What does the color of your period mean?

Menstrual blood comes in a variety of colors. In fact, it’s normal to have period blood in various shades of red, pink, and brown. The varied hues can mean different things, too. Learning what the different shades may indicate can help you recognize what’s normal for your body—and when something might be off. 

Why does period blood have different colors?

What’s normal for a menstrual cycle varies from person to person—the length, heaviness of flow, and color. A menstrual cycle can range between 21 days in length to 35 days, while actual bleeding might last anywhere from two to seven days, according to the Mayo Clinic. The color of your period blood changes, depending on the time in your cycle or the presence of other fluids that mix with the blood, such as cervical mucus. Menstrual blood that has stayed in your uterus longer before shedding is typically darker in color.

“Normal menstrual blood ranges from bright red to light brown,” says Monte Swarup, MD, an OB-GYN in Chandler, Arizona, and founder of the HPV information site HPV HUB. “Different colors of period blood are almost always normal,” agrees Giuliana Zaccardelli, MD, MBA, CEO and cofounder of Zuri Fertility. “It’s more important for women to look for things like large blood clots, prolonged bleeding, or spotting, which may be abnormal.”

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What does the color of your period mean?

“A healthy period typically ranges in color from bright red to dark brown, but the exact shade can vary, depending on the individual and where she is in her menstrual cycle,” says Dr. Zaccardelli. “While the color of menstrual blood can sometimes provide insight into a woman’s overall reproductive health, it doesn’t directly indicate her fertility status.” Here’s a closer look at some of the possible colors of period blood.

Brown

The flow of menstrual blood is usually slower at the beginning and toward the end of your period. The longer that the blood stays in your body, waiting to come out, the greater chance it has to become oxidized or become exposed to oxygen, according to Mindy Goldman, MD, Director of Gynecology Center for Cancer Survivors and At-Risk Women at UCSF OB-GYN Department and Chief Clinical Officer at Midi Health. That’s how it gets its brown color, which may vary in shade.

You might be more likely to see brownish blood at the end of menstruation; however, you might also detect some at the beginning of your period, as it may be old blood that’s present from a prior menstrual cycle. If you haven’t had a menstrual period in a while due to a medical condition, contraception, or pregnancy, the blood may be darker than typical. “And it can happen even after sleeping, when someone has been lying down and blood can pool within the (endometrial) cavity,” Dr. Goldman adds. It’s also possible to experience some brown spotting as a sign of implantation of a pregnancy. 

Red

Bright red blood is definitely within the realm of normal for period blood. “This is fresh blood and is common at the beginning of the menstrual cycle,” says Dr. Zaccardelli. “It signifies active menstrual flow.”

Bright red blood is also pretty common during the heaviest part of your period, when you also may experience some cramping. Cramping occurs because the uterus produces extra chemicals called prostaglandins, which cause your uterine muscles to tighten and relax. However, you might also notice that your period blood turns from a brighter red color to a dark red shade near the end, as the flow starts to slow down. This dark red period blood may continue to oxidize and eventually turn brown.

Pink

Pinkish or pink period blood might make an appearance during a lighter period or at the beginning of your period. The lighter hue is possibly the result of menstrual blood that has mixed with cervical mucus, notes Dr. Zaccardelli. 

“Other things that can change the color of menstrual blood is when the blood mixes with the normal vaginal secretions. Vaginal secretions can vary from clear to white to off-white. When these secretions mix with menstrual blood it will change the color of the blood to a lighter red or even a thin, watery type of blood. This is completely normal,” explains Dr. Goldman. Vaginal secretions change in thickness and color as your hormone levels vary during and in between menstrual cycles. It is normal to have vaginal secretions.

Pink or pinkish blood may also be the result of low estrogen levels, possibly as the result of using hormonal birth control. 

Black

Black period blood–or period blood that’s so dark that it nearly appears black–can be disconcerting to see. But as with dark brown blood, it may just be old blood that oxidized before it left your body. 

Gray

“If your period blood is gray, it could be a sign of an infection,” says Dr. Swarup. “You should see your healthcare provider if you experience this.” Bacterial vaginosis, which develops when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina gets disrupted, may be one possible culprit. 

Orange

Orange period blood might sound like an unlikely prospect, but you may have passed some orangish blood before and just never really noticed. Menstrual blood can become mixed with cervical fluid, and the resulting vaginal discharge can look reddish or orangish; however, orange-tinted blood might also be a sign of infection. 

Purple 

Purple menstrual blood could be a sign of higher-than-usual estrogen levels, according to Capital Women’s Care in Rockville, Maryland. There are some health risks associated with having too-high estrogen levels, such as blood clots and high blood pressure. If you notice this shade, it might be a good idea to check in with your provider.

Is it normal for the color to be different at the start and end of your period?

It’s not uncommon for the color of the period blood to change during the course of your period. You can also experience irregular periods when you go through major hormonal changes, such as during the postpartum period, when changing, stopping, or starting birth control, and as you enter perimenopause. “It is completely normal for the color of menstrual blood to vary for an individual person as well as during the length of the cycle,” says Dr. Goldman.

For example, you may start your period with bright red blood and it may stay pretty red. But you might also start your period with bright red blood, and the color may change to brown period blood by the time you’re nearly finished with your menstrual cycle. In fact, it’s normal to shed some brownish blood or brown blood-tinged discharge at the end of your period, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The important thing is to recognize what’s normal for you and if there are any sudden changes.

When to see a healthcare provider

If your period, including the color blood you normally experience, changes, that might be worth a conversation with your healthcare provider. Watch for these signs that something might be wrong so you can get it checked out:

• Spotting: Spotting can be a sign of implantation bleeding at the beginning of pregnancy. But unexpected spotting could also be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), a response to birth control, or impending perimenopause, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If you are pregnant and experience some bleeding, contact your healthcare provider. Bleeding or spotting can sometimes occur during pregnancy, but it’s better to get a professional to weigh in. 
• Bleeding in between periods: Additionally, if you experience heavy or excessive bleeding in between periods, call your healthcare provider and ask about getting evaluated. The most common causes of this type of bleeding in pre-menopausal people are sexually transmitted infections, birth control, uterine fibroids, uterine adenomyosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or endometrial polyps. There are other possible causes of abnormal or heavy uterine bleeding, including an infection of the cervix or endometrium, which is the uterine lining, trauma, foreign body, or possibly even cancer of the cervix or endometrium. 
• Heavy, bright red bleeding: Watch for colors that aren’t typical to your period. “A very heavy red cycle could be a sign of an intrauterine lesion causing heavy bleeding and could impact fertility,” Dr. Swarup says. Dr. Goldman also cautions that you should seek medical care if you experience persistent heavy, bright red bleeding along with dizziness, lightheadedness, or chest pain. “That often is a sign of anemia and is a risk for even passing out,” she says. “This type of bleeding is something that needs more immediate evaluation, possibly even in an emergency room.” 
• Drastic changes in flow: If you experience heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts for more than seven days, you may have a condition called menorrhagia. You may be losing twice as much blood as the two to three tablespoons of blood that you’d normally shed during a period. Possible signs include passing blood clots that are larger than a quarter or having to change your pad or tampon after less than two hours. Contact your healthcare provider and seek medical advice if you have this type of bleeding so you can discuss your treatment options. 

“Know what is normal for you, and if you have variations in that—an orange color, a gray color, or heavy clots, particularly associated with pain, foul-smelling discharge, or fever—it is important to see a healthcare provider to have it evaluated,” says Dr. Goldman.