What does dark discharge mean?
I just started birth control about 18 days ago, right after my last period. I had pneumonia for the last two weeks, and I've been taking a steroid and breathing treatments. But I also had sex about two weeks ago, four days after I started my birth control, but with no protection; like a condom. He didn't ejaculate, or even come close. I've had this dark brown discharge that's been constant for the past week. I don't really know what to do. What does this mean...?
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your discharge sounds like spotting. when you first start birth control your body has to get used to it and sometimes it makes women spot in between periods until the body becomes regular. and you should wait at least an entire week or two before having sex when you first start birth control or you could still risk pregnancy.
http://women.webmd.com/guide/vaginal-discharge-wha...
This website names a lot of things that can cause brown discharge. These are the things that sound like the might/could apply to your case:
Antibiotic or steroid use
Birth control pills
Douches, scented soaps or lotions, bubble bath
I listed that last one just in case you use soap, lotion, and bubble bath. I don't think you should worry about though. It sounds more like you just put a double whamy on your body with birth control and the steroids.
Typically birth control will work at its full effect after 1 month of use from the time you begin taking the pills. As a good rule of thumb, you should assume that the pills are working once you've gone through your first regular period.
BASICALLY, the birth control pills shift a bunch of stuff around that's been in place since you went through puberty and, as a result of the sudden changes, your body gives you the unpleasant brown discharge. The brown discharge is your body's way of complaining.
http://www.women-health-info.com/489-Brown-dischar...
"Brown discharge caused by birth control is an unpleasant and embarrassing problem that many women deal with monthly. It should be mentioned that brown discharge is not always a sign of infection or any serious diseases – brown discharge could be just a signal of some hormonal changes developed by birth control pills. In most cases brown discharge is usually old blood. ... It is well know that birth control pills are preventing pregnancy through few mechanisms including the following:
-By blocking ovulation (release of an egg from the mature ovarian follicles) by blocking the action of the FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone), thus preventing pregnancy;
-By altering mucus in the cervix, which makes it hard for sperm to travel further up to Fallopian tubes;
-By changing the endometrium (internal lining of the uterus) so that it cannot support a fertilized egg;
By altering the fallopian tubes (the tubes through which eggs move from the ovaries to the uterus) so that they cannot effectively move eggs toward the uterus.
While birth control pills are insuring all above actions, they are changing the normal hormonal balance of the menstrual cycle through decreasing levels of FSH and LH. Low levels of both hormones (FSH and LH) are responsible for decreased concentrations of estrogens and progesterone – both responsible for endometrial normal development. As a result the lining of the uterus is becoming so thin that it sometimes sloughs off a little bit and appearing as unpleasant unexpected brown discharge.
Other reason for brown discharge during birth control pills could be missed pills. Missed pills are disturbing the whole hormonal mechanisms and “upsetting” the endometrium. Taking birth control pills at precisely the same time every day may help during brown discharge."
I know it was a lot to read but hope this helps.