Dark red
Old blood that has stayed in your body for a while but did not oxidize enough (was exposed to oxygen) to become completely brown.
Can mean:
-
You are at the end of your period
-
You have a postpartum discharge (called Lochia)
Care level: Usually don’t worry
Dark brown
Old blood that has been in your body for some time and had a lot of time to oxidize.
Can mean:
-
You are at the beginning or at the end of your period
-
You have a hormonal birth control
-
You are in perimenopause
-
You are pregnant and this is implantation bleeding
-
You have a postpartum discharge (called Lochia)
-
They had a “missed miscarriage” or an intake pregnancy
-
You have a state of health such as infection, fibroids or PCOs
Care level: Keep it in mind
Pink
Blood mixed with vaginal output. Can mean:
-
You are at the beginning of your period
-
You have a hormonal birth control
-
Your estrogen level is low
-
They are not in their period, but discover from ovulation or bleeding through sex
-
You have a miscarriage
Care level: Usually don’t worry
If you are not pregnant, in this case, contact your health service provider immediately
Bright red
Fresh blood that has not yet had time to be exposed to oxygen.
Can mean:
-
You are in the difficult part of your period
Care level: Usually don’t worry
Black
Very old blood that has remained in your body.
Can mean:
-
You are at the end of your period
-
You have a miscarriage
-
You have an object in your vagina
-
You may have a vaginal infection
Care level: Keep it in mind
If you believe that you are pregnant, have pregnancy symptoms or suspect that a foreign body is in your vagina, contact your health service provider immediately.
Orange
Blood mixed with vaginal output.
Can mean:
-
This may not be your period, but could be blood when unloading
-
You have an underlying infection such as bacterial vaginosis
-
You have a sexually transmitted infection
Concerns: Contact your health service provider
Gray
Blood mixed with vaginal output.
Can mean:
-
This may not be your period, but could be blood when unloading
-
You have an underlying infection such as bacterial vaginosis
-
You have a sexually transmitted infection
Concerns: Contact your health service provider
Green
Blood mixed with vaginal output.
Can mean:
-
This may not be your period, but could be blood when unloading
-
You have an underlying infection such as bacterial vaginosis
-
You have a sexually transmitted infection
Concerns: Contact your health service provider
Always contact your health service provider if you:
-
Have bleeding of all kinds during pregnancy
-
Blood or firmly between the periods
-
Bloods longer than 7 days
-
Soak more than every hour or two hours through a pad or tampon
-
Note a change in what is normal for you
-
Have pain or other symptoms in your bleeding
-
I went through the menopause and bleed any kind
-
Have gray discharge
-
Have cloaks that are larger than a quarter
-
Had not a period for 3 months or more
This educational resource was created with the support of Sumitomo Pharma, a healthy member of the company.
