*TMI* Brown 'old blood' type discharge lasting a week or so after period?

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Sorry for TMI but for the last two or three months I've noticed that my periods are largely pretty normal but the brown discharge/cervical mucus lasts a lot longer than usual and is sometimes still there over a week afterwards. I have a smear booked for April but should I try and get seen earlier? I'm concerned and scared to google! It's not like an abnormal amount of discharge, it's standard CM but it's brown. Seems to be like sort of stringy old period blood at first and then later on the CM is tinged brown. It always goes back to normal eventually but it's taking a lot longer than usual. I've had a swab for bv and it was negative. Any ideas advice?

Smear tests are screening tests for those with no symptoms. If you're worried and think these are abnormal symptoms then go and see your doctor about it now. Good luck OP!

See your Dr if this is unusual for you.

I've had this pretty much forever. Its still the same now I'm on HRT and in my late 50s.

I think if its unusual for you, then see someone.

I could have written this myself OP! Exactly the same thing going on with me for the past few months. In fact I booked a smear fearing the worst (especially as I had some dodgy cells and a Lettz prodecure a few years ago...) - but was given the all clear thankfully. I mentioned to nurse and she said this may well be a sign of the dreaded perimenopause. I am early 40’s and my cycles have got closer together also - annoying.

And the lingering on brown discharge is also annoying! I’d be really interested if you get any further answers or thoughts on this!

swishy I'm still none the wiser, I have a gynae appointment for the end of April and a smear on the 19th March so I'm hoping they can shed some light. I might go back to gp in the interim though. I have several other health issues as well and I'm wondering if I might have endometriosis. I think I'm a bit young for peri menopause as only 34 but I wouldn't put anything past my weird body!

I've had this since I was 32, now 36 and gave birth at 33.
It lasts about a week, although my periods have been much heavier since I was sterilised after my c section, all smears have been clear and gynae checks too.
I too was worried at first and asked my GP to examine me as at that point I wasn't due a smear test. No issues were ever found so its probably just age related cycle changes.
I now just stock up on pantiliners and largely forget about it.
Hope you get some reassuring answers too.

It's reassuring to hear it sounds quite common. It's a new thing for me, but I guess we should expect cycles to change through our reproductive lives.

ohwhatapalaver - I'd be interested if you get any further thoughts from the experts! Do come back here to post or please PM me if you prefer...

I will, I'm wondering if switching from tampons to towels has had some effect as since having my second tampons are not particularly comfortable anymore

My second dd I mean, excuse my terrible grammar

This started happening to me in my mid thirties. Maybe it's just an age thing?

I have this with endometriomas- sometimes called chocolate cysts. They grow on my ovaries, when I have them removed the brown discharge goes away. When it comes back I know I have another cyst.

Interesting, I've been wondering if I have endometriosis as I have numerous other symptoms too. Hopefully the gynae folk will shed more light on it in April.

Good luck. Mine keep coming back. I’ve sort of got used to the brown spotting, but I hate it.

@OhWhatAPalaver

Interesting, I've been wondering if I have endometriosis as I have numerous other symptoms too. Hopefully the gynae folk will shed more light on it in April.

I know this is a very old thread but i wondered OP if you ever got any answers with this after your appointment? I just googled this exact same thing and yours was the first post to come up. I'm 43 and since I came off the pill 10 months ago, I basically only bleed for 2 or 3 days then i have this awful dark discharge for over a week. My cycle is fairly short and it means that I've only ever got a maximum of a two week window each month to actually get jiggy. I have pretty awful mid-cycle pain for one day around ovulation time, so I'm starting to wonder if these things would maybe suggest endometriosis....

Hi @OhWhatAPalaver I know this is a very old post did you ever find out iv started getting this recently too an its freaking me out x