Coffee grounds menstruation is characterized by light brown bleeding and is usually not a serious problem.
During a woman’s reproductive phase, several changes in her body can influence her menstrual cycle, and also her menstruation. Therefore, it is normal for a woman’s menstruation to undergo changes in flow and color throughout her life. An example of this is the so-called coffee grounds menstruation. It gets its name due to the brownish color of the discharge, which comes in small quantities.
Coffee grounds, or brown or dark periods, can occur for a variety of reasons. Despite needing a little more attention, it often does not constitute a serious problem. In fact, one of the main causes of these brownish leaks is low progesterone, a hormone that is related to fertility.
Therefore, today we will better understand what coffee grounds menstruation is, the possible causes and treatments when applicable.
What is coffee grounds menstruation?
As we know, menstruation is something natural that occurs to all women every month, from puberty until the arrival of menopause. However, despite being normal, during a woman’s life she goes through changes in her body and the changes it undergoes. Therefore, some women may have a more intense, medium and even irregular flow. And that’s not necessarily a problem.
However, menstruation and the menstrual cycle can be indicative of aspects of a woman’s health. Therefore, when menstruation presents any irregularity, whether in flow or color, this may be an indication of some dysfunction. It could be hormonal of ovarian, thyroid, pituitary or adrenal gland origin or even a symptom of pregnancy.
In this sense, coffee grounds menstruation, as it is called, is characterized by brown bleeding. It normally occurs in the first or last days of the menstrual cycle. When it occurs outside the menstrual period, the bleeding usually comes in small quantities, unlike menstruation, when the blood flow is greater and continuous.
So, because the blood remains in the vaginal canal, it ends up mixing with the other physiological secretions in the region. Thus, a natural deterioration of the blood occurs. That’s why it has a brownish color, which actually looks like coffee grounds.
Menstruation coffee grounds
One of the main reasons for this type of menstruation is related to hormonal issues in women. In most cases, coffee grounds menstruation happen because the body lacks progesterone. This is very common when the body produces a quantity of this hormone and suddenly this quantity decreases.
Progesterone production can decrease for several reasons internal to a woman, but it can also be related to external issues, such as the use of the contraceptive pill or frequent use of the morning-after pill.
This type of medication usually contains progesterone. In this case, it is synthetic, which is different from what is produced in the ovaries and its main function is to control puberty and prepare the body for pregnancy. So, synthetic progesterone’s main function is to inhibit the functioning of the ovaries and ovulation. Therefore, after using this medication, brown leaks are common, especially when changing contraceptives.
Possible causes of coffee grounds menstruation
So, when a woman does not take contraceptives, the cause may still be low progesterone. In this case, it will be caused by reasons within the body. But when that’s not the case, coffee grounds can be one of the first symptoms of pregnancy.
Therefore, brown menstruation may be the result of implantation, which is when the egg attaches itself to the uterine wall. When this happens, a small amount of bleeding is normal. But this is not an absolute rule, so before celebrating or despairing, it is recommended to wait a few days to take a pregnancy test to be sure.
Now, if coffee grounds menstruation are constant in everyday life and throughout menstrual cycles, it is an indication to see a doctor to thoroughly investigate the possible causes. Among the most common causes are:
Endometriosis
This occurs when the endometrium, that is, the inner wall of the uterus, grows in other parts of the body. They are the pelvis, ovaries, intestine, bladder, rectum and peritoneum. If this is the case, diagnosis is only possible through an endovaginal ultrasound and laboratory tests.
Hormone low
When there is a low in any of the three essential hormones for the menstrual cycle, the problem can happen. In other words, progesterone, estrogen or LH, the others can be affected and this can generate several health problems.
Anovulatory cycle
When the menstrual cycle does not occur due to lack of ovulation and there is no thickening of the endometrium, darker bleeding is common. This occurs when a woman has not had a period and has not accumulated menstrual blood. So, in the absence of blood, only a sludge ends up coming out.
Uterine inflammations
In the case of problems caused by the entry of bacteria and infections into internal organs, such as tubes, uterus and ovaries, dark bleeding may occur. In this case, the diagnosis is made through the Pap smear.
However, although this bleeding may have natural causes, it is always good to have a confident diagnosis of the real cause of this change. Therefore, if necessary, treatment begins as soon as possible.
Treatments
So, as seen so far, coffee grounds menstruation can occur for several reasons, sometimes being normal and sometimes not. When dealing with a problem, it is necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis and then carry out treatment when necessary. Treatment is specific according to each cause.
For example, if there is a contraceptive failure, it is recommended to see a doctor. He will prescribe the medicine that best suits your body. Now, if the cause is an infection, it will be necessary to use specific medications.
When the problem occurs due to a lack of hormones, it may be necessary to replace it depending on the case. The same happens for the morning-after pill, where monitoring needs to happen until intimate health gets back on track. Remembering that this type of medication should only be used as a last resort.
But, regardless of the case, it is very important to see a gynecologist, even if just to clarify any doubts about coffee grounds menstruation.
Anyway, what did you think of this article? In fact, take the opportunity to also check out Menstruation twice – Possible causes for it to happen in the same month.
Sources: Origen Changing Diapers A Thousand Mother’s Tips
Images: Da Pimenta Vix Viva Bem Women’s Health Laboratório Unidos
