Periods can be unpredictable, and period blood is no different. Although it's normal for period blood colors to range from light pink to dark black, it may feel unsettling to see a different shade — especially when you don't know what's causing the change. While some period blood colors may be indicative of a bigger issue, the good news is there's a much wider variety of period blood colors that generally aren't cause for concern.
If you've ever wondered what the color of your period blood means, we broke down the entire rainbow with ob-gyns. As board-certified ob-gyn explains, period blood colors are at least partially affected by the timing of discharge and a process called oxidation. "The color of period blood is really determined by how long the blood has remained in your uterus and vagina," Dr.
Jackman tells POPSUGAR. "It gets darker due to the oxidization of blood — the longer it stays around before it is discharged." In some cases, period blood colors can be indicative of other things going on in your body, such as an infection, low estrogen, or ovulation.
The duration, flow, and color varies depending on individual circumstances, but ob-gyn , explains that periods will often start out pink on the first day, then turn bright red for a few days, followed by dark red on the heaviest day, and, finally, brown or black for the remaining day or two. While it's normal to experience some variety in your period blood colors, pay attention to any sudden or unfamiliar changes.
