It is well known that vaginal discharge and/or vaginal spotting is the result of secretions produced from small glands in the lining of the vagina and the cervix. Light brown spotting is actually a mixture of blood remains and vaginal discharge.
All women have a little discharge starting a year or two before puberty and ending after the menopause. Different persons can have different volume of “normal” vaginal discharge depending on age, menstrual cycle, period duration, hormonal balance and sexual activities.
The presence of blood cells can give color to the vaginal discharge resulting in light brown spotting. Actually the color of vaginal spotting can range from pink to brown – all color nuances depend on presence of blood cells which could be fresh or old. In general old blood gives brown color.
Usually light brown spotting is not heavy like your periods – it could appear at different time (before period, after period, instead of period, in the middle of the menstrual cycle, unexpected irregular time).
Most common causes of light brown spotting include pregnancy, vaginal atrophy, uterine polyps and perimenopause.
Light brown spotting – Pregnancy
Early stage of pregnancy can be a cause for light brown spotting. In early pregnancy light brown vaginal spotting is usually harmless and caused by hormonal changes, fertilization and/or implantation. But sometimes it could be an alarming signal for pregnancy problems.
If you are pregnant, the fertilized egg embedding into the uterus lining causing light spotting. This kind of spotting called implantation bleeding – it is harmless and lasts only 1-2 days.
Sometimes light brown vaginal spotting could be a symptom of early miscarriage – it usually happens when pregnancy is not developing properly. Bleeding from a miscarriage don’t stop and becomes steadily heavier. Some women could have miscarriage even before they realize that they’re pregnant.
Unfortunately light brown vaginal spotting sometimes could be a symptom of ectopic pregnancy which usually happens when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus (commonly in Fallopian Tubes). If you have an ectopic pregnancy, the bleeding may keep going and usually combined with abdominal pain.
Light brown spotting can be an alarming symptom of molar pregnancy which is pretty rare pathology. Molar pregnancy affects only about one in 1000 pregnancies. Molar pregnancy happens when the embryo doesn’t develop properly but some of the cells that form the placenta continue to grow and multiply. Molar pregnancy needs emergency medical care.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is a naturally occurring transition period of women life which is happening 2-8 years before menopause. During perimenopause women could experience several unusual symptoms including irregular light brown vaginal spotting, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, insomnia and mood swings.
Light brown spotting
Vaginal Atrophy
In general the vaginal atrophy occurs due to loss of estrogen in the body (typical for menopause and/or other hormonal dysfunctions and/or cancer and/or chemotherapy). Drop in the level of estrogen makes the vaginal tissues thinner, less elastic, drier and more fragile. The blood vessels become weak and more prone to bursting spontaneously. Vaginal atrophy quite often results in light brown spotting.
Polyps or Irritation
Light brown spotting could be a symptom of uterine or cervical polyps which should be removed. Light brown spotting will disappear after removal and or treatment.
Sometimes cervix can be irritated which also can trigger light brown spotting.
Hormonal treatment or hormonal contraception
Sometimes during intensive hormonal treatments for infertility or other medical conditions women suffer from unexpected light brown spotting correlated with treatment schedules. Some women notice light brown spotting during IVF procedures or during stimulation or superstimulation.
Hormonal contraception usually change biological hormonal rhythms and light brown spotting could appear during use of contraceptives or after missed pills.
