If you have concerning period blood color changes, see a healthcare provider.
You’re most likely to see bright red blood at the start of your period.
You may also see brighter blood at times when you have cramps.
Illustration by Gary Ferster for Verywell Health
That’s because cramps occur when your uterus contracts, and contractions lead to heavier blood flow.
Rarely, it can suggest an injury or appear as a sign of being in labor.
These colors suggest a slower flow.
For most people, the blood oxidizes and gets darker over the course of the cycle.
This is because older blood from the deeper parts of the uterine lining is shed later.
Brown blood is also common in the weeks after you give birth.
Postpartum bleeding is calledlochia.
The color change comes from normal mucus mixing with the blood.
Spottingbetween your regular periods is usually pink, red, or brown.
See a healthcare provider if you suspect any of these causes may be affecting your period blood.
You may also benefit from seeing a nutritionist.
A light rust-colored spotting also may mean you’re pregnant.
It can occur when a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall.
This takes place between about 10 and 14 days after conception.
You may need an antibiotic to clear up the infection.
Period blood may contain some clots because during your period.
The separation of theendometriumfrom the uterine wall can tear small blood vessels.
They bleed, and clots form to stop the bleeding.
They’re then passed out with your menstrual blood.
They may be a part of a diagnosis ofheavy menstrual bleeding(also calledmenorrhagia).
This is also common when your hormones are affected by stress or too much exercise.
This is a rare but potentially fatal condition that requires immediate medical attention.
What is a normal period?
What’s normal for you may not be what textbooks define as a “normal” period.
It has a different color and consistency than the blood in your veins.
Blood color may change during the same period.
It can be thin or thick.
Blood clots that pass during your period may be normal or they may signal another health issue.
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Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.Implantation bleeding.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
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American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.
