color of your menstrual blood reveals about your health.

bright red menstrual blood

Although bright red blood can be scary to watch, there’s no need to be alarmed.

Bright red blood is just fresh blood which indicates a steady flow.

You will usually get bright red blood early in your period on the days you have the heaviest flow because that’s when the blood is new.

brown blood

Brown blood is quite common during periods and is usually just a sign of old blood that has lost its red color because it has oxidized.

Brown blood can leak early in the cycle as there may be traces of blood from the last cycle. It usually also happens towards the end of the cycle.

Women who have an IUD are more likely to have brown blood during their period because they lose less uterine lining each month, so it takes a lot longer.

Brown blood can also be an early sign of pregnancy, so if you have other signs of pregnancy, you may want to get tested or see your doctor.

black menstrual blood

You may be alarmed to see dark blood on your period, but don’t panic.

Black blood, like brown blood, is just old blood that has taken longer to get out of the womb.

Sometimes dark blood can be a sign of vaginal obstruction. Other symptoms of this include:

• Difficulty urinating
• Fever
• Itching or swelling around the vagina
• smelly discharge

You should speak to your doctor if you think you have vaginal blockage.

pink blood

Pink blood can appear at the beginning or end of your period when you may have a lighter flow.

The lighter shade of the blood usually occurs because the blood has mixed with the cervical fluid.

It’s normal to have pink blood, but if you have it at different times in your period, it could be a sign of low estrogen levels.

Other signs of low estrogen levels include:

• Flushes
• Weight loss
• Insomnia
• mood swings

If you think you are suffering from low estrogen levels, you should see your doctor.

menstrual blood orange

Like pink blood, orange blood can occur during your period due to blood mixing with cervical fluid.

However, orange blood can also be a sign of infection, such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis.

If you have orange blood, you should look for other signs of these infections.

Orange blood doesn’t always mean you have an infection, but it might be a good idea to see your doctor just in case.

gray discharge

Gray discharge can often be a sign of bacterial vaginosis, which is a condition that occurs due to an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the vagina.

Another symptom of bacterial vaginosis is a fish-smelling discharge.

Bacterial vaginosis is usually treated with antibiotics, if you have symptoms you should see your doctor or gynecologist.

blood clots

Blood clots can be part of the cycle and are usually nothing to worry about.

Blood clots are usually just small fragments of the lining of the uterus and are an integral part of the cycle.

However, large blood clots could be an indicator that something is wrong.

If clots larger than an inch in diameter occur, you should see a doctor.

Women who have very heavy periods can have large clots and these can be a sign of hypothyroidism, uterine fibroids, symptomatic anemia, or menorrhagia.