The second day she smears brown instead of menstruation. Brown spotting during menstruation or instead of menstruation and its causes. The main factors causing the appearance

If menstruation occurs but does not begin, this is often a consequence of a hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body.

The reasons for the failure are various:

Physiological– puberty in adolescents, ovulation, pregnancy, lactation, onset of menopause.
Pathological– endometriosis, cervical erosion, trauma to the vaginal mucosa, ectopic pregnancy, inflammatory and infectious diseases.

Other factors that can cause spotting brown discharge:

taking hormonal contraception;
surgical interventions;
weight changes;
violation of the regime, unhealthy diet, stress.

In girls during puberty, the menstrual cycle is irregular. Failures are observed during the first two years after. This is a normal situation, since menstrual function is developing, hormonal levels are constantly changing.

Spotting instead of menstruation two years after its onset is a reason to consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

Ovulation

These days, the follicle ruptures and a mature egg is released from it, ready for fertilization. The process may be accompanied by slight brown discharge.

Injury to the mucosa

Occurs as a result of rough sexual contact, the use of simulators and other devices.

Mechanical damage to the mucous membrane leads to bleeding from the vagina.

Endometriosis

Cervical erosion

Characterized by the formation of ulcers on the organ. Tissue damage causes scanty smear.

Discharge occurs in a calm state, as well as after sexual intercourse.

Tumors

Hormonal contraception

Taking contraceptives reduces the functioning of the ovaries. The supply of hormones from the outside changes the process of their synthesis in the body. An altered balance of estrogen and progesterone affects the pattern of menstruation.

Spotting within 2-3 cycles after starting to take the pills is a reason to consult a doctor. It is necessary to change the dosage or select a different drug.

Similar symptoms are caused by an installed intrauterine device. One of its side effects is scanty spotting of a light brown color.

Ectopic pregnancy

Characterized by an abnormal location of the embryo. When the embryo does not reach the uterine cavity and is attached in an uncharacteristic place for it - for example, in the fallopian tube or cervix.

Pathology can cause spotting brown discharge. Diagnosed using ultrasound. Requires surgical intervention.

Inflammation and infections

Inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs occur as a result of hypothermia and poor hygiene. Adnexitis and endometritis affect the appendages and uterine cavity, causing uncharacteristic discharge - spotting, scanty, which lasts up to 2 weeks.

Infectious diseases are the result of unprotected sexual intercourse with an untested partner. Associated symptoms:

pain in the lower abdomen;
burning and itching in the perineum;
brown or other colored vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor.

Attention!Diseases transmitted through sexual intercourse include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, syphilis, gonorrhea and others.

Surgical interventions

Spotting instead of menstruation may be a consequence of surgical manipulations:

artificial termination of pregnancy;
diagnostic curettage of the uterine cavity;
removal of polyps, fibroids, cysts;
performing laparoscopy.

It is important that in the postoperative period the discharge is odorless and does not cause pain against the background of elevated body temperature. Otherwise, you should immediately contact the clinic.

Weight change

Sharp changes in body weight, up or down, always affect the menstrual cycle. Why are there incomplete periods? There is a dysfunction of the hypothalamus and changes in hormonal levels.

As a result, a woman’s periods begin to smear, but do not come fully. The situation is dangerous due to the complete disappearance of menstruation and loss of reproductive function.

Obesity and strict diets with rapid weight loss should be avoided. Nutrition should be balanced.

Other factors

Other causes of cycle irregularities, scanty or inconsistent menstruation:

stressful conditions, depression;
bad habits;
poor nutrition;
insufficient sleep;
violation of metabolic processes;
climate change.

All these factors negatively affect the health of girls and women. For good health, you need a balanced diet, frequent walks, moderate physical activity, adherence to a sleep schedule, and giving up bad habits.

In the video about the reasons

How to treat?

In case of spotting, instead of menstruation, the doctor prescribes an examination.

