Why does my cervical mucus have a brownish tinge to it?
What is cervical mucus?
There are many different types of vaginal discharges and cervical mucus is one of them. Cervical mucus plays an important role in conception or getting pregnant by allowing fertilization to occur at a time distant from intercourse. A woman's cervical mucus changes throughout her menstrual cycle to reflect the hormonal fluctuations in her body.
More often than not, your cervical mucus is a clear indication of your reproductive health and provides vital clues to your fertility. You can check your cervical mucus using either your fingers or toilet paper. During most of your cycle, your cervical mucus forms a thick plug that prevents sperms from entering the uterus. Preceding the time of ovulation the mucus increases in volume, becomes thinner and more stretchy. The change in volume and texture of your cervical mucus is due to the increase in estrogen levels that accompanies ovulation.
Why does my cervical mucus have a brownish tinge to it?
If you notice a brownish tinge in your cervical mucus, relax; there is perhaps nothing to worry. Brownish tinge or discharge in cervical mucus is almost always old blood that did not leave the uterus during your last menstrual cycle. Sometimes a brown tinge can also be associated with ovulation. It might be related to a bleeding from a ruptured follicle. Occasionally when you see a brownish tinge in your cervical mucus, it can also be the result of trauma to the cervix. This could mean either an infection or something as simple as sexual intercourse.
Every once in a while, the brown discharge in cervical mucus can also be attributed to implantation, in which case you are pregnant. After ovulation a mature ovum, ready to be fertilized is released in the uterus. If this ovum encounters a good sperm and gets fertilized, it means the woman has conceived. When the fertilized ovum burrows into the uterine lining, some blood is often released and passed as brown discharge. Most women hardly notice it, but those who check mucus patterns are very aware of it.
So a brownish discharge in your cervical mucus could basically mean two things: either is because of ovulation or because of implantation. It is always a good idea to monitor your cervical mucus patterns. These are very useful when something like a brownish tinge appears in your discharges and you would like to track it down. Combined with basal body temperature monitoring, this can also be a great tool in predicting ovulation and planning pregnancies.
If you would like to know more about how you can improve the quality and quantity of your cervical mucus, our articles will provide a wonderful resource. Learn more about how you can be informed about your body and its signs.
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