Is vaginal discharge a sign of pregnancy?

 How can vaginal discharge help you to know if you are pregnant? Read this article and find out now! 

When is vaginal discharge a sign of pregnancy?

The consistency of the vaginal discharge and the cervical mucus varies throughout the menstrual cycle and also during pregnancy. Women often search for physical signs, such as variations in vaginal discharge and cervical mucus, as a sign of early pregnancy or to determine whether it is the right time to try to conceive.   

It might be challenging to tell the difference between vaginal discharge that happens before a period and vaginal discharge that occurs with early pregnancy. You might be able to differentiate between cervical mucus before a period, just before ovulation, and that of early pregnancy if you start observing how your vaginal discharge changes during your menstrual cycle.1

Sometimes during the first trimester or the first few weeks of pregnancy, women may experience an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge and also a change in colour or texture. A woman may notice a white, milky discharge from the vagina. It results from the thickening of the wall during early pregnancy. The increased growth of the cells lining the vaginal canal causes the vaginal discharge.2

If someone assumes these changes in vaginal discharge as a pregnancy symptom, it can be very confusing and often misleading. Therefore, if you think you might be pregnant and want to be sure, it is necessary to get a pregnancy test.

Also, an excess vaginal discharge or a change in vaginal discharge may indicate a vaginal infection or a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

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When is vaginal discharge a sign of an infection?

It might be challenging to differentiate between vaginal infections because their symptoms are similar. However, every infection has a unique set of signs and symptoms:

1. Bacterial vaginosis (BV):

In Bacterial vaginosis, it is common to have a thin discharge that is greyish-white, greenish, or yellow in colour. This discharge may have a fishy smell and smells worse after penetrative vaginal sex. You might not notice much scratching and itching.

2. Yeast infections:

It results in burning, itching, and discomfort in the vulva and vaginal regions. Another sign of yeast infections is swelling in the labia (the folds of skin) around the vagina. Any discharge is usually white, lumpy, and has a texture similar to cottage cheese.

 

3. Trichomoniasis: 

The common symptoms of this infection are vaginal itchiness and a fishy odour. In addition to a greenish-yellow, foamy discharge, you might also have swelling, discomfort, and inflammation in your vagina and vulva. Other symptoms of trichomoniasis include pain during vaginal sex, lower abdominal pain, and burning and pain while urinating.

4. Atrophic vaginitis:

Although this isn't an infection, it can increase your risk of urinary tract infections and vaginal infections. If you have atrophic vaginitis, you can experience symptoms similar to other infections, such as vaginal burning, itching, dryness, and changes in discharge.3

Why are there changes in your vaginal discharge during pregnancy?

A woman can notice a minor increase in vaginal discharge early on in her pregnancy. Higher estrogen levels during pregnancy enable the body to create more vaginal discharge and increase blood flow to the uterus and vagina. The increased discharge also protects the fetus by preventing the transmission of external pathogens from the vagina to the uterus. As the pregnancy progresses, a woman will continue to have increased discharge until delivery.4

What does pregnancy discharge look like?

Vaginal discharge changes throughout pregnancy as it does throughout the menstrual cycle. It usually has a slight odour (or with no odour) and is thin, milky white, or colourless. One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is a change in vaginal discharge. This type of healthy vaginal discharge is called Leukorrhea. Although it can occur in women who are not pregnant, the term is used frequently to describe vaginal discharge during pregnancy.

Vaginal discharge increases during the first trimester of pregnancy in an effort to flush out bacteria and dead cells from the uterus and vagina to help prevent infections. As your pregnancy progresses, you will eventually experience more vaginal discharge. It is normal and not a cause of concern as long as it remains colourless and odourless. This discharge helps with the growth of the mucus plug over time. In order to stop an infection from entering the uterus and harming the baby, this plug closes off the entrance of your cervix.

What does brown or pink discharge during pregnancy indicate?

During pregnancy, there may also be brownish or pinkish vaginal discharge. When you wipe, it appears as light streaks or spots of colour on your underwear or toilet paper. It could be spotting if the bleeding is extremely light. Usually, this pinkish or brownish discharge is not a sign of a problem. The possible reasons are listed below:

• Implantation: A small amount of brown or pink discharge or spotting may appear in some pregnant women at the beginning of their pregnancy, around the time their period is due. It could be a sign of implantation, which occurs about ten days after fertilisation when an embryo implants in the uterine lining. It's unclear whether implantation is the main reason for the bleeding or spotting. 

• Intercourse or a vaginal exam: You might feel brown- or pink-tinged discharge after sex or an internal exam throughout pregnancy. Due to increased blood flow in the area during pregnancy, the cervix and vagina are more prone to irritation.

• Vigorous exercise: Strenuous exercises might result in spotting or coloured discharge at any stage of pregnancy. It is usually a sign that you should tone down on the exercise as long as it doesn't turn into bleeding.

• Bloody show: As your cervix dilates toward the end of your pregnancy, the mucus plug gradually breaks down and may come out in small bits, large clumps, or mucus streaks. Due to this, the vaginal discharge could appear brownish or pinkish. The "bloody show" is not felt or experienced by everyone. While it indicates that birth is near, it could occur hours, days, or weeks before true labour begins.4

Consult a doctor:

A change in the amount of vaginal discharge may help identify an early pregnancy. Regardless of whether you are concerned about pregnancy, you should see a doctor if you notice a change in your vaginal discharge. A doctor can help diagnose the problem and prescribe the necessary medication.

Consult a doctor if you notice any additional changes in the colour or texture of vaginal discharge that are more likely to be brought on by an infection. Always seek medical attention if changes in vaginal discharge are associated with pain or irritability.