The choice of therapy depends on the established diagnosis:

Bleeding during pregnancy is eliminated with drugs that reduce uterine hypertonicity.
For endometriosis, hormonal medications are prescribed. In advanced forms, curettage of the uterine cavity is indicated.
When menopause occurs, hormonal and herbal medicines help normalize the cycle, which at the same time eliminate the severe manifestations of menopause.
For tumor formations, treatment is conservative or surgical. Depends on the type of education.
Spotting while taking birth control pills either goes away on its own after 2-3 months as a result of the body’s adaptation, or requires dose adjustment.

The basis of treatment is identifying the causes of spotting and eliminating it. In case of such failures, you must go to the clinic, undergo an examination and follow all the doctor’s recommendations.

A single menstrual cycle disorder can be restored independently. In some cases, proper rest, proper nutrition, moderate physical activity, and giving up bad habits help.

Vaginal discharge is a normal phenomenon that occurs in every healthy woman. This process helps cleanse the genital tract of dead epithelium, blood, mucus and pathogenic microorganisms.

Depending on the phase of the cycle and the hormones dominant during it, the discharge may differ in quantity and color - bloody, light and dark brown, white, red and dark, almost black. Many women become worried when they find strange stains on their underwear or pads, but in some cases there is no reason to worry. For example, light discharge before menstruation may be physiological in nature and is not a sign of pathology.

In what cases does discharge from the genital tract appear?

Spotting discharge can appear in a number of cases, some of which indicate a disease and only a few of which are normal.

These reasons include:

Discharge due to changes in hormonal levels (young age, premenopause, endocrine disorders, pregnancy);

Infectious diseases of the female genital tract (trichomoniasis, chlamydia);

Diseases of the internal organs of the reproductive system (adenomyosis, endometriosis, ovarian cyst);

Oncological pathologies (ovarian cancer, cervical cancer);

Taking hormonal contraceptives.

If spotting discharge from the vagina appears (during breaks or between menstruation), you must definitely contact a gynecologist for an examination and diagnosis of your own condition. If a pathology is detected, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment to promote recovery and eliminate unpleasant symptoms, including discharge from the genital tract.

Is the appearance of spotting instead of menstruation related to a woman’s age?

Gynecological specialists consider light brown spotting in young teenage girls to be a normal phenomenon. During the formation of childbearing function, a regular menstrual cycle has not yet been established, a number of changes occur in the body of a young girl. The usual hormonal levels also change. Thus, light brown and pinkish scanty discharge that occurs during the expected period is a normal natural state.

In women over the age of 40, brown vaginal discharge may accompany the premenopausal period and indicate the natural process of the ovaries.

How does hormonal background affect the nature of discharge from the genital tract?

During the menstrual cycle, the levels of the main hormones estrogen and progesterone change several times in a woman’s body. In this regard, during ovulation, representatives of the fair sex may experience spotting dark brown discharge, which is cervical mucus.

Unusual discharge in women who are sexually active and do not use contraceptives may be due to:

Early pregnancy;

Ectopic pregnancy;

Threatened abortion.

In the early stages of pregnancy, light brown or pinkish discharge occasionally occurs. 15 days after conception, many women develop “implantation bleeding.” It is accompanied by spotting light red discharge from the genital tract. With an ectopic pregnancy, a bloody “spot” is observed, which occurs instead of menstruation and is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen.

If scanty discharge appears during pregnancy, the doctor may suspect a lack of the main hormone - progesterone, which is necessary for the normal course of pregnancy. This condition can lead to spontaneous abortion.

That is why, if bloody discharge appears during a diagnosed intrauterine pregnancy, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor for examination and selection of hormonal therapy.

Can hormonal birth control cause spotting?

Combined oral contraceptives, containing estrogen and progesterone, affect a woman’s natural hormonal balance, thereby interfering with her ability to conceive a child. If the drug is not suitable or there is an individual reaction of the body to it, brown spotting may occur instead of the expected menstruation.

This situation is a variant of the norm only at the beginning of using hormonal drugs. If this condition occurs repeatedly, you should consult a gynecologist for diagnosis and selection of appropriate medications.

What infectious pathologies lead to brown discharge instead of menstruation?

Very often, the first symptom of genital tract infections is unusual spotting, which can occur instead of menstruation or independently of the cycle. The most common discharge is whitish, brown and black, which may be accompanied by other symptoms of the inflammatory process:

Cutting or aching pain in the lower abdomen;

Itching of the vagina, labia;

The appearance of an unpleasant odor (sourish, fishy);

Temperature increase;

Skin rash.

If these unpleasant symptoms appear, you should consult a gynecologist or dermatovenerologist for diagnosis and treatment. To determine the cause of the disease, the doctor may prescribe a general blood test, a smear for flora, a bacteriological examination and a blood test for antibodies to the most common microorganisms that cause STIs.

What dangerous diseases of the genital tract can be accompanied by spotting instead of menstruation?

A gynecological disease such as endometriosis is widespread among the fair sex. This disease is practically not accompanied by pain or discomfort. The leading symptom to suspect it is discharge, the nature of which depends on the stage of the process.

1. At the onset of the disease, pathological discharge accompanies normal menstrual bleeding or occurs instead of it. The discharge is thick, dark red or black.

2. If the bladder or intestines are involved in the pathological process, unpleasant spotting may accompany defecation or urination.

3. In the future, instead of menstruation and regardless of the cycle, contact, spotting, and bloody discharge may appear.

4. If the lymphatic vessels of the pelvic organs are damaged, spotting, bloody or watery discharge with an unpleasant, pungent odor may occur.

If you suspect endometriosis, you should not delay visiting your doctor. Treatment of this disease is possible at any stage, however, the sooner the correct therapy is started, the faster the recovery and regression of unpleasant symptoms will occur.

The most serious disease that is accompanied by dark brown spotting discharge from the vagina is cervical cancer. This common oncological pathology, in addition, is manifested by unmotivated weakness, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, and pain in the pelvic area. If alarming symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a gynecologist for a cytological examination.

What else can lead to the appearance of spotting discharge from the genital tract?

A number of factors or a combination of them can lead to the occurrence of unusual discharge and spotting instead of the expected menstruation. The most common ones include:

Changes in body weight (sharp weight loss or weight gain), which is accompanied by changes in normal hormonal levels;

Vitamin deficiency, lack of nutrients (proteins, fats) in the diet;

Disruption of the endocrine glands (thyroid pathologies, diabetes);

Psycho-emotional and excessive physical stress;

Previous surgical operations on the pelvic organs;

The use of radiation and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer.

Either one or a combination of the above factors can lead to disruption of the menstrual cycle and the appearance of brown or black spotting instead of menstruation.

What to do if spotting appears?

If unusual spotting appears instead of menstruation or discharge that does not depend on the menstrual cycle, do not panic and self-medicate. It is necessary to contact a specialist to examine and identify the cause of this condition.

To diagnose the appearance of spotting, gynecologists use the following basic methods:

Blood test for hCG (if pregnancy is suspected);

Flora smear, bacteriological examination;

Analysis for atypical cells;

Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;

Colposcopy.

In some cases, spotting instead of menstruation occurs for physiological reasons and does not require special treatment. If diseases are detected, hormonal, antibacterial or combination therapy may be needed.

How can the condition be improved?

The following methods will help alleviate the general condition and reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms when treating diseases accompanied by the appearance of unusual vaginal discharge:

Wearing underwear made from natural fabrics (cotton);

Compliance with the rules of personal and intimate hygiene;

Change pads and tampons regularly, and do not use scented hygiene products;

At the time of treatment, you must avoid swimming in open water, visiting public pools, and saunas.

Spotting brown discharge instead of menstruation can occur for a number of reasons. To exclude the development of dangerous diseases and begin timely treatment, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor if these unpleasant symptoms occur.

04.12.2017 Olga Smirnova (gynecologist, State Medical University, 2010)

Not every woman can boast of a stable menstrual cycle, but a slight delay of a few days does not always mean pregnancy or severe hormonal imbalance. When brown discharge occurs instead of menstruation, it is important to pay attention to its characteristics and accompanying symptoms, which we will discuss in this article.

Characteristics of the norm

When the discharge is brown in color for up to three days, there is no reason to worry. For many women, spotting begins shortly before menstruation, gradually acquiring the features of natural bleeding characteristic of the regulation.

