Hi, Wellcome to HCM I understand well your concern. There are a few reasons why a woman s vaginal discharge may be brown in color: 1.Pregnancy. A pinkish brown colored discharge is an early sign of pregnancy. 2.Implantation Bleeding. This is another early sign of pregnancy. The discharge can be light brown, pink or red. This type of discharge is normal and usually occurs 10 -14 days after conception. The discharge is caused by the egg implanting itself to the uterine wall. It usually appears as a single smear of discharge not a spotting or flowing type. 3.Old Endometrial Tissues. A light brown discharge is common in young girls before they start their menstrual cycle. In women, the discharge is the body s way of releasing any old endometrial tissue that was not shed during the menstrual cycle. 4.Atrophic Vaginitis. Atrophic vaginitis can cause a brown discharge, bleeding, pain or itching in the vaginal area. A woman may also experience painful intercourse, burning sensation, dryness; the discharge may be yellow in color and have a foul smell. 5.Uterine Polyps. Uterine polyps are also called endometrial polyps. The Polyps can cause a discharge as well as bleeding after intercourse, heavy menstrual bleeding, and abnormal vaginal bleeding. 6.STDs. A light brown discharge can be an early symptom of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The most common STDs that cause a discharge include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and genital warts. But in your case , I doubt that you might have a STD( sexually transmitted disease, if you had an intercourse , of course) based on your symptoms like itching and swelling of the vaginal area. I understand you quite well, but before I recommend you to start a medication, you should see a gynecologist immediately,because ONLY HIM can give you an accurate diagnosis. If you have other symptoms or your discharge lasts longer than a few days, it is always a good idea to see your gynecologist first. Treating a brown discharge depends on why you are experiencing the discharge.He will be able to determine the cause based on the answers you provide to their questions, a pelvic exam, and possibly some other tests if your pelvic exam does not show a cause for the discharge. In addition, I advise you to : 1.Wear cotton underwear. 2.Wear lose fitting undergarments. 3.Change your tampon or sanitary napkin frequently during your menstrual cycle. 4.Avoid douching as it can increase your risk of developing an infection by throwing off your body s natural pH level Regards, Dr. Ermira Biu