Many women will experience an abnormal vaginal discharge at some point in their lives. Most often, there is no serious underlying illness, and the body will return to normal within a few days. In some cases, however, a woman might experience a brown vaginal discharge because of a minor infection or, in rare instances, a serious illness.
Function
Vaginal discharge is a collection of fluid, cells and bacteria that bodies continuously excretes through the vagina to clean and protect it, according to the Mayo Clinic. The characteristics of normal vaginal discharge vary in color and consistency throughout the month depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle. The discharge can be clear and watery during some parts of the month or thick and sticky like egg whites when a woman is ovulating.
Causes
A woman might experience a brown vaginal discharge because of old endometrial cells that the uterus failed to shed during the previous menstrual cycle. This will often result in brown blood during a woman's menstrual cycle or just before. Another cause of brown vaginal discharge is ovulation, according to the Palo Alto Medical Center. When a woman ovulates, she might experience brown vaginal spotting, though the cause is unknown. When a woman becomes pregnant, she might experience a mild brown spotting when the embryo implants on the uterine wall. This is often very light and usually lasts no more than three days.
Warnings
Although the cause of brown vaginal discharge is often benign, it can indicate a more serious illness. A brown vaginal discharge might indicate cervical cancer, especially if accompanied by loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, back pain, leg pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, bone fractures and pelvic pain. Certain infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea also might produce a brown discharge with a foul odor.
Diagnosis
A physician will get a thorough medical history to help rule out ovulation bleeding as well as to identify any high-risk behaviors or potential symptoms. Often a blood or urine test will be performed to help identify bacteria that could be causing an infection and rule out implantation bleeding from pregnancy. If a physician suspects cervical cancer, she will perform a Pap smear to identify abnormal cells and examine the cervix with a device called a colposcopy that allows her to view the cervix under magnification, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Treatments
This depends upon the underlying cause. Discharge caused by ovulation or implantation bleeding often require no treatment. Discharge caused by an infection or sexually transmitted disease might require antibiotics. If a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, the treatment might include removal of the cervix and reproductive organs such as the ovaries and uterus as well as chemotherapy and radiation.
