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Does Brown Thick Menstrual Discharge Indicate Pregnancy?
hi, I have been on the birth control pill now for about four years and i have had regular periods since then. This month my period was on time, but instead of bright red blood I had light brown thick stringy discharge and it lasted for about four days. My partner and I are sexually active and usually use a spermicide condom as well as me taking the pill, which I take at the same time every night. There have been a few times where we did not use a condom though. Is this type of period normal or could i be pregnant?
posted on
Thu, 13 Mar 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 1 Dec 2022
Answered on
Wed, 7 Dec 2022
Last reviewed on
Hello,
You have been on birth control pills but your period was not bright red but brown thick stringy discharge. Old deoxygenated blood is brown in color. Brown color may be also indicative of old blood in the vaginal secretions. If you have been taking the birth control pills as instructed without missing it then you shouldn't be pregnant. In case you develop early pregnancy like symptoms then you should get pregnancy test done with your first, morning, mid-stream urine to stay on the safer side.
Other medical conditions that can cause similar symptoms are ectopic pregnancy, implantation, PID / PCOS, miscarriage (its accompanied with abdominal cramps), hormonal imbalance, ovarian cysts, etc. You are suggested to get clinically examined by a gynecologist, get all required tests and investigations done. You will be managed accordingly.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
You have been on birth control pills but your period was not bright red but brown thick stringy discharge. Old deoxygenated blood is brown in color. Brown color may be also indicative of old blood in the vaginal secretions. If you have been taking the birth control pills as instructed without missing it then you shouldn't be pregnant. In case you develop early pregnancy like symptoms then you should get pregnancy test done with your first, morning, mid-stream urine to stay on the safer side.
Other medical conditions that can cause similar symptoms are ectopic pregnancy, implantation, PID / PCOS, miscarriage (its accompanied with abdominal cramps), hormonal imbalance, ovarian cysts, etc. You are suggested to get clinically examined by a gynecologist, get all required tests and investigations done. You will be managed accordingly.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
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