Think of your period like a rainbow. While period blood doesn't include the full spectrum of the sun, it's perfectly normal to have varying shades of red during menstruation.
Period blood can be bright red, dark brown, or even black, and most of the time, it’s perfectly normal. The color of your period can tell you how fast your flow is moving and how long the blood has been exposed to oxygen. Here’s what each shade of period blood means and when to check in with your doctor.
Why period blood changes color
Your period blood can change color from cycle to cycle, and even within the same cycle. A change in hue is usually a sign of how quickly the blood is leaving the uterus, so don't panic if you notice a lot of brown right before or during your period.
Dr. Navya Mysore, a primary care physician and director at One Medical, says the change in period blood is usually due to contact with the air and oxygen: Change in the color of your period blood is totally normal,” she says. “The color change happens because of contact with air and oxygen that's coming through your cervix. At the beginning of your period, the surface of your endometrial lining starts to shed. When it sheds, it can look dark in color and almost black. As your lining continues to shed at a quicker pace, there is less time for it to be in contact with oxygen and the color will be lighter and closer to a brighter red color.”
Sometimes, you may even notice period blood that’s pink, orange, or even gray in color. Since everybody is different, knowing what’s normal for your body can help you differentiate between a typical period and one that indicates something is wrong. Here's a rundown of what you need to know about the different colors that show up during your cycle.
Pink period blood
At the beginning of your period, a light flow might mix with cervical fluid and come out pink. However, the pale shade could also be a sign of low estrogen levels associated with certain hormonal birth control or perimenopause.
Estrogen is the hormone responsible for maintaining the integrity of your uterine lining. Low estrogen means a less sturdy lining, which can shed outside of your menstrual cycle, leading to light, pink-colored spotting. While the most common causes of low estrogen are perimenopause and menopause, hormonal birth control can also affect your estrogen levels.
Pink blood can also indicate an iron deficiency. Your blood gets its signature red color from iron. When it’s running low on stock, your blood may become lighter and pinkish. "If your period has suddenly become incredibly light, kind of pale, and much less concentrated, it's possible you're anemic," says Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a gynecologist in Westchester County, New York.
If you’re in between periods and notice lighter, pinkish blood in your underwear, it might be a sign of ovulation spotting, which is fairly common. If you’re pregnant, you may also see some pink discharge. While it isn’t always a cause for concern, it’s best to keep your doctor updated.
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Bright red period blood
Blood that is fresh and flowing quickly is bright red. It just means the blood doesn’t have much time to oxidize, owing to its speed. Bright red blood is most common during the heaviest days of your period.
If you’re pregnant and see a lot of bleeding that’s bright red in color, consult a doctor immediately, as this could be a sign of a miscarriage.
Dark red period blood
If your period wakes you up in the middle of the night, or after an afternoon nap, the pooling blood might turn a darker shade of red. This is because, while you were lying down, most of the blood could not flow out of your uterus and into your pad, tampon, menstrual cup, or whatever period care product you use. Since it stayed inside for longer, it had more time to oxidize and turn darker before gushing out.
You may also notice dark red blood at the beginning or very end of your period. During these times, the flow is slow, so your blood spends more time inside your uterus before slowly making its way out.
Dark red blood could also indicate postpartum bleeding and perimenopause.
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Brown period blood
Brown blood often shows up at the beginning or end of a period when your flow isn't at full speed. Without a vigorous push, the blood hangs around in the uterus for longer, and "the iron in the hemoglobin molecules in the blood begin to break down," writes Dr. Lissa Rankin, a gynecologist and author of What's Up Down There?
Basically, the blood starts to rust. It might look less than fresh, but it's perfectly healthy.
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Black Period Blood:
If blood takes a lot longer than usual to leave the uterus, it can turn black for the same reason it turns brown. When the uterine lining is done actively sloughing off, sluggish, old blood stays in the body longer and can come out much darker and thicker than what you see at the beginning of the cycle " think a paste of coffee grinds.
