Even before you’ve stopped having your period, your normal vaginal discharge, which is medically referred to as leukorrhea, will start to change approximately one to two weeks after you become pregnant. This discharge will typically become more obvious as your pregnancy continues, and it will be at its heaviest when you are nearing the end of your pregnancy.
Changes in your body can be brought on by pregnancy in a variety of ways. Some of the signs that may indicate that you are pregnant include cramping, a missed period, and a discharge that is white in colour.
However, there are many different symptoms of pregnancy, and the fact that you might be experiencing some of them does not necessarily mean that you are pregnant.
Continue reading to acquire additional knowledge regarding the signs of pregnancy.
Are you supposed to have discharge at this point in your cycle?
The consistency and quantity of vaginal discharge changes according to ovulation:
- In the days before your period, your vaginal discharge may have a glue-like look and feel.
- Then, on the day immediately before your period, you may notice no discharge at all.
- During your period, it’s likely that your menstrual blood will cover the mucus.
In the days following your period, you’ll probably notice no discharge. This happens when your body creates more mucus before another egg is ripened in anticipation of ovulation.
Following these “dry days,” your discharge will go through days when it appears sticky, cloudy, wet, and slippery.
These are the days leading up to and following the most fertile period, when the egg is ready to be fertilized.
Although cervical mucus can signal fertility, it isn’t a fail-safe indication. In some cases, a person may have high levels of estrogen without ovulating.
Wait, is this a sign of pregnancy?
Not necessarily. There are various reasons why your discharge changes consistency or appears absent.
What else can cause this?
Pregnancy isn’t the only thing that can impact your vaginal discharge. Other influences include:
- vaginal infection
- menopause
- vaginal douching
- the morning after pill
- breastfeeding
- cervical surgery
- sexually transmitted infections (STI)
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At what point should you be concerned?
If there’s a dramatic change in the consistency, colour, or smell of the mucus, this can be cause for concern.
Should you take a pregnancy test or see a doctor?
If you’ve had vaginal intercourse recently and think you could be pregnant, it might be a good idea to take a pregnancy test.
If the test is positive, or you think that there’s a larger issue at hand such as an infection, set up an appointment to see a doctor or other healthcare provider.
Your provider will be able to fully assess what’s going on with your body and let you know if treatments is necessary.
What if your period doesn’t arrive as expected? Then what?
If your period doesn’t arrive as expected, there might be something else going on.
Your menstrual cycle can be impacted by things like:
- stress
- increased exercise
- sudden weight fluctuation
- travel
- changes in birth control usage
- thyroid issues
- eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia)
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- drug use
For those who are between 45 to 55 years old, this could also be a sign of perimenopause or menopause.
Periods leading up to menopause can be lighter or irregular. Menopause happens when it’s been 12 months since your last period.
Additionally, menstruation might be irregular the first few months or years after it begins as the body balances out hormone levels.
Keep in mind that while your period might not arrive as expected, it’s still possible to get pregnant. You should still use birth control and barrier methods to prevent unintentional pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
What if your period does arrive?
If your period does arrive, this means that your body was likely preparing for your period when there wasn’t any discharge.
Should you notice any differences in your period, such as irregularities in flow or discomfort, this could signal something else, such as a possible infection.
What should you keep an eye out for next month?
To better understand your menstrual cycle and your personal pattern of discharge, Planned Parenthood advises tracking your mucus levels starting the day after your period stops.
To check your mucus, you can use a piece of toilet paper to wipe your vulva before peeing. Then you can check the color, smell, and consistency.
You can also do this with clean fingers, or you can observe the discharge on your underwear.
It’s important to keep in mind that vaginal sexual intercourse can impact discharge.
In some cases, your body will produce more or different consistencies of mucus, which can impact your results if you’re tracking your mucus levels.
The bottom line
It’s normal to notice changes in your discharge leading up to, during, and after your period. Your body’s hormone levels change throughout the course of your menstrual cycle.
If your period is late, your mucus changes drastically, or you’re experiencing any type of pain, discomfort, or itching, it’s a good idea to check in with a doctor or gynecologist. They’ll be able to perform a physical exam and run tests to evaluate what’s going on.
Should your first round of tests not help with your symptoms, ask for another round.
Is No Discharge an Early Sign of Pregnancy
During the early stages of pregnancy, some women experience a significant amount of discharge. On the other hand, some women may experience very little to no pregnancy discharge. Both are to be considered perfectly normal. Because every one of us has a unique physical make-up, not all pregnant women will have a discharge.