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Two dark brown periods two months in a row
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Scarletgirl posted:
Hello! Right here's my story.
For the last year and a half I have been on the pill Mercilon. I never had any problems with it. In June I had my period and for like the whole of my period it was dark brown blood and very light. I didn't really pay too much attention to this.However last week, I had my period again and low and behold it was the exact same! Very light (only appeared when I wiped) and had the usual period pain too. I went to the doc and he said it was the pill, but reading and talking to other people they have no idea how it could be the pill.
I have been feeling generally weird the last few weeks too. Tension headaches for about two weeks straight, feeling bloated and sore breasts just the last few days and nausea every once in a while too. I am sexually active and have taken tests but they have come out as negative.

Is it the pill or is it something else???? Thank you!!
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Two dark brown periods two months in a rowHello! Right here's my story.<br />For the last year and a half I have been on the pill Mercilon. I never had any problems with it. In June I had my period and for like the whole of my period it was dark brown blood and very light. I didn't really pay too much attention to this.However last week, I had my period again and low and behold it was the exact same! Very light (only appeared when I wiped) and had the usual period pain too. I went to the doc and he said it was the pill, but reading and talking to other people they have no idea how it could be the pill. <br />I have been feeling generally weird the last few weeks too. Tension headaches for about two weeks straight, feeling bloated and sore breasts just the last few days and nausea every once in a while too. I am sexually active and have taken tests but they have come out as negative. <br /><br />Is it the pill or is it something else???? Thank you!!
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Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear Scarletgirl: When the bleeding is brisk and heavy the blood flows quickly out of the uterus and vagina. When the bleeding is scant and slower it has a much longer time to be exposed to the oxygen in the air. This exposure will turn the blood color brownish. Think about a piece of meat which has been exposed to air for a while. The outside will be dark brown/gray. Yet when you cut into the meat, and expose an area which has not been in contact with the air, the color will be red.

It is very common for women using birth control pills (BCPs) to have a "period" which looks more like dark motor oil sludge than bright red menstrual bleeding. The synthetic progesterone in BCPs creates a thinner lining inside the uterus. This creates a decreased amount of flow. This more scant flow will appear as a dark brown color, and thick consistency.

Should you be at risk for pregnancy, that should be ruled out first with a reliable pregnancy test. Thus you did the right thing in checking a pregnancy test given the light flow and nausea/breast symptoms.

Scarletgirl, it is more common for these "too-light" flows to appear in a longer term BCP user. Over time the synthetic progesterone in the pills make the lining thinner and thinner. This isn't a bad thing in that "a thin lining is a healthy lining". Yet it can cause concern for the women.

Given the headaches, nausea, and some breast tenderness I would suggest that you see the GYN or clinic that prescribed your BCPs. They can redo the pregnancy test and look for other sources of the symptoms (eg migraine headaches). If indicated they can also change the brand or formulation of your BCP to give you more of a monthly bleed.

Yours,
Jane
Report This| Share this:Two dark brown periods two months in a rowDear Scarletgirl: When the bleeding is brisk and heavy the blood flows quickly out of the uterus and vagina. When the bleeding is scant and slower it has a much longer time to be exposed to the oxygen in the air. This exposure will turn the blood color brownish. Think about a piece of meat which has been exposed to air for a while. The outside will be dark brown/gray. Yet when you cut into the meat, and expose an area which has not been in contact with the air, the color will be red.<br /><br />It is very common for women using birth control pills (BCPs) to have a "period" which looks more like dark motor oil sludge than bright red menstrual bleeding. The synthetic progesterone in BCPs creates a thinner lining inside the uterus. This creates a decreased amount of flow. This more scant flow will appear as a dark brown color, and thick consistency.<br /><br />Should you be at risk for pregnancy, that should be ruled out first with a reliable pregnancy test. Thus you did the right thing in checking a pregnancy test given the light flow and nausea/breast symptoms.<br /><br />Scarletgirl, it is more common for these "too-light" flows to appear in a longer term BCP user. Over time the synthetic progesterone in the pills make the lining thinner and thinner. This isn't a bad thing in that "a thin lining is a healthy lining". Yet it can cause concern for the women.<br /><br />Given the headaches, nausea, and some breast tenderness I would suggest that you see the GYN or clinic that prescribed your BCPs. They can redo the pregnancy test and look for other sources of the symptoms (eg migraine headaches). If indicated they can also change the brand or formulation of your BCP to give you more of a monthly bleed.<br /><br />Yours,<br />Jane
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