Hi everyone,

I'm a 28 year old woman and have been experiencing almost constant brown discharge for over 8 years. It all started when I started taking the combined contraceptive pill 8 years ago. Initially I was on Rigevidon, but after 3 months I switched to Yasmin as I wasn't getting along with Rigevidon. Yasmin worked much better for me, but the brown discharge started a couple of months after I started taking it. In the years since, I've tried every type of combined pill that exists (i.e. different mgs of oestrogen; different progesterones) but the issue continued no matter what I did. The discharge varied in colour and amount (sometimes it's lighter and the colour of peanut butter; others it's the colour of tar and heavier) but was constant throughout the 21 day pack of pills - I never had normal, white/cream discharge. I still had a normal withdrawal bleed during the 7-day break.

In late 2021 I was examined by a gynaecologist, and was told this discharge was just old blood coming out. Due to various factors in my life (finishing university, breakups, etc) I put up with it until about a year ago when I decided it was becoming the bane of my life (I can't wear normal underwear as the discharge stains it, so I've been stuck wearing period pants almost constantly, or using my menstrual cup just to have a break). The nurse I saw suggested trying the mini pill instead. I tried 2 different types but found my symptoms didn't improve, and I'd just have random 'periods' (i.e. fresh blood) every few days.

A few months ago I returned to my GP about this issue and was told the only way to stop this issue was to come off the pill altogether, as I would experience the same issue even if I tried non-pill forms of contraception e.g. the patch, implant, etc. After 3 months I was still experiencing almost constant brown discharge (it randomly stops for around 5 days in the middle of my cycle, so I'd imagine when I'm supposed to be ovulating), as well as much lighter periods than the withdrawal bleeds I had on the combined pill - TMI but I'd typically fill half of my menstrual cup in 12 hours on the pill, whereas now I don't even fill a quarter in 12 hours. My GP wants to get a clear picture of what's going on, so she took a urine sample and a swab to test for STIs, and I had a blood test earlier this week. I also have a pelvic ultrasound in a couple of weeks' time, which I'm super nervous about. The procedure itself doesn't faze me, but I'm scared it'll be cancer or something equally serious, especially as it's been going on for such a long time and it's continued even without the artificial hormones I was on. I've trawled through Google and haven't found anyone who's in the same situation as me - has anyone gone through this and did it all turn out OK in the end? I'd just really like some reassurance.