Watery Brown Discharge

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I'm a PNP and have very little experince in women's or even adult health outside of nursing school, which was awhile ago. I'll do paps, OBCP, and STD testing on teens, but for the most part, if it is odd, I'll consult the Pediatrician or send them to OB.

During one of my sick visits this week, the mother of the patient started feeling me up for advice on one of her medical problems. :uhoh3: I immediately recommended her to call her doctor.

But I'm curious to know what it might be:

42 YO female who says she has spotted off and on for about 2 months, then this month started to have intermittend brown watery discharge from her lady partsl area. Lasted about 2-3 days and then went away.

Any ideas? I'm just curious at this point. I thought of the possibility of a miscarriage, but the mom (without me asking) made it very clear there was no possible way she could be pregnant (not sexually active).

I'm sorry about the lack of information- but I wasn't seeing this person, and didn't want to ask questions because I was not going to give her any advice other than to call her provider.

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Hmmm...well, my Mom had something similar to this, but she is in her 60's. It ended up being a lady partsl polyp. She had it removed, no problem. Also, my sis is in her 40's and she has had very irregular periods and strange d/c as well, dr told her it was related to pre-menopause after her pap and lady partsl exams showed nothing. Hope this helps a little.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I was thinking, an age related (menopause) normal variant. The brown watery discharge more than likely would be a watery discharge containing a small amt of old blood. Hard to guess though.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

What if it's a fistula? Also, it could just be a wonky period - can't really say for sure without a full exam! Glad you referred her to her PMD.

Blee

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
What if it's a fistula? Also, it could just be a wonky period - can't really say for sure without a full exam! Glad you referred her to her PMD.

Blee

What is a "wonky" period? That's a new one on me.

A fistula is a connection between an organ, vessel, or intestines and another structure. A fistula can be caused by surgery, an injury or an infection. A woman could have an abnormal opening between the rectum and the lady parts for example.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

You definitely did the right thing in referring her to PCP!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thanks to you all! Just trying to satisfy my curiosity. If the woman updates me on this, I'll make sure to post it here.

You would be suprised at how many parents I have trying to get me to diagnose them. I LOVE being a PEDIATRIC nurse prac for this very reason. My standard reply is usually: Sorry, I'm not trained on people over 21 years of age! You better call your doc.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
I LOVE being a PEDIATRIC nurse prac for this very reason. My standard reply is usually: Sorry, I'm not trained on people over 21 years of age! You better call your doc.

That's part of why I love doing OB.... I tell people all the time, if it doesn't have to do with babies or breastfeeding, or postpartum, it ain't my area.

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