Brown discharge is a common occurrence, and sometimes it may be accompanied by colic or other symptoms that need attention.
Several conditions can cause symptoms such as brown discharge and colic in women.
A clear discharge, white or more transparent, whether thick or more fluid, no smell and no other type of symptoms, is usually just a natural secretion of the organism. However, when there is something more, such as a brown color run combined with colic, it brings concern, because it can be associated with something wrong in our body.
It is important to understand the possible causes of these symptoms and seek medical help whenever necessary, especially if the symptoms are persistent.
What can be brown and colic discharge?
There are many possible causes for brown discharge with colic, most of them without severity or risks to health, such as:
- During adolescence, while menstruation has not yet regulated;
- The first days of menstruation, where some blood mixes with natural secretions;
- In the days right after a period, because of the blood resets that take a little longer to come out;
- Start of pregnancy, there may be minor bleeding in the implantation of the egg around the 7th to 9th days;
- In relationships during pregnancy;
- When more intense intercourse occurs, due to the possibility of minor bleeding;
- Ovulation can also give a pinkish-brown color to the discharge;
- Reaction to Pap sings or vaginal examinations in general;
- The beginning of menopause.
Other causes of the brown runny
1. pelvic inflammatory disease
Syndrome caused by bacteria in the genitals, which can occur by unprotected sexual contact or in some local medical procedures – such as biopsy of the inner part of the uterus, placement of the Intra Uterine Device (IUD) or curettage. This is because of the risk of bringing bacteria present in the vagina to the internal sexual organs. When these microorganisms reach the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries can cause inflammation.
This condition occurs mainly when gonorrhea and chlamydial infection are not treated, causing an infection called cervicitis, which can progress to a pelvic inflammatory disease. However, it can also occur in women who have bacterial vaginosis.
It is more common in people aged 15 to 35 years, with an active sex life and who do not use condoms, at least not often, in sexual relations.
Symptoms usually appear only when there is an increase in the number of bacteria.
According to the Doctor. Márcio Alcântara, obstetrician and gynecologist of UNIMED Fortaleza, DIP is divided into two forms: Acute and Symptomatic and Chronicle.
Weak or moderate abdominal or pelvic pain, although in some cases they are strong and may come suddenly, are common in the acute and symptomatic form of the disease. Also a smelly discharge that can be brown or yellowish, irregular bleeding from the uterus, pain when urinating/maintaining intercourse and even nausea and vomiting. Largely accompanied by fevers below 38.9o.
On the other hand, the chronic or subclinical, may present almost imperceptible symptoms. When they exist, they are so mild that there is usually no search for diagnosis and medical treatment. They tend to last a long time, which can aggravate the situation and bring about the appearance of complications such as: abcesses in the tubes and ovaries; scar tissue, which can cause infertility; Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, which is an inflammation of the tubes; increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy; among others.
How to treat it
Treatment for curing the disease is possible after diagnosis, requiring the use of antibiotics orally or intramuscularly for about two weeks for both the infected person and their sexual partner, even if the latter does not present symptoms. In more severe cases, hospital admission may be required for intravenous medication and/or surgical intervention.
During treatment it is necessary to suspend sexual relations, since the intention of it is to interrupt the inflammatory process in the female sexual organs, which requires correct treatment and rest, important to prevent the infection from returning and allowing internal healing.
Prevention is always the best medicine. Given the direct relationship between pelvic inflammatory disease and sexually transmitted infections, it is recommended to keep gynecological consultations and tests up to date, use condoms whenever there is sexual activity, especially when there are multiple partners, and, in case of diagnosis of the disease, inform the partners so that everyone can follow the indicated treatment.
2.Irritation on the cervix
It is common for the region of the cervix to be very sensitive, and thus simple situations end up causing irritations.
Pap slicalaus, for example or even frequent sexual contact, may cause an irritation to occur and, consequently, release brown discharge, also causing colic in some people.
How to treat it
There is no specific treatment for this type of case, since there is not as much secretion, and no other symptoms are present. However, it is still important to keep the region always clean and dry, and in 2 days the discharge will be controlled. In addition, it is also essential to avoid intimate contact until it disappears.
It is very important to seek medical help in case of persistence or presentation of other symptoms, since only a qualified health professional can make an accurate diagnosis and indicate the appropriate treatment for each case.
3. Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is another culprit in the appearance of brown and colic discharge, due to irregularity in ovulation, being a very common hormonal disorder, where there is the emergence of cysts that can cause from mild problems such as acne, excess of hair on the face and body, skin patches and an irregularity in the menstrual cycle, to problems of greater severity such as excessive bleeding or absence of rules and infertility.
It is not yet known for sure what causes this syndrome, and may be a mixture of genetic and environmental factors, but it is estimated that it affects about 5 to 15% of the female population, at the age conducive to reproduction, worldwide. Remembering that the difference between ovarian cyst and polycystic ovary syndrome consists of the amount of cysts and their size.
It is very important to be attentive to the symptoms and seek medical help to test any sign that PCOS may be had, because without treatment the chances of complications such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fat in the liver, cardiovascular diseases, among others, are higher.
How to treat it
The treatment for PCOS depends on the symptoms presented and its possible cause, in addition to the goals of each person, since it is a condition for life. Generally, two treatment options are offered, which can be used together or separately: lifestyle changes such as diet and regular exercise, and medications. Medications include hormone replacement to aid ovulation and hormonal balance, as well as remedies to regulate blood sugar and manage other symptoms.
4. Christ in the ovary
A cyst in the ovary is a small pouch full of liquid or a semi-solid material, which forms in or around it, being common in people of childbearing age and may appear several times throughout this period, not being severe in its majority.
The most common symptoms, in addition to brown discharge and colic, are very similar to those of polycystic ovary syndrome, including feeling abdominal swelling, pain or discomfort during sexual contact, excess and/or irregularity in menstrual flow, pain in the period of ovulation, in addition to nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms are noticed, it is important to seek medical help for an evaluation and, if necessary, the decision on which treatment is best followed.
Remembering that it is also very important to pay attention to symptoms such as fever, fainting, bleeding and altered respiratory rate, as it may be indicative of the rupture or twist of the cyst, or that it is affecting the blood flow in the ovary.
How to treat it
Most of the time the ovarian cyst disappears by itself in a few weeks, without the need for treatment, but it remains important to follow up with your gynecologist regularly, to ensure that the cyst is regressing.
In some cases, the use of contraceptives is recommended to regulate hormone levels.
When it is a very large cyst or of the rupture of the same, surgical intervention is necessary.
5.Endometriosis
The growth of the endometrium outside the uterus characterizes endometriosis, the most common being the intestine, ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is a chronic condition that causes a number of symptoms that include, but are not limited to, brown discharge, pain to evacuate, excess menstrual flow, abdominal swelling, severe colic before or during menstruation.
Endometriosis is also well-known for hindering a pregnancy, since the tissue that would normally grow in the uterus expands through other parts of the body. Most of the time, he is diagnosed precisely during tests that evaluate the reasons for possible infertility.
Women who have cases of endrometriosis in the family have a greater willingness to develop the condition, because they have the involvement of genetic factors.
How to treat it
Treatment is specific for each woman because of the symptoms, severity of the condition and age. Thus, it is essential to consult a gynecologist with greater regularity, and perform all the necessary tests.
In case of mild endometriosis, it is likely that the treatment consists of anti-inflammatory drugs that decrease pain, but do not prevent the disease from advancing.
If the endometriosis is deep, hormonal remedies can be used and there is also the possibility of surgery to reduce endometrial tissue outside the uterus.
It is important to remember that these treatments are usually used by women close to menopause or in advanced stages of the disease, as they further reduce the chance of becoming pregnant.
6. Sexually transmitted infections
Another possible cause are sexually transmitted infections, such as clamidia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which causes cervicitis, bringing brown and colic discharge, in addition to an unpleasant odor. However, not all women notice any specific smells.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria are the cause of gonorrhea. It also causes cervicitis and the same symptoms of Chlamydia, but in addition, those who suffer from this inflammation may experience pain or burning when urinating and bleeding outside the menstrual period.
Although the discharge of chlamydia and gonorrhea may be similar, in the case of chlamydia usually presents a lighter picture.
Trichomoniasis is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. There are not always symptoms, but when they usually are like those of a vaginitis, with smelly discharge, pain when urinating, bleeding and pain during intercourse and irritation in the vulva. It is quite possible that the symptoms worsen during menstruation.
Trichoiasis can remain asymptomatic for a long time to provoke vaginitis, which makes it very difficult to determine when there was contamination. However, without a treatment, it can last for months or years, which makes it a risk factor for cervical cancer and infertility.
