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Many women have no idea how important it is to check the color of blood during menstruation. If some problems occur in the body, menstruation can actually reveal them. It depends on the frequency of bleeding, the length of the period and the texture, and especially the changed color of the blood. What do the different shades of menstrual blood mean?
Pale blood
A pale and watery shade indicates a lack of nutrients in the body. It can also mean a more serious condition called anemia, which arises from an iron deficiency. Be especially careful if the bleeding is getting increasingly weak. If menstruation weakens over the course of several months and the color is rather pale, it is advisable to have blood tests done. However, if such a color appears as spotting at the end of the period, it most likely does not represent a problem.
If the blood is dark brown, it does not necessarily mean a problem. Blood commonly has a dark brown color at the start of menstruation. It is caused by the shedding of uterine tissue during bleeding. Sometimes such coloring is also caused by the blood having enough time to oxidize before it is expelled, which is why it darkens to almost black.
Jam-like blood
If the blood has a color and texture similar to jam, it may mean that the progesterone level in the body is too low, and conversely that the estrogen level is high. Small clots are considered completely normal, but if a large amount appears or they are larger than usual, they may indicate a more serious hormonal imbalance. In such a case, don’t hesitate to talk to your gynecologist, who will advise you on successful treatment.
Red-orange or orange-yellow discoloration of menstrual blood can be a sign of a bacterial infection, or possibly a sexually transmitted infection. The most common are syphilis, gonorrhea, or HPV. If pain or a strong odor accompanies such discoloration, definitely do not delay visiting a doctor. On the other hand, a faint orange coloration may not represent a serious problem; it is possible that the blood is just diluted with cervical fluid.
