Menstrual blood: what the colors of your menstruation indicate

Almost all women of childbearing age are worried about some aspect of their menstruation: its periodicity, quantity ... and the color of the blood. Know the meaning of their different colors and when they indicate an anomaly that you should be worried about.

The period arrives punctually once a month, or not, if the woman is part of those group of women in which irregularity is a characteristic of their menstruation .

In any case, it is a cyclical situation for women, with some without hardly knowing, and others experiencing great discomfort. Therefore, it is logical that it generates some doubts regarding its periodicity or aspects related to the quantity, texture or color of the bleeding.

Most likely, the color of the blood varies as the days go by, but to give an explanation to those different shades and colors, you must first understand what the rule is and why it occurs.

The first thing to note is that during ovulation, the woman expels the unfertilized ovule from her system. The ovule is a microscopic cell that, if it is not fertilized, is undone. What is expelled is the endometrial tissue that is ready for pregnancy.

This bleeding in some women can last a couple of days and in others a week. The duration and amount of blood that the woman expels "is a hormonal issue, unless there are other pathologies, such as polyps or myomas.

In general and normal situations, menstruation blood will be present in any of these three shades. So lets take a look at what the different colors of blood during menstruation indicates.

1. Light red or pinkish
   It usually occurs in the first days of the period, when the blood loss is less. Only if this color is maintained throughout the entire menstruation should it be mentioned at the next appointment to the gynecologist and it could be as a result of hormonal dysfunction. It is also a symptom that the woman will soon experience menopause.

2. Intense red
   It is the most usual from the second or third day of the period. It is a recent blood, that is to say of the blood vessels that have just broken with the desquamation of the endometrium. It is usually an abundant bleeding, and it has a liquid consistency. However, if the bleeding lasts more than 8 days with this tone, go to the doctor, as it could be a symptom of myomas or polyps in the endometrium.

3. Dark brown
   It is usually blood that has been held in the uterus for a long time and is old, from a previous menstruation, and that the woman's body has been slow to expel. It is because the blood, when it passes some time, acquires that brownish color. Normally it occurs when staining is scarce, although it can have a fluid consistency. However, if it has some yellowish hue or unpleasant smell then it is indicative of an infection.

Colors that can alert of a problem
It is also possible that certain situations or abnormalities alter the normal tonality of menstrual blood, for example:

1. Pale and whitish rose
   If the woman observes that her menstruation is very watery and of a very light color - especially if she uses a menstrual cup, perhaps it may be due to a strong iron-deficiency anemia . In any case it is advisable to go to your doctor in case it is necessary to take an iron supplement .

2. Small spots of light color
   If it happens a few days before the period has to come and the woman is trying to become a mother, it may be a first sign of pregnancy and is due to what is known as implantation bleeding or false rule, which occurs when the fertilized egg , after crossing the fallopian tubes, it reaches the endometrium and is implanted in it, causing the rupture of vessels. It can also be a sign of a hormonal imbalance, clear it with your doctor.

3. Orange or yellowish red
   The vaginal secretions during menstruation in orange or yellowish color can be a sign of an infection. If it also has a strong smell of "fish" it is best to go to the doctor as soon as possible.

4. Grayish secretions
   If there are spots of grayish color with red threads, maybe you were pregnant and you are suffering a spontaneous abortion , so it is vital to go to the gynecologist. But if there is no pregnancy, the secretions of this color can be indicative of sexually transmitted diseases.

5. Clots
   It is very common for the woman to perceive that she expels clots. In principle, there is no need to worry especially if they occur sporadically in the first days of the rule. But if they are very numerous, it can be a symptom of some hormonal alteration, or the formation of fibroids or endometrial polyps. In this case, it is advisable to consult with your gynecologist.

6. Lumps
   If lumps with a fibrous texture are perceived, it is endometrial tissue, since, as we have said, the inner layer of the uterus is expelled during menstruation.