What does brown smelly vaginal discharge suggest?

When you see brown discharge, it often means that blood has been in the vagina for a while. The brown color comes from old blood that is slowly leaving the body. If this brown discharge has a strong or foul smell, it might be because an infection is present. Sometimes, the mix of old blood and bacteria creates an odor. In some situations, an infection like bacterial vaginosis can cause smelly discharge because the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina changes and allows other bacteria to grow. Other conditions can sometimes lead to a similar look and odor when the body clears away blood or if there is irritation or a low-level infection in the reproductive organs. If you're experiencing these symptoms and want to better understand what might be causing them, you can use a free symptom checker to help identify potential causes before speaking with a healthcare provider. It is a good idea to let a healthcare provider check it out, especially if you notice a persistent smell or if you have discomfort, as they can ask questions about your symptoms, possibly do some tests, and help find out what is happening so that you can get the right treatment if needed.