Don’t be afraid if the blood coming out of you is brown: it’s perfectly normal and healthy
The first time I got my period, I thought I had pooped my pants. I felt a strange wetness in my underwear and went to the bathroom to check on it and noticed a huge brown streak. It didn’t smell quite like poop but I had never seen anything like it before, so I changed my underwear and went about my business. When I went to the bathroom again a few hours later, I noticed more brown discharge. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I hadn’t accidentally soiled myself at all: I had gotten my first period.
If you’re reading this because you recently got your first period and it came out brown, don’t worry, you’re not dying. It’s completely normal to have a brown period. Read on to learn more about why first periods are often brown and what brown period blood means.
Is your first menstrual flow brown?
There is no guarantee when it comes to what the colour of your first period will be. Many people experience brown period blood coming out of the vagina the first time while others have a red menstrual blood almost immediately. In my own personal experience, a first period can absolutely be brown. While there is no guarantee that your first period will be brown because every menstrual cycle is different, there is a very good chance it will be.
Why is period blood brown?
When period blood comes out brown it means that the blood has been in your body for a longer period of time. The longer it sits in your uterus, the more time it has to oxidize and the exposure to oxygen causes the blood to darken from bright red to brown. Usually, once your body has passed the brown blood, the colour of your period will lighten from brown to red blood.
What do different colours of period blood mean?
There are a multitude of colours that period blood can be; From bright red blood, dark red, light red, to brown, pink and even grey. If you’re curious about why there are different colours, read this Kt by Knix guide explaining what the various colours mean. Some colours are signs of sexually transmitted infections. (Here’s the short version: if your period comes out grey, you are definitely going to want to speak to a trusted adult or medical professional about it.)
What else do I need to know?
The most important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as a normal period. Menstrual bleeding patterns change from person to person. Every single body is different and what might be normal for you might be totally off-kilter for someone else. There’s no need to compare your period (or yourself!) to anyone else — you are totally unique! If you are experiencing extreme pain or severe period symptoms, contact a medical professional immediately. Otherwise, try to enjoy your first brown period. Soon, it won’t feel so scary anymore.