Dark menstruation: watch out for these signs!

Dark menstruation  can be a sign of hormonal changes, uterine problems , stress or sexually transmitted diseases , for example, when a woman starts taking the birth control pill for the first time, changes pills or uses the morning-after pill, menstruation too it may get darker or like coffee grounds, returning to normal in the next cycle.

Also, the color of menstruation blood tends to be darker (dark red or brown) in the first and last days, being bright red in the middle of menstruation. Each woman can have a different color of bleeding , especially those who use some type of hormonal contraceptive. This is normal and nothing to worry about.

The duration of menstruation can vary between 3 to 7 days depending on the woman, her menstrual cycle and the use of hormonal contraceptive methods. During menstruation, the color of the blood  can vary from brown, dark red to bright red, and when the flow is heavy, clots can be present.

It is important for a woman to observe her body to understand how her menstrual cycle works and what its characteristics are. In case of doubt, she can look for the gynecologist, family doctor or general practitioner.

Does morning after pill cause dark period?

Yes! The morning after pill (PDS) is often equivalent to a full pack of contraceptives. So there is a significant increase in hormones in the body. When this hormone has a sudden drop, dark menstruation can come and all this related to PDS. Therefore, the morning after pill should be taken into account when these bleeding spots occur.

It is more than normal for bleeding to occur at unexpected times after using the morning after pill. The morning after pill is a good emergency method, but it is not 100% effective. Even with dark menstruation , if menstruation does not come as expected, a doctor should be consulted to better guide and investigate the pregnancy .

Causes of dark menstruation:

In most cases, dark  and low-flow menstruation does not pose any kind of problem for a woman’s health. However, it can be caused by some diseases or be related to the use of medicines.

The most common cases are uterine problems or may be related to blood clotting disorders, hormonal changes, sexually transmitted diseases or even cancer. In addition, it is important to take care of your health and look for a gynecologist to assess the situation in case of menstrual abnormalities.

Symptoms of Dark Menstruation:

Dark menstruation is characterized by little blood  loss and very dark coloring, with a “coffee grounds” appearance. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not menstruation itself.

It is caused by some inappropriate hormonal stimulation that affects the endometrium and causes the endometrium to shed the wrong way. The time it takes for scaling to accumulate in the vaginal canal is what causes the dark color. This is called breakthrough bleeding, caused by some unbalanced hormonal process¹.

Dark menstruation generally does not pose any health problems . Blood  can have this darker color at the beginning or end of the cycle and, as long as it is in small amounts, it is perfectly normal .

If dark menstruation  comes in small amounts and for a short time (usually for one or two days), without the accompaniment of the normal flow and intense red, it may be a sign of pregnancy . In the first six days after the embryo attaches itself to the uterus, the so  -called implantation or implantation bleeding can happen, which generates confusion with the menstrual period.

When should I go to the doctor?

Changes in menstrual bleeding are usually  normal and do not indicate problems, but the gynecologist should be consulted if other symptoms or signs such as:

• Menstruation lasting more than 7 days;
• Not having a period for more than 3 months;
• Have spotting bleeds;
• Pain in the intimate region;
• Fever above 38º C;
• Dizziness;
• Paleness on the skin or under the nails.

It is also important to remember that in cases of suspected pregnancy , the appearance of dark bleeding, in pieces or in large quantities is also a reason to seek medical attention because it may be a miscarriage , and it may be necessary to perform a curettage to clean the uterus.

How to treat dark menstruation?

The best way to regularize menstruation and end dark menstruation is by looking for a gynecologist to follow hormonal treatment. In addition, this treatment may be the basis of contraceptives or hormone replacement medication, such as Cicloprimogyna.