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Have you ever noticed a dark vaginal discharge?
Your first instinct may be to think something is wrong, but black discharge isn’t always a cause for concern. Sometimes it’s a natural occurrence as your body changes throughout your menstrual cycle. The most common cause of black vaginal discharge is oxidation of blood. When blood gets exposed to oxygen, it turns from bright red to brown, or even black.
Other times, dark brown or black vaginal discharge can signal an underlying issue. These can include forgotten objects, infections, a miscarriage, or rarely even cervical cancer.
Let’s take a deeper look into the common reasons why you might have black vaginal discharge and when you should seek medical attention.
Key takeaways
- Black discharge may simply be blood that’s been exposed to oxygen. When blood is exposed to air, it can change from bright red to dark.
- Black discharge can be normal if it’s at the beginning or end of a period.
- If you experience black discharge with other symptoms like a foul odor, pain, or fever, it is abnormal. The discharge may be a signal there’s an underlying issue that requires medical attention.
- The causes of black discharge besides your period are: forgotten objects, STIs, PID, implantation bleeding, missed miscarriage, and cervical cancer.
- It’s important to practice good genital hygiene to reduce your chances of infection.
What does black discharge mean?
When we think about period blood, we think about it being a vibrant red. But when that blood is exposed to oxygen, it can oxidize and darken, turning into brown or even black period blood. The longer the period blood is exposed to air, the darker it becomes.
So, black discharge is simply oxidized blood that has taken longer to leave the body.
Is black discharge normal?
Whether your dark discharge is normal depends on the timing and other symptoms that may come with it.
It’s normal if
- It happens at the beginning of your period. Usually, your menstrual cycle starts with bright red period blood. That’s because your inner uterine lining is being shed quickly. But, if the flow is slow, the blood can oxidize before leaving your body. This makes dark brown discharge or potentially even black period blood.
- It happens at the end of your period. As menstruation nears its end, your period blood flow again slows down naturally. This gives it more time to oxidize, which can result in black-period blood.
It’s abnormal if
- It happens at other times beyond the beginning or end of your period. If you notice black discharge at an irregular time or it’s accompanied by other symptoms, see a doctor.
Maintain a symptom tracker to stay on top of any unusual symptoms you might be experiencing. You can also log your discharge symptoms on the Inito app (which is free!). This way you can see when dark discharge occurs in your cycle and share it with your doctor.
What are other common causes of black discharge?
In addition to black period blood, there are other reasons you may have black discharge.
1. Forgotten objects
Have you ever had an experience or close call with a forgotten object in your body? You’re not alone. And sometimes, dark brown or black discharge serves as your reminder.
Here are the symptoms associated with foreign objects or ones that are stuck in the vagina:
- Foul-smelling discharge
- Vaginal itching or
- discomfort
- Vaginal rash
- Fever
It’s important to note that something can’t get “lost” in your vagina. The cervical opening is too small to lose an item. But, something can get stuck and stay there, leading to irritation and infection.
One of the most common forgotten objects is a tampon. If your period is light, it can be easy to forget you’ve got a tampon in. But, leaving it stuck in the vagina for too long may lead to infection and, in rare cases, toxic shock syndrome (TSS). This happens to about 0.8 – 3.4 women per 100,000 in the U.S.
TSS symptoms to look out for include
- Fever
- Sunburn-like rash
- Low blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
Other items that may get stuck or forgotten in the vagina are sex toys or barrier contraceptive devices (diaphragm, female condom, cap, and sponges). When left inside the vagina, these can also cause irritation.
If you think you may have something stuck in your vagina, seek medical attention ASAP.
2. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea cause inflammation, pain, and abnormal discharge, including black discharge.
STIs can be accompanied by other symptoms like:
- Foul odor discharge
- Vaginal bleeding during or after sex
- Vaginal itching or irritation
- Lower abdominal pain
Antibiotics are a must for STIs. If left untreated, STIs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Know more: What Does Green Vaginal Discharge Indicate?
3. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs which involves the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
Pelvic inflammatory disease can lead you to experience a range of symptoms like:
- Pelvic pain
- Fever
- Abnormal vaginal discharge, including brown discharge or black discharge
If you think you have PID, seek medical attention. Your doctor can diagnose you with a physical exam and blood tests looking for specific organisms.
This is not an infection you want to leave untreated. If you have PID and don’t treat it, you can develop fertility issues. These include pain during sex, abscesses, fallopian tube scarring, and ectopic pregnancy.
Know more: Trying to Conceive? Warning— It May Be Hard to Get Pregnant in 2024
4. Implantation bleeding
When a fertilized egg gets implanted into the uterine lining, it can lead to light vaginal bleeding or spotting. This is called implantation bleeding.
Not everyone experiences this. Research shows it happens in 15-25% of pregnancies.
But if you do, the blood may take time to exit the body and, thus, may appear to be dark brown or black.
Know more: Implantation Bleeding vs. Periods: What Does Implantation Bleeding Look Like?
5. Missed miscarriage
Not all miscarriages are obvious. Some of them happen without any noticeable symptoms. And these are referred to as “missed miscarriages.”
In the case of this type of early miscarriage, the embryo stops growing and the heartbeat stops. It typically happens between weeks five and 12 of pregnancy. This makes it difficult to notice any warning signs because you haven’t visibly miscarried.
