What colour of your period blood says about your health – and when to see a doctor

dailystar.co.uk:

period shows up it usually brings a whole host of not-so-fun things with it, including cramps, bloating, fatigue and cravings.But there is a silver lining to what is often the worst time of the month; your period can actually provide you with some very important insights into your health.For example, irregular periods can be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, hormone imbalances or thyroid problems, while no period at all might have you reaching for a pregnancy test.Another part of your period that can tell you about your overall health is the colour of your blood.It’s normal for menstrual blood to change from day to day throughout your period, but it’s still important to keep an eye out for any unusual changes.Here’s everything you need to know about what the colour of your period blood says about your health.While bright red blood can be scary to see, there is nothing to be alarmed about.Bright red blood is just fresh blood that indicates a steady flow.You’ll usually get bright red blood at the start of your period during the days when you have your heaviest flow, as this is when the blood is new.Brown blood is quite common to see during your period and is usually just a sign of old blood that has lost its red colour because it has oxidised.Brown blood can come at the start of your period because there may be blood left over from your last period.

It also commonly occurs towards the end of your period.Women who have an IUD are more likely to experience brown blood during their period because they’re shedding a smaller amount of the uterus lining each month, so it takes a lot longer.Brown blood can also be an early sign of pregnancy, so if you are experiencing any other signs of pregnancy then you may want to take a.