Pathology should not be suspected if the following characteristics of secretion occur:

homogeneous consistency (small clots);
reddish or brown tint;
insignificant volume (daily days are enough);
absence of itching and burning;
no unpleasant odor;
occurs a few days before menstruation;
Not every cycle is noted.

The main factor in the appearance of brown discharge with blood instead of menstruation is a hormonal imbalance. It can be provoked by the woman herself. Certain conditions can affect the functioning of the reproductive system.

Effect of drugs

Not only hormonal therapy or birth control pills provoke abnormal secretion at the very beginning of the cycle. Spotting instead of menstruation may result from taking the following medications:

Antibiotics. The medications themselves do not directly affect female hormonal levels. But the failure occurs due to the impact on the vagina. After prolonged use of antibiotics, beneficial microflora suffers, which can affect the functioning of the uterus and ovaries. Hence it is insignificant. The main reason is the delayed maturation of the egg.
Antiulcer drugs. In most situations, the stability of monthly bleeding is affected. Often provoke a change in the duration of the cycle, as well as a delay against the background of brownish marks on the daily.
Hemostatic agents. Doctors prescribe these medications for heavy monthly bleeding. But violation of the dose or non-compliance with instructions often causes pseudomenstruation, and sometimes a complete absence of menstruation.
Antidepressants. The drugs reduce the intensity of menstruation. With a significant duration of the course of treatment, a situation arises when there is brown discharge for three days, but there is still no period. With antidepressants, a delay of up to three to four days is allowed.

Women who take diuretics, psychotropic, and anabolic (steroid) drugs are also at risk.

Wrong lifestyle

Loss of monthly menstruation may occur due to:

smoking;
drinking alcohol;
drug addiction;
long-term intoxication;
labor in hazardous production;
great physical activity.

At first there may be a slight delay, but with a loss of strength and immunity, spotting during the expected menstruation cannot be ruled out. The problem can only be solved by completely giving up bad habits, changing jobs and starting a healthy lifestyle.

Abrupt climate change

A banal move can provoke abnormal blood secretion. Most often, women suffer from this after a long flight to another climate zone. You should go to the hospital if pseudomenstruation lasts for more than a week, and their general health worsens.

Poor food

Such a load on the body in the form of a lack of necessary microelements in most cases provokes a delay of several days. With a sharp decrease or increase in weight, periods sometimes disappear completely. Failure for 2-3 days with scanty brownish secretion indicates that there is not enough iron in the body. Its deficiency causes dark blood color.

Stress and overexertion

Great physical exertion and nervous shock provoke problems in the functioning of the central nervous system, which is responsible for the course of the entire monthly cycle. The problem manifests itself individually. Some women suffer from heavy brown discharge instead of their scheduled periods, while others experience no menstrual bleeding at all.

Against the background of physiological factors, the appearance of brown discharge instead of menstruation in a week is allowed only if there is no pain or discomfort. It is extremely important to see a doctor if you do not have menstruation in the second month.

Age-related changes

The appearance of scanty brown discharge instead of menstruation is often associated with puberty or the decline of the reproductive system (menopause):

Teenage feature

During puberty, the monthly cycle is just beginning to stabilize, so ovulation does not occur all the time. Because of this, menstruation is absent, and instead the girl notices minor ones. Can be observed along the same lines. This situation is the norm exclusively in the first 12 months after menarche.

Climax

Around the age of 40, women gradually lose their ability to bear children. The functions of the ovaries fade away, provoking spotting secretion, which has nothing to do with menstruation. Premenopause does not have a strict time frame, so its appearance is possible earlier – at 35 years of age.

Girls and women who, in addition to unusual secretion, suffer from pain in the lower abdomen, discomfort in the genitals and other unpleasant symptoms need to undergo diagnostics.

Probability of pregnancy

It is also necessary to consider the appearance of brown discharge instead of menstruation as a sign of pregnancy. Therefore, if, first you need to do a test or check your blood for hCG. And then look for other possible reasons.

When fertilization occurs, a spotting character may appear, a brown, dark shade if delayed. Conception can only occur during ovulation, but it must be taken into account that sperm remain active in the vagina for up to 7 days.