Most women who have a silent miscarriage don’t show any signs. But some women may experience:
- Brown or black
- discharge
- Mild cramping
- A drop in pregnancy symptoms (like breast tenderness)
- Anxiety
- An unexplainable feeling that something is wrong
Know more: Silent Loss: Causes and Treatment of Missed Miscarriage
6. Lochia
The term lochia refers to the vaginal discharge that happens after childbirth. And it can last anywhere from four to six weeks.
Lochia can range in color from bright red to dark brown to black. When the blood flow is slow, it will be a darker brown or even black blood. But, as time goes on, the lochia color should shift to a yellowish-white discharge until it disappears entirely.
7. Cervical cancer
Though rare, it is possible that black blood could mean cervical cancer. About 0.0076% of women will develop cervical cancer each year.
Other symptoms you may experience in the stages of cervical cancer include:
- Bleeding during or after sex
- Bleeding between periods
- Pain when urinating or defecating
- Discharge with a foul smell
- Pelvic pain
When to see a doctor for black discharge
Whether you should seek medical advice for your black blood depends on the underlying cause.
If the black blood is around your time of menstrual bleeding or if it’s related to pregnancy, chances are it will go away on its own.
But if you have other symptoms accompanying your dark discharge, then it’s best to seek medical advice.
These include symptoms like:
- Foul-smelling discharge
- Vaginal itching or irritation
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Fever
- Pain during sex
- Changes in menstrual cycle
Your doctor will help diagnose the causes of black discharge and put you on the correct treatment plan.
How to treat black discharge?
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment protocol for black blood. It varies depending on the root cause.
Here’s a table for reference.
Reason | Treatment |
Foreign object | Remove object + antibiotics |
STI | Antibiotics |
PID | Antibiotics; may require surgery |
Missed miscarriage | Surgical evacuation |
Cervical cancer | Chemo, radiation, or surgery for advanced stages |
Tips for vaginal health
Vaginal health is incredibly important, whether you have black discharge or not.
Here are the best ways to practice hygiene for this essential part of your body.
- Wear cotton underwear. Cotton allows for better airflow and reduces the risk of infection. Silk, lace, and satin may trap heat and moisture, creating the ideal environment for bacteria.
- Wash the genital area properly. Use mild, unscented soap that won’t disrupt the vagina’s delicate pH.
- Do not douche. Douching is the process of using water and/or other solutions to clean the inside of the vagina. Studies show doing this is harmful. Douching can rid your body of good bacteria and lead to infection. In addition to that, researchers have found that douching can lead to PID, bacterial vaginosis (BV), HIV infections, and even pregnancy complications (preterm birth, low birth weight, and ectopic pregnancy).
- Avoid perfumed soaps, lotions, etc. in your vaginal area. Anything with a scent can upset the vaginal pH balance.
- Use condoms. Condoms can help prevent STIs.
- Keep track of tampons and other objects in your vagina. Periodically remove tampons and check to make sure you haven’t forgotten any sex objects or other contraceptive devices inside your vagina.
While black discharge can be a normal experience, it’s important to pay attention to the other signals from your body. If you’re experiencing any symptoms aside from the dark discharge, see a doctor.
FAQs
It’s normal to have black period blood at the beginning or end of a period. This color of blood means it’s taking longer to exit your vagina. Don’t worry — it’s your body’s natural way of cleansing. Only worry if you have other symptoms along with your black period blood.
If your menstrual blood smells, first check that you don’t have a tampon or other forgotten item stuck in your vagina.
Then, you want to make sure that you’re practicing good vaginal hygiene. This includes washing your genital area with mild and unscented soap, avoiding douching, and wearing cotton underwear.
If the smell still persists, go to the doctor to make sure there aren’t any issues.
Yes, it’s possible that brown discharge could actually be implantation bleeding. This brown or pinkish discharge usually happens a few days before your expected period and lasts for a few hours to 1-2 days.
But the only way to tell whether you’re pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test.
Read more: Implantation Bleeding Vs. Periods: How to Distinguish?
The management and treatment of black discharge depends on what caused it. If the black discharge happens around the time of your menstrual bleeding, it will most likely go away on its own.
But, if it comes at a different time in your cycle and is accompanied by other symptoms, you want to seek treatment with your doctor.
The diagnosis of black discharge is visual. If it’s around the time of menstruation, it’s likely black period blood that will go away on its own. If it’s due to other conditions like an STI or a forgotten object, you’ll have other symptoms. Consult your doctor to know the underlying cause.
Seek medical attention If you experience black discharge with symptoms such as:
- Foul-smelling discharge
- Vaginal pain or discomfort
- Cramping and/or pain
- Fever
It’s also a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have black discharge outside of your menstrual bleeding.
Was this article helpful?
- Toxic Shock Syndrome | NIH
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) | ACOG
- Bleeding During Pregnancy | ACOG
- A Swedish study of midwives’ and nurses’ experiences when women are diagnosed with a missed miscarriage during a routine ultrasound scan | ScienceDirect
- Cancer Stat Facts: Cervical Cancer | NIH
- Vaginal Douching: Evidence for Risks or Benefits to Women’s Health | PubMed Central
- Vaginal Douching | JOGNN
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