A brown discharge might simply indicate old blood that is expelled when having menstruation. It might last from the beginning of the menstruation, but is sometimes seen only in the last days of the menstruation bleeding and is considered quite normal in this particular condition.


A brown discharge (more like spotting) might be related to mid-cycle bleeding. Mid-cycle bleeding occurs due to the hormonal changes that cause the ovulation. If the change is too big, then the inner layer of the uterus might start bleeding.


Sometimes early in pregnancy a brown discharge might be seen. Please note that any kind of bleeding or spotting during pregnancy should be treated as a serious condition threatening the mother or the baby until proven otherwise.


You might want to visit your gynecologist if the brown discharge repeats during the next menstrual cycle, or the discharge turns out to be too heavy. Physical examinations and laboratory hormonal tests might be needed to detect the possible hormonal changes.