You can assume early pregnancy if you have brown discharge instead of menstruation and a slight ache in the lower abdomen or pain in the mammary glands.

With two stripes on the test, it is necessary to evaluate the duration and volume of secretion. In a normal situation, the brown spot should disappear on the third or fourth day if the woman is pregnant. A duration of more than a week indicates an acute lack of progesterone, and a real threat of miscarriage is indicated by a scanty bloody secretion within 10-14 days.

If such a symptom is present, it is very important to get tested for hCG and rule out ectopic pregnancy.

Some patients may experience more than just aching pain in the lower abdomen. Sometimes the chest hurts and there is brown discharge, which indicates negative processes in the womb.

After childbirth

Postpartum recovery occurs differently in patients, but it cannot happen too quickly. If you are not breastfeeding, your period may appear after several cycles. And before this period, the appearance of brown-red discharge instead of menstruation is quite acceptable.

After childbirth during lactation, there may be no monthly bleeding even for a year. This is how the body protects a woman from pregnancy so that she can fully feed the child. The reproductive system sometimes produces insufficient quantities when the baby gradually switches to complementary foods and lactation decreases.

Hormonal drugs and contraceptives

Modern contraceptives contain hormones. Therefore, the female body needs some time to get used to new conditions. Dark brown,may be characterized by an adaptation period, which lasts several months.
If blood continues to be released for more than three months, you need to visit your gynecologist.

A strangely long-lasting secretion with blood clots and a delay can be caused by:

lack of hormone dose;
violation of instructions;
skipping a pill;
excess dose;
drug intolerance;
presence of bad habits or diseases.

Most often observed in women are hormonal ones, Postinora or Agesta. These are popular emergency contraceptive drugs. The girl begins to suspect pregnancy, but conception does not occur. The cycle should be restored, but for this it is necessary to avoid taking such pills again for several months.

The intrauterine device also requires the body to get used to it. But sometimes it causes pathological secretion due to:

incorrect installation;
peeling of the product;
introduction of infection.

Therefore, this type of birth control requires medical supervision. It is highly undesirable to buy medications on your own.

After operations

In most cases, unclear blood secretions and delayed menstrual bleeding are typical for patients who have undergone surgery on the following organs:

uterus;
ovary;
Cervix;
fallopian tubes.

It may also be accompanied by the release of a small amount of blood:

abortion or incomplete miscarriage;
laparoscopy for ectopic pregnancy.

volume of surgical intervention;
duration of the procedure;
proximity of the intervention area to the reproductive organs;
patient's age;
presence of complications;
general health;
recovery rate.

Surgeries that do not affect the main female genital organs (abdominal cavity) can affect the reproductive system. You should expect your period after surgery when recovery and healing are complete.

Signs of pathology

Sometimes the delay occurs due to serious hormonal imbalances and the development of gynecological diseases. It is worth highlighting the following reasons for brown spotting instead of regular menstruation:

inflammation of the pelvic organs;
infection;
neoplasms (benign and not);
ectopic pregnancy;
spontaneous abortion;
other negative processes.

Symptoms that indicate pathology:

soreness in the lower abdomen;
increased body temperature;
redness of the external genitalia;
discomfort during sexual intercourse;
long delay (from 10 days);
absence of menstruation for two months or more.

Content

Every woman has vaginal discharge, and this is absolutely normal. The inner surface of the genital organs is constantly cleared of dead epithelium, mucus, and blood. Brown discharge instead of menstruation may be physiological. But sometimes they are a sign of a serious illness. Read more about in what cases there is no need to worry, and when it is necessary to sound the alarm, later in the article.

Is brown discharge considered period?

Brown discharge can be considered menstruation only if it appears in a young girl. In girls of adolescence, with the onset of menstruation, active restructuring of the body occurs. It takes a certain amount of time to form a normal menstrual cycle.

Brown discharge in young girls is completely normal. Women with an already formed menstrual cycle should have red bloody discharge.

Attention! Spotting in girls of childbearing age cannot be considered normal menstruation.

Why do I get brown discharge instead of my period?

