Period blood colour meaning: what’s normal?

When it comes to that time of the month, most of us think that period blood colour = red, right? Well, yes… and no. While it’s the blood colour you see most often, it’s definitely not the only one, girlfriend! From red, all the way down to grey (yes really!), the colour of your flow can change in order to tell you just what’s happening internally. Cool, huh?!

 

So, what are the different period blood colours?

During that time of the month, your body is hard at work shedding tissue and blood from the uterus through the vagina (aka your period). Now, the period blood colour that you see on your pad/tampon totally depends on things like your hormones, health conditions and where you’re at in your flow. Menstrual blood colour can vary from bright red to dark brown, pink, orange, grey, or even black!

 

What exactly does each period blood colour indicate?

Bright red period blood:

The most common period colour, this means that the blood is fresh and your flow is steady. It’s normal for your period to start bright red, and then darken towards the end of your period.

Dark red period blood:

May appear at the beginning or end of your period, which is usually just a sign of old blood.

Pink period blood:

Can appear when period blood mixes with cervical fluid, which can happen if you use a type of hormonal birth control that lowers oestrogen levels. You might also see pink period blood if you’ve experienced significant weight loss, an unhealthy diet or anaemia (a blood condition).

Orange period blood:

While this shade can mean that period blood has mixed with cervical fluid, it can also be an indication of an infection like Bacterial Vaginosis, so keep an eye out for any signs that accompany an orange period blood colour, such as itching or a bad odour. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, we’d recommend booking in a chat with your GP.

Grey period blood:

Definitely calls for a GP visit, as grey period blood is usually a sign of Bacterial Vaginosis. Watch out for itching, burning and bad smells.

Brown period blood:

Usually, brown period blood a simple sign of old blood! You’ll likely notice this type of period at the very beginning or end of your period. However, brown period blood can also indicate a sign of early pregnancy (aka implantation bleeding), so visit your GP if you’ve had sexual intercourse and you’re feeling concerned.

Black period blood:

Normally seen at the beginning or end of your period, black period blood is either old or has taken a little longer to leave your uterus and shows up as menstrual clotting. If black blood is paired with any other symptoms like itching, fever or swelling down there, it can be a sign of a blockage in your vagina. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, we’d recommend visiting your GP ASAP.