Brown spotting at seven weeks pregnant

Blood can turn brown as it remains in the vagina and is exposed to oxygen before leaving the body. Light spotting may follow sex or an examination because the cervix can bleed more readily during pregnancy. Infection and changes within the pregnancy are other possibilities. Colour alone cannot identify the cause or show whether the pregnancy is progressing normally, and an assessment may involve your symptoms, examination, ultrasound or pregnancy-hormone testing.

Use a pad or panty liner rather than a tampon so you can observe the amount, colour and whether clots or tissue appear. Note when the spotting started and whether you have cramps, one-sided pain, fever, unusual discharge, urinary symptoms, dizziness or shoulder-tip pain. Contact your maternity service, early-pregnancy unit or clinician for individual guidance. If you know your blood group is Rh negative, mention this so the team can decide whether any additional care is relevant.

Seek urgent medical help if bleeding becomes heavy or bright red, you soak pads quickly, pass large clots, or develop severe abdominal or pelvic pain. One-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain, fainting, marked dizziness, weakness, breathlessness, fever or feeling acutely unwell also require prompt assessment. These symptoms can occur with complications that cannot be ruled out by the brown colour of earlier spotting.

Ask whether your symptoms require an examination, ultrasound or blood tests, and when any follow-up should occur. Clarify which changes in bleeding or pain should take you directly to emergency care and whom to call outside normal hours. Tell the clinician about previous ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, fertility treatment, pelvic infection, current medicines and recent sex or cervical procedures because these details can shape the assessment.