There are many reasons for the occurrence of scanty brown discharge instead of menstruation. But their development is based on one mechanism - an imbalance of sex hormones in the body.

Normally, the onset of menstruation occurs with a sharp drop in progesterone in the blood. It stimulates the rejection of the inner layer of the endometrium of the uterus, and bleeding begins. Estrogen levels gradually increase with the onset of menstruation. This hormone promotes the maturation of follicles in the ovary until the middle of the cycle. In the second half, progesterone is activated again, affecting the maturation of the inner layer of the uterus. If normal periods do not begin, but spotting is observed, it means that something in the body is disturbing the hormonal balance.

The condition of the reproductive system organs also plays a large role in the normal menstrual cycle. Pathological processes in them cause brown discharge.

Most often, spotting instead of menstruation is observed when:

premenopausal period due to age-related changes;
pregnancy and postpartum period;
taking oral contraceptives;
use of barrier intrauterine contraceptives (spirals, diaphragms);
sudden weight loss or, conversely, weight gain;
severe stress;
physical fatigue;
diseases of the reproductive system.

Positive test for spotting instead of menstruation

A positive test with spotting instead of menstruation is a sign of pregnancy. Minor, painless discharge of a light brown or pinkish-reddish color should not cause concern. About two weeks after conception, implantation bleeding occurs. This indicates that the fertilized egg has attached, that is, implanted, to the wall of the uterus.

But the dark brown daub should worry the expectant mother. Especially if they are accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen. This indicates a lack of progesterone in the body. The most formidable complication is the threat of termination of pregnancy.

Spotting with a positive test also occurs with an ectopic pregnancy. This is a serious pathology. The diagnosis must be made as early as possible. The fallopian tube may rupture, which has serious consequences.

Important! The appearance of brown discharge during pregnancy should be taken seriously and be sure to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist!

Negative test for spotting instead of menstruation

The appearance of brown discharge with a negative test often does not imply a serious pathology. An unpleasant symptom can develop due to severe stress, sudden changes in body weight, physical overload, or taking oral contraceptives.

But a condition where there is no menstruation, but there is spotting with a negative test, may be a sign of hormonal imbalance or organic pathology of the reproductive system. Infectious inflammatory diseases of the body, cervix, and vagina lead to the appearance of spotting instead of normal menstruation.

Causes of brown discharge instead of menstruation

The appearance of brown discharge during a missed period most often indicates the onset of pregnancy. In second place in frequency is the use of oral contraceptives. In third place are infections of the reproductive system.

We should also not forget about such a reason as endometriosis. This disease is characterized by the growth of the endometrium of the uterus outside its cavity, where it should be normal.

Another reason is an ovarian cyst. This is a cavity in an organ that interferes with its normal functioning.

Its color will help you suspect what exactly caused the secretion to appear.

Light brown discharge instead of menstruation

Brown discharge on the day of your expected period is a more favorable sign than the appearance of a dark secretion. They indicate the development of:

mild inflammatory process in the uterus or its appendages due to hypothermia, colds;
initial stages of pregnancy;
inflammation of the vagina (atrophic vaginitis), which is also manifested by itching of the genitals and an unpleasant odor.

The cause may also be incorrectly selected birth control pills. If a light brown secretion appears while taking them, it is better to change the drug after consultation with a gynecologist.

Dark brown discharge instead of menstruation

Dark discharge instead of menstruation develops with serious organic pathologies of the uterus and its appendages (fallopian tubes, ovaries). They are a symptom of ectopic pregnancy and the threat of miscarriage. Dark brown spotting also appears when the intrauterine device is poorly placed.

The most dangerous disease, which is accompanied by the appearance of bloody secretions from the vagina, is cervical cancer. This is a malignant tumor caused by oncogenic strains of the human papilloma virus.

When to see a doctor

If any unusual symptoms occur during or instead of menstruation, including brown secretions, do not panic. It is best to play it safe and consult a specialist. This is especially true for copious, dark discharge. Regardless of whether they are accompanied by pain or not.

