birth control

today i have had a lil bit of brown discharge in my underwear ive been off depo for awhile now i never had a period could it be that iam very scared can someone please help me

[Arti Sharma, M.D.]

Hello and hope you are doing well.
A complete evaluation is necessary for correct diagnosis and management. Brown vaginal discharge is often associated with old endometrial tissues. If a woman has late periods she may get a brown discharge. Other conditions causing brown discharge are infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, genital warts, gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Cervical cancer is another serious but rare cause of brown prolonged vaginal discharge. Routine pelvic exams will help to identify these infections .Stress, eating disorders, too much of exercise, weight loss/weight gain all can delay periods. A complete evaluation will help in detecting the exact cause of your symptoms. Treatment will be specific based on the cause. Do keep me posed with more queries.
Best wishes and regards!