"It's just flowing much more slowly and it has time to oxidize and change color," says Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a gynecologist in Westchester County, New York.
Some other less likely causes of black blood include an infection (such as an STI or an inflammatory disease), a foreign object stuck in your vagina (like a sex toy, tampon, or menstrual disc), endometriosis, or a missed miscarriage that has not flushed out of your uterus yet. If the bleeding is accompanied by foul odour, pain, itching, or burning, consult your doctor to have it checked out.
Orange, gray, or green discharge
Like pink period blood, you might bleed orange if your blood mixes with your cervical fluid. Implantation spotting (i.e. spotting that happens as soon as the fertilized egg attaches itself to your uterine lining) can also be orange. But these are only two of the causes of orange period blood.
Typically, orange, gray, or green discharge indicates an infection. It could either be bacterial, such as bacterial vaginosis, or sexually transmitted, such as gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, or chlamydia. Look out for other signs, such as a fishy odor, pain, or burning or itching sensations around your vagina, and get medical help.
Sometimes, gray discharge can also signal a miscarriage, especially if there are blood clots and tissue, and you’re also experiencing abdominal cramping.
When to worry and see a doctor
Brown discharge that happens outside of your period, and accompanies a fever or pain, can be a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease " an infection of the cervix and uterus, or a sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea or chlamydia. Those with polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal imbalance, might see some brown spotting. And though it is typically normal, black period blood could also indicate a blockage in your vagina. If you experience this color alongside other factors of irritation like fever or itching, you should call your doctor.
Orange, grey, or green discharge, especially if you're not expecting your period, can be a sign of an infection like bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis " an STI caused by a parasite. In rare cases, brown or pale discharge with a foul odor can be a sign of cervical cancer. And if you're pregnant and notice light pink, brown, or bright-red bleeding or spotting, head to a doctor. While 20-30 percent of pregnant people experience some bleeding, discharge could be a sign of a miscarriage.
But if you're not pregnant and notice a change in your menstrual cycle that lasts for more than a few cycles "whether it's in color, flow, or frequency" you might want to check in with your gynecologist. Otherwise, menstrual blood that varies in color isn't a reason for concern.
"Women know their cycles and if something is off, they know about it," says Dr. Dweck. "We're our best gauge as to what's normal."
If your period has burdened you with leaks and underwear stains, check out our tips for getting period blood stains out of underwear.
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FAQs
What color period blood is healthiest?
Healthy period blood can range from shades of red to brown, pink, black, and even orange. While there isn’t anything such as the “healthiest” period blood color, all of these shades are completely normal, so seeing varying hues isn’t immediately a cause for concern. If you see some gray or green discharge, though, you should consult a doctor immediately, as it typically indicates an infection.
When should I worry about the color of my period blood?
Typically, period blood or discharge that’s gray, green, or consistently orange in color is a cause for concern as it points to STIs or bacterial infections such as bacterial vaginosis. Some other signs you should keep an eye out for in addition to abnormally-colored discharge, are vaginal pain, itching, burning, and strange odors.
Is brown or black blood normal during your period?
Yes, both brown and black blood colors are normal during your period. These hues simply mean that your period blood spent more time in your uterus, giving it more time to oxidize and turn darker before being pushed out.
You’ll notice that the residual period blood you see towards the beginning and end of your cycle is often brown, while the blood that gushes out of you after a nap is often blacker in color.
Can stress or diet change period blood color?
Yes, both stress and diet habits can impact your period blood color. High stress levels can disrupt your hormones and slow your flow speed, leading to longer periods. This means blood comes out of you more slowly and stays inside for longer than usual, which can turn it black, brown, or a darker shade of red.
Diet, on the other hand, influences your blood consistency, iron levels, and hormone regulation. If your diet is causing a deficiency in your iron levels, your period might be lighter in color, leaning towards pink.
What does pink period blood mean for hormone levels?
While pink period blood can simply mean that your blood is mixing with your cervical fluid, it can also be a sign of low estrogen levels—typically seen during perimenopause and menopause, or in people using hormonal birth control.