The color of a person’s period blood can indicate different health conditions. For example, orange or gray blood can indicate a vaginal infection, while red or dark brown period blood can be an early sign of pregnancy.

During menstruation, the body sheds tissue and blood from the uterus through the vagina. This bloody discharge can vary from bright red to dark brown or black, depending on how old it is.

Blood that stays in the uterus long enough will react with oxygen (oxidize). Blood that has had time to oxidize appears darker.

Hormonal changes and health conditions can also affect the color and texture of period blood.

This article presents a period blood chart and discusses what the different colors of period blood can mean. It also covers color changes during a period, what clots mean, and when to see a doctor.

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Image credit: Stephen Kelly, 2019

Black blood can appear at the beginning or end of a person’s period. The color is typically a sign of old blood or blood that has taken longer to leave the uterus and has had time to oxidize, first turning brown or dark red and then eventually becoming black.

Black blood can sometimes also indicate a blockage inside a person’s vagina. Other symptoms of a vaginal blockage can include:

  • foul-smelling discharge
  • fever
  • difficulty urinating
  • itching or swelling in or around the vagina

Learn more about periods.

Like black blood, brown or dark red is a sign of old blood and may appear at the beginning or end of a period. Brown or dark red blood has not had as long to oxidize as black blood and can appear in a variety of shades.

Pregnancy

Brown blood or spotting can sometimes also be an early sign of pregnancy that doctors refer to as implantation bleeding.

Brown discharge or spotting during pregnancy can indicate a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, which is the fertilized egg implanting in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus. It is important for women who experience spotting or vaginal bleeding during pregnancy to speak to their doctor or obstetrician.

Lochia

Dark red or brown vaginal discharge that occurs after giving birth is lochia or postpartum bleeding. Lochia is not a cause for concern and is the body’s way of expelling excess blood and tissue from the uterus.

Lochia typically begins with bright red blood and then transitions to a darker shade as the flow decreases. Over time, the discharge will become lighter in color and amount.

The duration of lochia varies from person to person, but it usually passes within the first few months after delivery. Women who experience very heavy bleeding after giving birth should see a doctor.

Not all women experience lochia after giving birth. Women may also experience irregular periods after giving birth due to changes in hormone levels.

Bright red blood indicates fresh blood and a steady flow. A period may start with bright red bleeding and darken toward the end of the period. Some people may find that their blood stays bright red throughout their period.

Unusual spotting or bleeding between menstrual cycles may be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Growths in the uterine lining, called polyps or fibroids, can also cause unusually heavy bleeding.

Rarely, bright red bleeding may be a sign of cervical cancer. Other symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • heavier periods
  • periods that last longer than normal
  • bleeding after sexual intercourse
  • foul-smelling vaginal discharge
  • pain in the lower back, pelvis, or legs
  • loss of appetite
  • unexplained weight loss

Pink blood or spotting can occur when period blood mixes with cervical fluid.

Using hormonal birth control can lower estrogen levels in the body, which can lead to a lighter flow with a pinkish hue during periods.

Sexual intercourse can create small tears in the vagina or the cervix. Blood from these tears can mix with vaginal fluids and exit a person’s body as pink discharge.

Other causes of pink period blood can include:

  • significant weight loss
  • unhealthful diet
  • anemia

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, pink discharge that contains tissue and occurs alongside cramps may indicate a miscarriage. It is important for women who experience vaginal bleeding while pregnant to see their doctor or obstetrician.

Blood that mixes with cervical fluid can also appear orange.

Orange blood or discharge may indicate an infection, such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. People with orange blood should check for other telltale symptoms, such as vaginal itching, discomfort, and foul-smelling discharge.

Although orange period blood or discharge does not always indicate an infection, it is a good idea for a person to see a doctor or gynecologist for an evaluation.

Gray discharge is usually a sign of bacterial vaginosis, a condition that occurs due to an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the vagina.

Other symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include:

  • itching in and around the vagina
  • the foul-smelling vaginal odor that people often describe as “fishy”
  • burning or painful urination

People with symptoms of bacterial vaginosis should see a doctor or gynecologist. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial vaginosis.

Pregnancy

During the later stages of pregnancy, gray discharge containing clots can indicate a miscarriage. Women who experience bleeding during pregnancy should see their doctor or obstetrician.

Blood can change in color and texture from month to month or even during a single period.

Hormonal changes, as well as a person’s diet, lifestyle, age, and environment, can all cause variations in period blood.

Period blood can vary from bright red to dark brown according to changes in flow. Infections, pregnancy, and, in rare cases, cervical cancer can cause unusual blood color or irregular bleeding.

People who experience unusually long or heavy periods may require an appointment with a doctor.

Healthy period blood can contain visible pieces of the uterine lining. These small pieces of tissue, or clots, in the blood are not a cause for concern.

However, very heavy bleeding or large clots can be a sign of menorrhagia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), menorrhagia is a person having unusually heavy menstrual bleeding or periods that last for more than seven days.

The CDC recommends seeing a doctor if a person has one of the following:

  • bleeding that requires a person to change a tampon or pad after less than 2 hours
  • blood with clots that are the size of a quarter or bigger

The CDC also lists the following as causes of menorrhagia:

Without treatment, menorrhagia can lead to complications, such as anemia or chronic fatigue.

It is advisable for people to consult a doctor or gynecologist for any of the following symptoms:

  • new or unusual vaginal discharge
  • irregular periods that change in length and flow from one month to the next
  • bleeding after menopause
  • missing three or more periods
  • foul-smelling vaginal odor
  • thick gray or white vaginal discharge
  • itching in or around the vagina
  • fever

Anyone who is pregnant and notices any bleeding or unusual vaginal discharge should speak with their doctor or obstetrician.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the color of period blood.

Why is my period blood black?

Black period blood can be a sign of old blood, which takes longer to leave the uterus, giving it time to oxidize.

Black blood may also sometimes indicate a blockage inside a person’s vagina.

What do black blood clots mean?

Black blood clots or any blood clots in period blood is not always a cause for concern. However, some causes of dark clots include fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, or hormonal imbalances.

Why is my period blood dark brown at the beginning of my period?

The longer the amount of time that blood takes to leave the body, the longer it has to become exposed to oxygen, making it dark.

The color and consistency of period blood can provide useful information about a person’s overall health.

However, everyone’s period is different, and blood can change color and consistency during a period and from month to month. So it is essential for people to learn what is normal for them.

Healthy period blood typically varies from bright red to dark brown or black. Blood or discharge that is orange or gray may indicate an infection. Women who experience bleeding during pregnancy should see a doctor or obstetrician for an evaluation.