How to treat it
Treatments depend on the cause and vary greatly. They can be antifungal, antibiotics or estrogen creams. Only a gynecologist can evaluate and say what the case and treatment are indicated, so the ideal is to go to the doctor at the first sign that something is not as it should.
7.Cancer on the cervix
The main cause of cervical cancer is high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus), which is responsible not only cervical cancer, but also in the penis, anus, mouth and throat. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus with more than 100 variations, but it is not the only villain when it comes to this type of disease.
The prolonged use of contraceptive pill without medical follow-up, difficulty in accessing preventive tests, many pregnancies or pregnancy before the age of 17, multiple sexed partners without protection are also some of the reasons why a person can develop the disease. All people who have a cervix are susceptible to this type of cancer, and it is possible that it manifests not only in cis women, but also in trans men, non-binary people and intersex people.
This type of cancer has slow progression, and, most of the time, at a beginning does not usually have symptoms. When more advanced can manifest in the form of bleeding in the interval of menstruations, live bleeding after sexual intercourse or during gynecological examinations, unpleasant odor, pain and bleeding when evacuating, among others.
How to treat:
It is recommended to seek medical help at the first sign of any of these symptoms, so that an adequate evaluation is made by the gynecologist. All cancer diagnosed early has much more chances of cure.
Treatments may vary and include surgery for the removal of tumors or the uterus altogether, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy after diagnosis.
8. Myoma uterine
They are tumors formed by muscle tissue. They are benign and usually occur during the reproductive phase of life, when there is menstruation and the possibility of a pregnancy. The cause of its growth is not yet known, but it is known that hormonal factors influence, and that there is a decrease after menopause.
They can cause abnormal bleeding, often with clots, which increases the chances of anemia. Myoma also causes abdominal bloating, diarrhea or constipation, urinary incontinence and brown discharge with colic, depending on its size, amount and position. Fibroids very close to the central part of the uterus can cause bleeding and difficulty initiating or carrying out a pregnancy to term. In rarer cases it can lead to infertility.
How to treat:
Treatment, as in most diseases, depends on the case, age, and several factors involving fibroids. It may be drug treatment or surgery.
9.Cree of contraceptives
Contraceptives can cause what they call escape bleeding, which is a small amount of blood in the midst of the body’s natural fluids. When there is the exchange of AC, due to the hormonal imbalance, there is a chance of a runoff compared to coffee grounds. Accompanied or not with colic. This may be a sign that the body is still fitting in the new medicine or that it has not adapted. It all depends on the time that escapes lasts.
How to treat:
If the escape is persistent or bothersome, you should consult a doctor. A new exchange of CA may be required or just follow-up.
When to see the doctor?
Whenever there is any symptom in addition to the brown discharge and colic, such as odors, burning or bleeding at the time of urination or defecation, itching in the genital area or when remaining for more than one week.
It is always good, in all ways, to keep the exams up to date and always be attentive to any changes in the body.
An early diagnosis can make a difference.
Prevention of Brown discharge
Things like:
- The use of condoms during intercourse;
- Correct hygiene of the sexual organs, avoiding the maximum use of vaginal douches and excess soaps or moistened shin;
- Do not use in excess daily protectors of panties, as it suffops this region helps to proliferate bacteria;
- Choosing cotton panties instead of synthetic ones is always better to keep fresh and let that body part breathe;
- Do not shave the intimate parts so often, so that no possible cuts occur.
They are the recommended measures to maintain vaginal health and prevent the onset of brown discharge. Avoid also staying with wet bikinis for many hours, as moisture and heat are decisive elements when it comes to fungi and bacteria. Tight clothes are also an amusement park for all types of organisms, for preventing ventilation.
Above all, always go to the doctor at the slightest warning sign. Ignoring the symptoms or trying to self-medicate can make the situation worse and even lead to serious complications. Therefore, whenever there are doubts or concerns regarding health, it is essential to consult a doctor. Doing the Pap smear at least once a year and always taking care of health is the best prevention for all kinds of diseases.
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Sources: Dr. Alexandre Rossani, Medical News Today, Dr Drazio Varella, Unimed Fortaleza, Tua Saúde, Gov.BR, Hospital 9 de Julho, MD. Health, Viva Bem, BVS Ministry of Health, Clue
