The uterus of each woman is adapted to the process of ovulation. Ovulation is a gradual process and does not happen overnight. It happens once in every monthly period due to several hormonal changes. Eggs are retained in the ovaries waiting for the successful sperm to fertilize. When conditions are favorable, sperm gets fused with an egg forming a zygote. For accommodating this zygote the uterus prepares itself by forming thick lining of endometrial tissue. When there is no fusion this lining of endometrium is shed off in the form of vaginal bleeding.
Normally the vaginal blood is of red color and shedding of blood may lasts for 3-5 days each month. However, the color of vaginal blood can change due to several factors ranging from dark brown to bright red.
You will get to know the significance of vaginal bleeding and its color in this article.
Brown Vaginal Discharge Causes
Women get menstrual periods in the form of vaginal bleeding as the extra inner lining or endometrial tissue is shed off. Blood from the vagina takes enough time to travel till the exit point of vagina. If the fertilization does not occur, then the corpus luteum (yellow tissue) would start producing estrogen and progesterone for a week or two, gradually reducing the level of hormone produced. Once the levels of hormone production stops, small arteries that keep nourishing the uterine lining (endometrium) closes. This causes lack of oxygen and nourishment to the uterus lining which in turn starts breaking off approximately 14 days after ovulation. This is the process of menstruation or vaginal bleeding.
1. Retained lining
During monthly period, extra tissue lining is shed off mostly but sometimes the last layer of lining remains intact in the uterus and waits for next ovulation cycle. This layer when discharged next time of menstrual periods can cause dark brown bleeding. For some women this tissue lining may get discharged couple of days after monthly periods causing brown colored bleeding. Strains of dark brown blood of retained lining of menses can occur after finishing the period.