Why is my period blood brown or dark?

Bottom lineBrown or dark period blood is usually normal and just means the blood is older and oxidized, common at the start or end of a period, with light spotting, or in the morning; see a doctor if brown discharge has a foul odor, comes with itching or pain, is frequent and unexplained between periods, occurs after menopause, or appears in pregnancy with cramping.

Brown or dark period blood is almost always normal. The color simply means the blood is older and has had time to oxidize before leaving the body.

When brown blood is normal

• At the start of your period, as flow is just beginning
• At the end of your period, as flow slows and older blood clears
• Light spotting between periods or around ovulation
• First thing in the morning, when blood has pooled overnight

When to pay attention

• Brown discharge with a foul or fishy odor (possible infection)
• Itching, burning, or pain alongside it
• Brown spotting that is frequent or unexplained between periods
• Any bleeding after menopause
• Brown spotting in pregnancy with cramping

What to do

Note when in your cycle it happens. Brown at the very start or end of your period is expected. Unexplained, smelly, or post-menopausal brown discharge should be checked.

For color specifics, see what does period blood color mean, and track spotting with Femora.

Femora helps you log spotting and color so you can tell routine from unusual.