When it comes to the various colors of your menstrual cycle, it's critical to understand what's normal for YOU.
It's important to remember that not every change indicates a problem. There's a wide range of possibilities. Exactly what does the color of your period indicate?
Red indicates a full-on period. The blood is "new" and the lining is shedding quickly. Some women's cycles are this color.
Usually this means a woman is in the throes of her period. This is a more common occurrence for women who have particularly heavy periods.
During this time, you may also observe small clots, which is normal. If your period is heavy and bothersome, however, your doctor can prescribe birth control to lighten.
Brown discharge is common at the end of a woman's cycle because it is blood that has been sitting in the uterus for a while.
Some women's hair turns brown for a few days, then red, and then brown again. Not everyone experiences the brown discharge.
Brown discharge can be confusing if you don't know what to look for, and mistaking it for your period could result in an unintended pregnancy.
However, if you notice a greenish or clear discharge with a fishy odor at any time of the month, you should see your doctor immediately.