What is the medical term for bloody discharge? A guide to understanding your symptoms

October 2, 2025 •

4 min read

Medically, the term 'bloody discharge' is not a single, universal diagnosis but rather a descriptive symptom that can stem from various parts of the body. Understanding what is the medical term for bloody discharge is the first step toward accurately communicating with healthcare providers and identifying the root cause of your specific issue.

Quick Summary

The medical term for bloody discharge depends on its source; for instance, it is called sanguineous drainage from a wound, metrorrhagia for irregular uterine bleeding, hematuria for blood in the urine, and hematochezia for rectal bleeding.

Key Points

Source Matters: The medical term for bloody discharge depends entirely on its point of origin in the body (e.g., wound, uterus, rectum, or urinary tract).
Sanguineous Drainage: Refers specifically to bloody fluid from a wound, which is often a normal part of the initial healing process.
Metrorrhagia and Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: These terms describe gynecological bleeding that occurs outside of a regular menstrual period and can have many causes.
Hematochezia and Hematuria: Hematochezia is bright red blood from the rectum, while hematuria is blood present in the urine.
When to See a Doctor: While some bloody discharge is normal, symptoms accompanied by severe pain, fever, or bleeding during pregnancy or after menopause warrant a medical evaluation.
Postpartum Bleeding (Lochia): Lochia is the specific term for bloody discharge experienced for several weeks after giving birth.

Understanding the different types of bloody discharge

Bloody discharge is a non-specific symptom, meaning it can originate from various bodily systems. A healthcare professional will first pinpoint the source of the bleeding to arrive at a specific diagnosis. For example, bloody vaginal discharge, bloody urine, and bloody fluid from a wound each have a distinct medical term and potential underlying causes. Recognizing these differences is vital for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Sanguineous drainage (from wounds)

Sanguineous drainage, or sanguineous exudate, is the medical term for fresh, red, bloody discharge from a wound. This is a common and normal part of the initial wound healing phase, known as the inflammatory stage. It indicates damage to blood vessels within the tissue. The drainage typically has a bright red color and a watery, sometimes thick, consistency.

During wound healing, the amount of sanguineous drainage should decrease over time as the wound progresses toward a healthy state. If the bleeding is excessive, prolonged, or appears in later stages of healing, it could signal complications such as infection, a reopened wound, or a clotting problem that requires medical attention.

Serosanguineous drainage: A mixture of blood and serous fluid, which is clear and watery. This drainage appears pinkish or light red and is a positive sign that a wound is healing properly.
Purulent drainage: Unlike sanguineous types, purulent drainage is a thick, opaque discharge that is yellow, green, or brown and often has a foul odor. It is a clear sign of infection.

Gynecological bleeding (metrorrhagia and other terms)

Bloody discharge from the vagina outside of a normal menstrual period is often referred to as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). One specific medical term for bleeding that occurs irregularly and unpredictably between menstrual cycles is metrorrhagia. Other related terms and contexts include:

Menometrorrhagia: Heavy, prolonged, and irregular uterine bleeding.
Lochia: The specific vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth. It starts as bright red (lochia rubra) and changes over several weeks.
Breakthrough bleeding: Spotting that can occur with hormonal birth control.

Causes of abnormal gynecological bleeding range from hormonal imbalances (common in teenagers and perimenopausal women) to more serious conditions like infections, uterine fibroids, or, in rare cases, cancer. Postmenopausal bleeding is never considered normal and always requires a medical evaluation.

Hematochezia and melena (from the gastrointestinal tract)

Hematochezia is the medical term for passing bright red, bloody discharge from the rectum. The bright red color indicates that the bleeding is originating from the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, diverticulosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

In contrast, melena describes black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools. This is typically caused by bleeding in the upper GI tract, where blood is digested as it travels through the intestines.

Hematuria (from the urinary tract)

Hematuria is the medical term for the presence of blood in the urine. It can be visible to the naked eye (gross hematuria), making the urine appear pink, red, or tea-colored, or it can be invisible (microscopic hematuria), only detectable under a microscope during a urinalysis.

This symptom can stem from the kidneys, bladder, or urethra. Potential causes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney or bladder stones, certain kidney diseases, and, rarely, cancers of the urinary tract. While some causes are benign, the presence of hematuria always warrants a medical evaluation to determine the underlying issue.

Comparing medical terms for bloody discharge


Feature	Sanguineous Drainage	Metrorrhagia / AUB	Hematochezia	Hematuria
Source	Wound, incision site	Uterus, cervix, vagina	Rectum, colon, GI tract	Urinary tract (kidneys, bladder)
Appearance	Bright red, bloody, watery	Varies (spotting, red, brown)	Bright red blood in stool	Pink, red, tea-colored urine
Common Causes	Early wound healing, trauma	Hormonal imbalance, fibroids, infection, medication	Hemorrhoids, anal fissures, diverticulosis	UTI, kidney stones, infection, injury
Location	External (on skin)	Internal (vaginal)	Internal (rectal/in stool)	Internal (urinary)

When to seek medical attention

While some forms of bloody discharge, like light spotting during a normal menstrual cycle or a small amount of sanguineous drainage from a minor wound, may not be cause for alarm, it is important to know when to see a healthcare provider. You should seek prompt medical advice if you experience any of the following, as they could signal a serious underlying condition:

Bleeding during pregnancy: Any bloody discharge or spotting while pregnant should be reported to your doctor immediately.
Postmenopausal bleeding: Bleeding after you have gone through menopause is never considered normal and requires immediate investigation.
Heavy or persistent bleeding: Soaking through pads or tampons frequently or bleeding that lasts longer than usual.
Accompanying symptoms: Fever, severe pain, pelvic cramping, unexplained weight loss, or weakness.
Blood in urine or stool: Any visible blood in your urine or stool should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Conclusion

Bloody discharge is a general symptom that can have many different specific medical terms depending on its origin. From what is the medical term for bloody discharge from a wound (sanguineous drainage) to bleeding in the urine (hematuria), the source and context are key to understanding the diagnosis. Keeping track of your symptoms, such as the amount, color, and timing of the discharge, is essential information to share with a healthcare provider. Always consult with a medical professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, especially if you have concerns or experience any of the serious symptoms mentioned above.

For more detailed information on gynecological conditions, please consult reliable medical resources such as the MedlinePlus medical encyclopedia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not always. For example, light spotting (a type of bloody discharge) during a normal menstrual cycle or the initial sanguineous drainage from a minor wound can be normal. However, bloody discharge that is heavy, prolonged, or occurs outside of expected times—like after menopause or during pregnancy—should always be evaluated by a doctor.

Hematochezia is the medical term for bright red blood in the stool, indicating bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Melena is the term for black, tarry, and foul-smelling stool, which is caused by digested blood from the upper GI tract.

Sanguineous drainage indicates the presence of fresh, bright red blood from an open wound. While it is a normal part of the early inflammatory stage of wound healing, persistent or excessive bleeding from a wound requires monitoring.

Yes, it can. Spotting or 'breakthrough bleeding' is a common side effect, especially during the first few months of starting a new hormonal birth control method like pills or an IUD. It often resolves on its own as your body adjusts.

You should always see a doctor if you notice blood in your urine (hematuria), regardless of how little. It could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, kidney stones, or a more serious condition like kidney or bladder cancer.

The specific medical term for the bloody vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth is lochia. It typically lasts for several weeks and changes in color and consistency over time.

Causes can vary widely and include hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids or polyps, side effects from medication or birth control, infections of the cervix or uterus, and, in some cases, cancers of the reproductive system.