Black discharge is common before or after your period and right after giving birth.
Black discharge usually means that blood has taken longer to leave theuterus.
When this happens, the blood oxidizes, which makes it appear darker.
Alicia Fdez / Getty Images
The longer the blood stays in your uterus, the darker it becomes.
In rare cases, it may indicate a more serious condition like cervical cancer.
This is considered normal and just means your body is clearing out old blood.
Implantation Bleeding
Implantation pops up if a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining.
Signs of TSS include:
Toxic shock syndrome is very serious and can be life-threatening.
Miscarriage
Amiscarriageis a pregnancy loss before 20 weeks.
Other signs of miscarriage include:
Another punch in of pregnancy loss calledmissed miscarriagecan also cause black discharge.
Missed miscarriage happens when the fetus has stopped developing, but the body hasnt recognized the loss yet.
If you suspect an infection, seek medical care as soon as possible.
If left untreated, it can cause serious complications.
When this happens, older blood may be released later in the cycle, appearing darker or even black.
For those on hormonal contraceptives, spotting dark blood between periods is common.
This means the uterine lining may build up for an extended time before shedding.
If the flow is slow, the blood may look like dark brown or black discharge.
Cervical cancer is treatable, especially when detected early.
How Is Black Discharge Treated?
The treatment for black discharge will depend on the cause.
Many times, there will be no treatment needed if the blood is due to a persons menstrual cycle.
Summary
Most of the time, black discharge is nothing to worry about.
Some people report dark-colored discharge before, during, or after their period.
Treatment for black discharge depends on the cause.
Speak with a healthcare provider immediately if you have black discharge and other symptoms.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it normal to have vaginal discharge?.
Nebraska Medicine.Is implantation bleeding normal?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic shock syndrome.
UC Davis Health.What are the signs of early miscarriage?.
MyHealth Alberta.Incomplete miscarriage: Care instructions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).About pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Cedars Sinai.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.3 conditions to watch for after childbirth.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding after menopause could be a problem.
Here’s what to know.
Sim M, Logan S, Goh LH.Vaginal discharge: evaluation and management in primary care.Singapore Med J.
2020;61(6):297-301. doi:10.11622/smedj.2020088
