What Your Period Blood Color Can Tell You

Dark red

Old blood that has lingered in your body for a while but hasn’t oxidized enough (been exposed to oxygen) to turn fully brown.

Can mean:

• You are at the end of your period
• You have postpartum discharge (called lochia)

Concern level: Usually nothing to worry about

Dark brown

Old blood that has been in your body for a while and has had lots of time to oxidize.

Can mean:

• You’re at the beginning or end of your period
• You’re on hormonal birth control
• You’re in perimenopause
• You’re pregnant, and this is implantation bleeding
• You have postpartum discharge (called lochia)
• You had a “missed miscarriage” or an ectopic pregnancy
• You have a health condition like an infection, fibroids or PCOS

Concern level: Keep an eye on it

Pink

Blood mixed with vaginal discharge. Can mean:

• You’re at the beginning of your period
• You’re on hormonal birth control
• Your estrogen levels are low
• You’re not on your period but are spotting from ovulation or bleeding from sex
• You’re having a miscarriage

Concern level: Usually nothing to worry about

Unless you’re pregnant, in which case, contact your healthcare provider immediately

Bright red

Fresh blood that hasn’t had time to be exposed to oxygen yet.

Can mean:

• You’re in the heavy part of your period

Concern level: Usually nothing to worry about

Black

Very old blood that has lingered in your body.

Can mean:

• You’re at the end of your period
• You’re having a miscarriage
• You have an object stuck inside your vagina
• You may have a vaginal infection

Concern level: Keep an eye on it

If you think you might be pregnant, are having pregnancy symptoms or suspect a foreign object is in your vagina, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Orange

Blood mixed with vaginal discharge.

Can mean:

• This may not be your period, but could be blood in discharge
• You have an underlying infection like bacterial vaginosis
• You have a sexually transmitted infection

Concern level: Contact your healthcare provider

Gray

Blood mixed with vaginal discharge.

Can mean:

• This may not be your period, but could be blood in discharge
• You have an underlying infection like bacterial vaginosis
• You have a sexually transmitted infection

Concern level: Contact your healthcare provider

Green

Blood mixed with vaginal discharge.

Can mean:

• This may not be your period, but could be blood in discharge
• You have an underlying infection like bacterial vaginosis
• You have a sexually transmitted infection

Concern level: Contact your healthcare provider

Always contact your healthcare provider if you:

• Have bleeding of any kind during pregnancy
• Bleed or spot between periods
• Bleed for more than 7 days
• Soak through a pad or tampon more than every hour or two
• Notice a change in what’s normal for you
• Have pain or other symptoms with your bleeding
• Have gone through menopause and have bleeding of any kind
• Have gray discharge
• Have clots that are bigger than a quarter
• Haven’t had a period in 3 months or more

This educational resource was created with support from Sumitomo Pharma, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.