The brown discharge you’re describing sounds like the very end of some menstrual periods, when there may be just a tiny bit of blood still leaving the uterus. It takes longer for this blood to leave the body, so there is time for a chemical process known as “oxidation” to turn the red color to brown. This blood may also be mixed in with the normal vaginal discharge.
I wouldn’t worry if this lasts for 4 or 5 days at the end of your period. It will probably stop happening within the first couple of years of your periods starting. (Remember, that’s when your menstrual cycle is still getting regulated.) However, if your period itself (that is, bright red bleeding) lasts longer than 7 days on a regular basis, or more than 10 to 14 days even once, I suggest you consult a doctor.
One important note: occasionally, a girl who uses tampons experiences a brown discharge combined with a very unpleasant odor in her genital area after her period. This usually means that there is still a tampon in the vagina. Of course, that tampon needs to come out.
Sometimes the string on the tampon does not hang down towards the vaginal opening the way it should. You might be able to pull it out: wash your hands thoroughly, squat over the toilet, and try to locate it with your index finger. If you are able to feel it, or the string, “bear down” as if you were having a bowel movement while trying to remove the tampon. This may be painful or difficult, especially you are a virgin. If you don’t succeed, your doctor will be able to remove it.
For more information, check out these articles:
http://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=info_article&ID_article=1377">A Look at the Menstrual Cycle
Deciding to Use Tampons
Growing Up as a Girl
What to Expect with Menstruation">
Posted 8-21-05
