Brown discharge is one of the signs that your period is on its way. The brown color means that there is slow bleeding from your uterus, unlike when it’s bright red and flowing faster. Girls and women often have brown discharge just before, during, or right after their period. Brown blood is often a smudge or spotting. If the discharge has a bad odor, you have itching, lasts longer than a day or so, you should make an appointment with your health care provider.