Vaginal discharge is a completely normal occurrence in women and teenage girls. Discharge changes throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. Normal discharge varies between a white, sticky discharge to one that closely resembles an egg white. Discharge is typically clear, though variations in color, texture and odor can indicate problems. Brown vaginal discharge is often not cause for serious concern, though a doctor should always be consulted when abnormalities occur in the menstrual cycle.
Following Periods
As the menstrual period comes to an end, any blood that is left in the uterus and vagina may appear a brown color when expelled from the body. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation explains that the blood at the end of a cycle is old, thus appearing brown from age and lack of oxygen. Shedding this blood at the end of the menstrual cycle is simply the body's way of cleaning the reproductive tract, preparing for the next cycle.
Spotting Due to Ovulation
For some women, when ovulation occurs and an ovary releases an egg, a bit of bleeding can occur as well. By the time the blood is discharged from the body, it is several days old and appears brown in color. This is not cause for concern, and is completely normal for some women.
Spotting Due to Pregnancy
After an egg is fertilized, it implants itself into the lining of the uterus to grow. This lining is very rich in blood and the egg can cause bleeding to occur as it implants and disrupts the uterine lining. Implantation bleeding can occur, which may appear as light brown spotting, approximately 6 to 12 days after ovulation, explains BabyMed.com. Implantation bleeding does not occur with every pregnancy or in every woman.
Childbirth
Following birth, bleeding occurs for several weeks, beginning as a heavy flow and tapering down to a light discharge. This bleeding is known as lochia, and turns brown as it nears its end, which may take six weeks for some women as noted by the Mayo Clinic. Similar to discharge that occurs with menstrual periods, this blood or lochia is brown in color due to its age. As long as no foul odor is detected and large clots aren't being passed, it is not a cause for concern.