Brown discharge on the first day of menstruation

Brown discharge during menstruation is considered normal in the early stages of pregnancy or the postpartum period. In other cases, the appearance of scanty secretions on the first day of menstruation indicates that little blood is being produced inside the uterine cavity. Before it goes outside, it oxidizes and turns brown.

Another reason is structural anomalies of the reproductive system organs. In this case, the blood cannot completely come out, and some of it remains in the uterine cavity. Structural anomalies are a surgical pathology. But sometimes even surgical intervention is not able to correct the defect. Then the uterus has to be removed.

Inflammatory diseases are another cause of dark discharge on the first day of menstruation.

Has been smearing brown for three days, but no period

Endometriosis is a common cause of brown spotting a few days before and after menstruation. The secretion has an unpleasant odor. With endometriosis, the patient also complains of severe pain in the lower abdomen, nausea, flatulence, and constipation. A longer delay of menstruation is also possible - a week or more.

I've been smearing it with brown for a week instead of my period.

If brown discharge occurs instead of menstruation for a long time (a week or more), you should definitely consult a gynecologist. If the test is positive, this symptom indicates an ectopic pregnancy or the onset of a miscarriage. If the test is negative, serious inflammations or neoplasms (polyps, condylomas, tumors) should be excluded.

The second month instead of menstruation is a daub

The most unfavorable symptom is brown spotting that lasts a month or more. It indicates the presence of a chronic process in the genitals. Most often, doctors diagnose uterine polyps or fibroids. More malignant processes are possible - cancer of the cervix or uterine body.

Important! For spotting that lasts more than one month, an ultrasound examination (ultrasound) is required.

Causes of spotting instead of menstruation after 40 years

After 40 years, a woman undergoes active hormonal changes. The supply of eggs in the ovaries is gradually depleted, and the concentration of estrogen in the blood decreases. This period is called premenopause.

Clinically, it is manifested by menstrual irregularities, the appearance of a brown spot without pain instead of menstruation. Subsequently, menstruation stops altogether and menopause occurs.

These changes are absolutely normal and occur in the life of every woman.

Possible complications

If diseases that cause spotting are not treated in a timely manner, serious complications may develop:

adhesions of internal organs - during an inflammatory process;
infertility – with endometriosis, infections;
excessive blood loss – with endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy;
miscarriage;
rupture of the fallopian tube - with an ectopic pregnancy.

All of these complications can be prevented. You just need to consult a doctor in time so that he can make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of spotting instead of menstruation is aimed at determining the cause of this problem. Most often, women turn to a gynecologist for help. The doctor carefully collects anamnesis and finds out the patient’s complaints. Only after a detailed conversation does he determine the advisability of additional examination methods.

The doctor must conduct a mirror examination and bimanual palpation. Thus, it is possible to assess the condition of the vaginal walls and cervix, and palpate the space-occupying formation.

General blood and urine tests, as well as biochemical analysis, will help determine the presence of an inflammatory process. In some cases, the concentration of sex hormones in the blood is determined.

Among the instrumental diagnostic methods, the most informative is transvaginal ultrasound. This method helps evaluate:

thickness of the inner layer of the uterus;
the structure of the ovaries and follicles in it;
structure of the fallopian tubes;
the presence of foci of endometriosis.

Transvaginal ultrasound allows you to diagnose pregnancy earlier than conventional ultrasound, as well as accurately determine the due date.

Conclusion

Brown discharge instead of menstruation is a serious symptom that requires additional examination by a qualified doctor. Only in teenage girls and women of menopausal age is spotting secretion normal. In all other cases, consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist is recommended!

Opinion of gynecologists

Obstetricians-gynecologists recommend that you seek advice if any unusual vaginal discharge appears. Even the most severe diseases can be cured if the correct diagnosis is made in time. You should not self-medicate, as this can only worsen the situation.

There are several reasons why menstruation occurs but does not begin. Some of them are normal, others indicate a developing pathology that requires urgent treatment. This may be due to hormonal imbalances. A woman should not self-medicate; she urgently needs to see a gynecologist.

