When to be concerned about 'brown spotting' before your period

Periods, periods, periods.

For those of us who get them, we'll know all too well just how much of a pain they can be. There are the mood swings, fatigue, insatiable food cravings, skin breakouts, leaking all over your underwear, debilitating cramps, and major bloating - and that's just a handful of symptoms!

But there's also a far less talked-about thing that happens to many women and people with uteruses just before your period, known as 'brown spotting,' and healthcare experts have since weighed in to explain when to be concerned about it.

Now, while brown spotting can often just be a sign of ovulation or your actual period starting, it's important to know it can also be a symptom of an underlying condition that needs treatment.

As we say, brown spotting can be harmless as it's, most of the time, just old blood leaving the uterus before your period, but it may signal an underlying issue if it happens frequently or outside your normal cycle, if you notice pelvic pain, fever, or foul odour, if you have risk factors for infection or cancer or experiencing new, unusual, or worsening symptoms.

So, without further ado, let's get into it.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Healthcare experts have explained when to be concerned about 'brown spotting' before your period (Getty Stock Images)

Spotting may occur if an infection irritates your vaginal tissues, which can lead to bleeding and spotting

According to experts at Healthline, additional symptoms you might experience related to an STI include:

• pelvic pain
• burning sensation when urinating
• fever
• nausea
• pain during sex
• unusual or foul-smelling discharge, such as green or yellow discharge

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Brown spotting can often just be a sign of ovulation or your actual period starting (Basak Gurbuz Derman / Getty Images)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) results from an infection in your reproductive system, including some sexually transmitted infections.

In addition to brown spotting, Healthline says that PID can also cause:

• burning sensation when urinating
• pain during sex
• pelvic pain
• unusual or foul-smelling discharge
• fevers or chills

Foreign body

Brown spotting can also be a symptom of an underlying condition that needs treatment (Emilija Manevska / Getty Images)

Tissue irritation and infection from a forgotten or misplaced object, such as a tampon, can also trigger spotting.

Symptoms of this may include a strong, foul-smelling discharge, pelvic pressure or discomfort and fever if the infection develops.

While this discharge typically doesn’t contain any blood, it can closely resemble brown spotting, Healthline warns.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes irregular ovulation, which can lead to spotting before a period.

"Without regular ovulation, you’ll likely experience some spotting between your periods," experts at Healthline note, adding that other PCOS symptoms include:

• acne
• infertility
• oily skin
• abnormal hair growth on the face, chest or abdomen
• weight gain

Cervical cancer

It's best to follow up any unusual symptoms with your doctor just in case (Getty Stock Images)

And, lastly, abnormal cells on the cervix can cause spotting, especially after irritation. Healthline warns that cervical cancer can cause vaginal bleeding between periods, even after menopause.

However, with that said, the experts highlight: "Keep in mind that cervical cancer is simply a potential cause of brown spotting, not a likely one."

In addition to brown spotting, you may also have unusual vaginal discharge, which can be foul-smelling, watery, or even blood-tinged.

Later symptoms of cervical cancer include:

• back pain
• fatigue
• pelvic pain
• problems going to the bathroom
• unexplained weight loss

While brown spotting can just be part of your normal menstrual cycle, it's always good to double-check it over with your doctor if it's accompanied by any unusual symptoms, especially a fever, unexplained fatigue or pelvic pain.