Brown discharge on birth control is usually normal, especially when you’ve just started taking the pill. It occurs because of hormonal changes in the body and is often called spotting or breakthrough bleeding.
This type of discharge is typically light, stops on its own, and isn’t considered a serious problem. It also doesn’t mean that your birth control has stopped working.
Although brown vaginal discharge can sometimes appear early in pregnancy, it’s not usually a sign of pregnancy when you’re taking birth control correctly. It’s more likely due to your body adjusting to the hormone levels in the contraceptive.
In most cases, your body will adapt within the first few months of starting, changing, or resuming birth control. Taking your pill at the same time every day helps stabilize hormone levels and can reduce spotting.
If the brown discharge continues, keep using your contraceptive as prescribed and schedule an appointment with a gynecologist to confirm that birth control is the cause. A healthcare provider may recommend switching to another contraceptive or adjusting how you use it to help stop the spotting.