is black period blood normal

Is black period blood normal?

In the event that there are no underlying health difficulties, most people begin their period (menstruation) around the age of 12 or 13. The monthly passage of tissue and blood through the vaginal opening is known as menstruation. Its duration, color, and texture can occasionally be used to determine reproductive health.

Blood from a period isn’t necessarily red, and differing blood hues might signify a variety of things. Different blood hues often don’t raise any alarm. However, sometimes, they might indicate a problem that necessitates seeing a doctor.

Menstruation

Menstruation is the term used to describe regular vaginal bleeding that takes place as part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Month by month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If a pregnancy does not progress, the uterus, also known as the womb, sheds its lining. A combination of blood and uterine tissue makes up menstrual blood.

Is the black period normal?

As indicated earlier, period blood isn’t always red in color. There are different colors and each color has its meaning and causes. Black blood can develop at either the start or the end of menstruation.

Typically, the hue indicates ancient blood or blood that took longer to leave the uterus and had time to oxidize, first turning brown or dark red and then ultimately turning black.

Black blood may occasionally be a sign of a vaginal obstruction. Foul-smelling discharge, fever, trouble urinating, itching or swelling in or around the vagina are some other signs of a vaginal obstruction.

Period blood that is dark brown or black in color can occasionally be mistaken for implantation bleeding, which denotes early conception or pregnancy. However, dark blood following implantation hemorrhage is quite uncommon.

10 to 14 days after a fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine lining, implantation hemorrhage can occur. Only a few days long, the flow is typically mild but might turn black if it exits the vagina too slowly.

Black period blood has been linked to sex-transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Aside from normal STI symptoms, the dark brown or black discharge might occasionally be seen.

Within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, miscarriage can occur. Sometimes, dark red spotting—which can be mistaken for black period blood—can be a sign of an early miscarriage. According to experts, 10% of pregnancies result in miscarriage.

There may not be any other signs of a miscarriage, such as painful bleeding or copious bleeding, besides black period blood.

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What do other period colors mean?

Brown or dark red

Brown or dark red blood, which can appear at the start or end of a period like black blood, is a symptom of aged blood. Blood that is brown or dark red can come in a variety of hues since it has not had as much time to oxidize as blood that is black.

  • Brown blood or spotting, which medical professionals refer to as implantation bleeding, can occasionally also be an early symptom of pregnancy. A miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg implants in a fallopian tube rather than the uterus, can be indicated by brown discharge or spotting during pregnancy. It’s crucial for pregnant women to consult their doctor or obstetrician if they have vaginal bleeding or spotting.
  • Postpartum bleeding, often known as lochia, refers to the dark crimson or brown vaginal discharge that develops after giving birth. Lochia is the body’s method of removing extra blood and tissue from the uterus and is not cause for alarm. Blood in lochia often starts out bright red and gradually fades to a darker color as the flow slows. The discharge will then gradually get lighter over time, both in terms of color and volume.

While lochia can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months after delivery, it often goes away within the first few months. After giving delivery, women who experience extremely excessive bleeding should see a doctor. Not every woman who gives birth experiences lochia. Due to changes in hormone levels, women may also experience irregular periods after giving birth. Not every woman who gives birth experiences lochia. Due to changes in hormone levels, women may also experience irregular periods after giving birth.

Pink

Period blood can combine with cervical fluid and cause pink blood or spotting. Hormonal birth control can lower the body’s estrogen levels, which may result in lighter, pinker-hued periods. Small tears in the vagina or cervix can develop during sexual activity. These tears contain blood that might combine with vaginal secretions and leave the body as pink discharge.

Pink discharge with tissue that appears during pregnancy and is accompanied by pains may be a sign of a miscarriage. It’s crucial that pregnant women who have vaginal bleeding visit their doctor or obstetrician.

Bright red

Bright red blood signifies a continual flow of new blood. Bright crimson bleeding at the beginning of a period may turn darker as it progresses. During some people’s periods, their blood may remain bright crimson the entire time.

A sexually transmitted illness, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, may be the cause of unusual spotting or bleeding between menstrual cycles. Additionally, abnormally copious bleeding may be brought on by polyps or fibroids, growths in the uterine lining. Bright crimson bleeding may occasionally be an indication of cervical cancer.

Orange

Orange coloration is also possible when blood and cervical fluid mix. Having orange blood or discharge frequently means you have an infection like trichomoniasis or bacterial vaginosis. Orange blood patients should look for further warning signs including vaginal itching, pain, and foul-smelling discharge.

Seeing a doctor or gynecologist for an evaluation is a good idea even if orange period blood or discharge does not always mean an infection.

Gray

A balance between helpful and harmful bacteria in the vagina causes bacterial vaginosis, which is typically indicated by gray discharge. People who exhibit bacterial vaginosis symptoms want to visit a physician or gynecologist. To treat bacterial vaginosis, doctors typically give antibiotics.

Gray discharge with clots during the later stages of pregnancy may be a sign of a miscarriage. Pregnant women who have bleeding should consult an obstetrician or doctor.

Summary

Period blood’s hue and consistency can reveal important details about a person’s general health.

Blood can alter in color and consistency both throughout a period and from month to month, but every woman’s period is unique. People must therefore discover what is typical for them.

Bright red to dark brown or black are common color ranges for healthy menstrual blood. An infection may be indicated by blood or discharge that is orange or gray in color. Pregnant women who suffer bleeding should visit a physician or obstetrician for a diagnosis.

WRITTEN AND EDITED RESPECTIVELY BY:

Michael Sarfo
Content Creator at Wapomu

Michael Sarfo is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon. He is a content creator for enochkabange.com and a writer for Wapomu

Dr. Ehoneah Obed is a registered pharmacist and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and has experience working in a Tertiary hospital as well as various community pharmacies. He is also a software engineer interested in healthcare technologies.

His love for helping others motivates him to create content on an array of topics mostly relating to the health of people and also software engineering content.

He is knowledgeable in digital marketing, content marketing, and a host of other skills that make him versatile enough to uplift any team he joins.

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