Decoding Period Blood Colors

Like a monthly report card from your body or a mood ring for your menstrual cycle, period blood colors can offer important insights about your reproductive health and overall wellbeing. While decoding period blood colors may seem like pop science, its various hues can actually offer helpful hints about your health and give you a heads-up about underlying issues that haven’t been uncovered yet. So, even if you don’t make a habit of paying attention to the patina of your period blood, perhaps it’s time to start taking a little more notice. Because even if they can’t speak, sometimes periods are trying to tell you something.

Decoding period blood colors

Bright Red Period Blood

Bright red blood is the norm for most people at the beginning of their cycles. This hue indicates fresh blood, which is a good sign your uterus is shedding its lining as ‘designed’ and everything is flowing fine.

Dark Red/Brown Period Blood

As your period progresses, the color of your menstrual blood may shift to dark red or brown. This change occurs when the uterus starts shedding its lining at a slower rate, giving blood more time to oxidize and darken in color. Old blood and uterine tissue that weren’t discharged during your previous cycle can also appear dark red or brown, which is why some people notice this color at the beginning of their cycles too. Dark red or brown period blood can also be an early sign of pregnancy.

Black Period Blood

Period blood can also appear black at the beginning and end of your period. Most likely, this is also older blood that has oxidized before leaving your body. Black-colored period blood can be an early sign of a miscarriage as well.

Pink Period Blood

Pinkish period blood is usually a mixture of menstrual blood and cervical fluid, which can lighten the color. This is a normal thing. Pink period blood color can also show up in people experiencing low estrogen levels (perimenopause, intense physical activity) or taking birth control pills. Ovulation spotting can produce a small amount of pink-tinged blood as well. Significant weight loss and anemia can also cause your period blood to become pink, although these conditions will likely present with more noticeable signs and symptoms. The bottom line? If pink blood is not your norm, keep an eye on it.

Orange Period Blood

Sometimes, period blood can take on an orange tint when menstrual blood mixes with cervical fluid. And just like pink period blood, this finding is nothing to worry about. If orange-colored period blood shows up along with other symptoms, like a strong odor, itching, or discomfort, it can be a sign of a vaginal infection. In this case, you should contact your healthcare provider to get a diagnosis and begin treatment.

Gray Period Blood

Gray is one shade of period blood that definitely warrants a second look. Why? This color is often a mixture of normal menstrual blood and gray discharge, which is a sign of certain vaginal infections like BV (bacterial vaginosis). So, if your period blood has a grayish quality, it’s a good idea to call your healthcare provider and get checked out.

Green Period Blood

Green period blood is never normal and can indicate a vaginal infection (like trichomoniasis), yeast infection, or STI, especially if it’s accompanied by a foul odor, itching, or burning. If you experience greenish-looking period blood, with or without additional symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.

Period Blood Clots

It’s normal to notice some small, dark clots during your period, especially on heavy flow days. Why? When your flow is heavier than usual, anticoagulants that normally break down clots can’t keep up with the volume, so some clots aren’t completely broken down before being discharged. Certain medical conditions, like fibroids and hormonal imbalances, can also cause clots to form. Check in with your healthcare provider if you start seeing jelly-like clots larger than a quarter just to be on the safe side.

What is your period telling you?

Periods are a natural and normal part of reproductive health, and paying attention to the color of your menstrual blood can provide insights into your health and wellness. While most variations in period blood color are normal and nothing to worry about, some shades demand further evaluation. The best advice: Trust your gut when something seems “off”. You know your body better than anyone, so don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider if you have concerns or questions. Our bodies have unique ways of communicating with us, and even if translating the language isn’t an exact science, understanding these signals can empower you to prioritize your reproductive health.