Inflammatory diseases

Another reason for the appearance of spotting menstruation is inflammatory diseases that affect the organs of the woman’s reproductive system. The resulting inflammation disrupts their functions, which is why the nature of menstruation may change: spotting appears without bleeding. In most cases, inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive system begin due to hypothermia.

Most often, menstrual irregularities are observed in patients. This pathology is characterized by inflammation of the uterine mucosa, disruption of most of the functions of this organ. With this disease, menstruation may occur for more than two weeks, and then never come.

The inflammatory process can also occur against the background of a sexually transmitted infection entering the body. Its presence can be recognized by the appearance of the following pathological symptoms:

pain in the lower abdomen;
burning when urinating;
spread of itching in the intimate area;
the appearance of whitish, yellowish, greenish discharge with a foul odor;
feeling of discomfort during sexual intercourse.

If menstruation is anointed, but does not begin, and a woman experiences any of the listed symptoms, she should urgently consult a gynecologist. Otherwise, the developed pathology will threaten serious complications, which may result in infertility.

Obesity

With rapid weight gain or excess weight, the function of the hypothalamus is disrupted. As a result, the hormonal background changes, menstruation begins to smear, but does not begin. This process often leads to the complete disappearance of menstruation and loss of reproductive function.

It has been established that when excess body weight is reduced by 10–15%, the cycle begins to recover. In this case, at first the menstruation is smeared with a brown color, then the menstrual flow gradually becomes normal.

Taking and canceling COCs

Spotting may occur when taking birth control medications. Changing the nature of menstruation is a normal reaction of the body to oral contraception. This is due to the fact that the main effect of the medications is to prevent ovulation by reducing the amount of estrogen produced. Reduced levels of the hormone cause the endometrial layer in the uterus to not develop, which is why periods are smeared brown and do not bleed.

This reaction of the body is considered normal if spotting menstruation occurs for no more than 3 months in a row. In this case, spotting can be observed throughout the entire cycle. If this phenomenon occurs longer than the specified period, you need to consult your doctor about changing the medication.

Stopping COCs can also cause spotting. Stopping the drug leads to a gradual normalization of hormonal levels. The reproductive system recovers slowly, so instead of menstruation, spotting may occur. Most often, at the initial stage of withdrawal, the COC is applied for 3 days, and then menstruation gradually becomes standard.

Emotional experiences

The nervous system is involved in the production of hormones, regulating the function of the hypothalamus, so menstruation after stress may take longer to begin, manifesting itself as a brown spot. It has been proven that a short-term stressful state provokes an increase in menstruation, and a long-term one provokes a decrease in the volume of discharge and the duration of critical days.

If, under the influence of stress factors during menstruation, brown spotting begins, the woman should try to cope with nervous tension on her own or seek help from a specialist.

Constant stress causes hormonal imbalance, which leads to the replacement of full-fledged menstruation, and then to its complete absence, disruption of reproductive function.

Climax

Brown spotting instead of menstruation appears in women over 40 years of age. At this time, many begin perimenopause, during which normal menstruation is replaced by scanty discharge. After some time they disappear and menstruation stops.

Establishment of menstruation

In young girls, when their periods are just beginning, spotting instead of menstruation is considered normal. It occurs due to hormonal changes. Most often, there is no ovulation in the cycle, which is why scanty discharge appears.

However, such periods can be considered normal if they last no more than 1 year after menarche. If the brown spot is observed for a longer period of time, the girl needs to see a doctor, as this may signal the development of pathologies.

The girl's tactics in this situation

If it smears and you haven’t had your period for a long time, you should immediately consult a doctor to diagnose the problem. The most commonly used methods for this are:

blood analysis;
conducting a test for hCG;
measurement of basal temperature;
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
thyroid examination.

Depending on the accompanying symptoms, other diagnostic methods may be prescribed; in some cases, consultations with specialists of a different profile are necessary.

You should consult a doctor if your periods are smeared with brown for a short time, but the situation repeats every cycle.

In both cases, the gynecologist will diagnose the cause of such a disorder and prescribe appropriate therapy, taking into account the factor that caused the problem, as well as the individual characteristics of the girl’s body. In order not to worsen the condition, you must fully comply with all the specialist’s recommendations and do not self-medicate.