Hymenoplasty
Day 1 after hymenoplasty: brown spots and blood spots on the pad
Day 1 · permanent hymenoplasty, flap technique
On the morning after the procedure, it is likely that you will see some colour when you look at your pad. Knowing what that colour means helps you spend the day more calmly.
Two kinds of spots are expected in the first days: brown spots coming from inside and small blood spots. On this page you will read the reason for each, the discharge that is kept separate from them and needs to be checked, and what to pay attention to while you watch the spotting.
Where do brown spots come from?
During the procedure, the inside is washed with antiseptic iodine. Iodine antiseptic is a brownish liquid. The amount that stays inside after washing comes out little by little in the first days and appears on your pad as brown spots.
In other words, the source of this colour is the antiseptic used in the procedure. When you see a brown mark on your pad, let this explanation be the first thing that comes to mind.
Small blood spots
In the first days, and even throughout the first week, there may be small spots of bleeding. These appear as small blood marks on the pad. A thick night pad absorbs the spotting and stops it from reaching your underwear.
If you cannot judge whether the amount you see counts as small, call the clinic and describe it; your doctor will assess it.
Which discharge needs a check-up?
There is one group that differs from the expected spots: discharge that smells different, is yellow or cannot be identified, and that keeps coming. These always need a check-up. When you notice such a discharge, let the clinic know without waiting for days to pass.
Three things are looked at to tell them apart: smell, colour and persistence. Brown iodine spots and small blood spots are among the expected ones; a discharge that smells different, looks yellow or fits no description, and keeps coming, belongs to the group the doctor needs to see. The colour guide on this page summarises this distinction visually; it is not a diagnostic tool.
While watching the spotting
- A single glance at the colour when you change the pad is enough.
- Do not stretch the area in front of a mirror to see where the spotting comes from.
- Do not direct pressurized water at the area to wash the brown mark away.
- If you cannot name the colour, describe what you see to the clinic in your own words.
Do today
- Keep using a thick night pad.
- Look at the colour of the spotting when you change the pad.
- Describe a colour you are unsure about to the clinic.
Avoid today
- Do not direct water at the area under pressure to clean the brown spots.
- Do not open the tissue in front of a mirror to look for the source of the spotting.
- Do not wait for a yellow discharge with a different smell to clear up by itself.
Call us if
- If the discharge on your pad is yellow, smells different or you cannot work out what it is, and it continues, call for a check-up.
- If the amount of blood spotting does not look small to you, or you are unsure, consult the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown discharge normal after hymenoplasty?
Brown spots may come from inside in the first days. The reason is that the inside is washed with antiseptic iodine during the procedure; the rest of the iodine comes out onto the pad as brown spots over the following days. In contrast, a discharge that smells different, is yellow or that you cannot identify, and that continues, does not belong to the same group and should be checked.
How many days does bleeding last after hymenoplasty?
Small spots of bleeding may occur in the first days, and even throughout the first week, and appear as small spots on the pad. This page cannot tell you on which day the spotting will stop for you. If you are not sure whether the amount you see counts as usual, call the clinic; your doctor will tell you specifically.
Is it a problem if there are no spots on my pad on day 1?
Brown spots and small blood spots are things that may be seen in the first days; the doctor's wording is 'may occur'. A clean pad on its own does not indicate anything. Still, keep using the thick night pad, because spotting may come over the following days. If anything is on your mind, ask your doctor.
This page is for general information only; it does not replace an examination or your doctor's advice. Some patients may need additional restrictions. The durations and rules your doctor gives you always take priority over those on this page.
References
- A new surgical technique of hymenoplasty. Wei SY, et al. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2015.
- Hymenoplasty and Muslim Patients: Islamic Ethico-Legal Perspectives. Bawany MH, et al. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2017.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus, Obstetrician & Gynecologist · Last medical review: