Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Brown short periods??

Hello Doctor. I am a 31 year old Pakistani female Pediatric Resident who cant seem to get the answers about my abnormal menstruation.
I am 5’2 weigh 94 lbs (have always been this weight) and started my periods at age of 12. I had a 28 day cycle and normal bleeding 7-8 days. When I was around 20yo I noticed that I had increased hair on my chest, between the breasts. I did not have any chin, cheek hair. I have a light moustache and hair down the inside of my thighs (my family is pretty hirsuit)

At the age of 24 I went to an endocrinologist and she tested me for PCOD. My hormones came back normal, but she started me on OCP’s and spironolactone. I still had totally normal  periods- frequency and duration.  I was on them until 2004, then stopped.

When I stopped taking them (I was 28) I noticed that my bleeding was like this: The first 2 days are brownish black blood, small amount, 1-1.5 day of bright red bleeding (not heavy at all -1 regular tampon/day) then I stop. I have a 26 day cycle (time form the beginning of the spotting to my next one). I initially thought it was because I just stopped the pills, stress with board exams etc. But it has never become normal and its 3-4 years later.

I am worried about PCOS, a luteal phase defect, or ? longstanding ASYMPTOMATIC PID in the past having caused structural damage (I was diagnosed with Chlamydia PCR-TMA on routine pelvic last month, and was treated. I have never had any discharge, abdominal pain or sx attributed to Chlamydia/PID– the last sexual encounter I had was 5 years ago)

So far my TSH, cortisol, testosterone, free testosterone, prolactin are nl. My FSH, LH, estradiol are wnl ( don’t know which part of my cycle I was on when the blood was drawn)

Please, please help me. I am really scared that I wont be able to have kids and don’t know if this is a structural or functional abnormality.

Thank you!!!

4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
415665 tn?1202673612
Hello ,I am a 25 year old young lady. I am 5’4’’ at 115 lbs. I can’t really tell you that my cycles are abnormal for the simple fact I receive them healthily every month. I’ve for some unknown reason I have been tracking my cycle since July of 07.

July 1, 07- July 31, 07= 30 day cycle
July 31, 07- August 26, 07= 26 day cycle
August 26, 07- September 22, 07= 27 day cycle
September 22, 07- October 23, 07= 31 day cycle
October 23, 07- November 23, 07= 31 day cycle
November 23, 07- December 10, 07= 17 day cycle
December 10, 07- January 9, 08= 30 day cycle
January 9, 08- February 7, 08= 29 day cycle

Ok, so here’s the problem… January 9, 08 my cycle started and it was light pink the first day, dry brown the second day, and gone the third day. Yes!, I’m pregnant! Not so quite the forth day came and I started cramping a little worse then I usually do, and the fifth day I had a large clot. So maybe I passed a baby 1 ? I called my doctor and the nurse said that she don’t want to mislead me into thinking I was pregnant and lost a baby. February the 7th came and the cycle was brown, but full, “no spotting”, the 8th brown spotting, the 9th spotting, 10 gone? Implantation bleeding maybe 2? How long/soon does this happen if it was/is implantation bleeding 3?

I don’t believe in drugs so I don’t take medications/ birth control pills, nor do I smoke or drink. I’m not strict on my diet but I have an ok one. I am healthy and my family has no trace or any cancer. I have two kids from a different guy that I’m trying with right now; a little boy who is 6 and a little girl who is 4.5 “as she would say”.

My boyfriend who is 37 and I have been practicing unprotected sex since December of 07. In addition to him being hurt by playing sports “in the you know what hurts area”, he has slow swimmers. But slow just means slow right4? He has no kids and he says he never tried to have any till he met me.

1. So maybe I passed a baby?
2. Implantation bleeding maybe?
3. How long/soon does this happen if it was/is implantation bleeding?
4. But slow just means slow right?
                                                       Thank you,
                                                            Tori
Helpful - 0
415665 tn?1202673612
Hello ,I am a 25 year old young lady. I am 5’4’’ at 115 lbs. I can’t really tell you that my cycles are abnormal for the simple fact I receive them healthily every month. I’ve for some unknown reason I have been tracking my cycle since July of 07.

July 1, 07- July 31, 07= 30 day cycle
July 31, 07- August 26, 07= 26 day cycle
August 26, 07- September 22, 07= 27 day cycle
September 22, 07- October 23, 07= 31 day cycle
October 23, 07- November 23, 07= 31 day cycle
November 23, 07- December 10, 07= 17 day cycle
December 10, 07- January 9, 08= 30 day cycle
January 9, 08- February 7, 08= 29 day cycle

Ok, so here’s the problem… January 9, 08 my cycle started and it was light pink the first day, dry brown the second day, and gone the third day. Yes!, I’m pregnant! Not so quite the forth day came and I started cramping a little worse then I usually do, and the fifth day I had a large clot. So maybe I passed a baby 1 ? I called my doctor and the nurse said that she don’t want to mislead me into thinking I was pregnant and lost a baby. February the 7th came and the cycle was brown, but full, “no spotting”, the 8th brown spotting, the 9th spotting, 10 gone? Implantation bleeding maybe 2? How long/soon does this happen if it was/is implantation bleeding 3?

I don’t believe in drugs so I don’t take medications/ birth control pills, nor do I smoke or drink. I’m not strict on my diet but I have an ok one. I am healthy and my family has no trace or any cancer. I have two kids from a different guy that I’m trying with right now; a little boy who is 6 and a little girl who is 4.5 “as she would say”.

My boyfriend who is 37 and I have been practicing unprotected sex since December of 07. In addition to him being hurt by playing sports “in the you know what hurts area”, he has slow swimmers. But slow just means slow right4? He has no kids and he says he never tried to have any till he met me.

1. So maybe I passed a baby?
2. Implantation bleeding maybe?
3. How long/soon does this happen if it was/is implantation bleeding?
4. But slow just means slow right?
                                                       Thank you,
                                                            Tori
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks Dr. Downing. Does a structural abnl present this way? How does a luteal phase defect present? Since i barely have a period, i assumed i wasnt making a sufficeint lining...
Helpful - 0
242596 tn?1192425949
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,

Thank you for such a thorough history.  You report a normal hormonal work up and a history that doesn't sound like PCOS.  Also, you are still having a regular menstruation although the flow has notably lightened.

If you are concerned about a structural abnormality an hysterosalpingogram to evaluate your uterine cavity and patency of the fallopian tubes can be helpful.  

However, unless you have been trying to conceive unsuccessfully, I wouldn't do anything at this time.  The change in the menses is not clear, but it doesn't mean it will impact your fertility.

Best wishes,

Dr. Downing  
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Gynecology / Women's Health Forum

Popular Resources
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Normal vaginal discharge varies in color, smell, texture and amount.
Bumps in the genital area might be STDs, but are usually not serious.
Chlamydia, an STI, often has no symptoms, but must be treated.
From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.