The increase in hormones and vaginal blood flow causes a sticky, white, or pale-yellow discharge. Not to worry; it is perfectly normal for many pregnant women.
Many women notice a wet or sticky-type discharge during pregnancy. It’s usually around the time of ovulation, but you may also notice it after sex or even when you are not expecting it. It comes from an increase in hormones and vaginal blood flow, so no cause for alarm is necessary. The discharge will vary in volume throughout your pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Early pregnancy discharge can be an early sign of pregnancy. The clear or white-coloured discharge is a mixture of the body’s natural lubricant, cervical mucus, and egg and sperm cells. Not only is the discharge at an increased pace and amount when you’re pregnant, but it also may have a “fishy” odour to it as well.
Early Pregnancy Signs Discharge Before Missed Period
One of the early pregnancy symptoms before a missed period is spotting, but another one of the pregnancy symptoms before a missed period is a milky white discharge coming from the vagina. The vaginal walls begin to thicken immediately after conception, and the increased growth of the cells that line your vagina is what causes the white discharge. This occurs immediately after conception.
Everyone knows the classic signs of pregnancy. You’ve missed your period. Your breasts are tender. And you’re tired all the time.
But pregnant women also experience a whole host of symptoms beyond these first signs. From mucus discharge to tasting metal to headaches, expect the unexpected.
Vaginal discharge can tell a person a lot about their health. An increase in vaginal discharge may even be a sign of pregnancy.
Anyone with a vagina can experience discharge from this part of the body.
Vaginal discharge is normal, and it can tell a person a lot about their body, including whether they have an infection, where they are in their menstrual cycle, and even their level of hydration.
A change in the amount of vaginal discharge can also sometimes indicate pregnancy.
In this article, we look at how to identify the vaginal discharge typical in early pregnancy. We also discuss other symptoms of early pregnancy, other factors that can affect discharge, and when to see a doctor.
What is vaginal discharge?
Vaginal discharge is the normal substance that comes out of a person’s vagina. It is an umbrella term that encompasses any fluid — other than menstrual blood or urine — that the vagina secretes, both healthy and unhealthy.
Cervical mucus refers specifically to the substance that the cervix releases.
Hormones make a person’s cervix produce mucus. Shifts in a person’s hormone levels can occur during certain phases of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy. These can change the color, texture, and amount of discharge.
Pictures of discharge
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Healthy vs. unhealthy
Healthy vaginal discharge is usually thin and clear or milky white with only a mild, inoffensive odor.
Unhealthy discharge can:
- be foul smelling
- be green or yellow
- be lumpy
- accompany itchiness around the vagina
- accompany pain during urination
A person should see a doctor if they experience unhealthy discharge because it can signal an infection.
Discharge in pregnancy
Early in a pregnancy, a person might experience a slight increase in vaginal discharge. Pregnancy causes higher levelsTrusted Source of estrogen, leading the body to produce more discharge and increase the blood flow to the uterus and vagina.
Increased discharge also helps protect the fetus by preventing external infections from traveling up from the vagina to the uterus.
As pregnancy continues, a person will continue to experience more discharge up until delivery.
What does it look like?
Healthy vaginal discharge during pregnancy is called leukorrhea. It is similar to everyday discharge, meaning that it is thin, clear or milky white, and smells only mildly or not at all.
However, pregnancy can cause the amount of discharge to increase.
Other factors that can change discharge
Infections, including yeast infections or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can affect vaginal discharge, so it is important to monitor discharge as a health indicator.
Below are a few examples of unhealthy discharge and the diseases or infections that they may indicate.
| Discharge | Cause |
| Thick and chunky, similar to cottage cheese | Candidiasis, or thrush, which is a yeast infection common during pregnancy |
| Fishy smelling | Bacterial vaginosis |
| Green or yellow and possibly frothy | Trichomoniasis |
| Increased discharge with pelvic pain or bleeding | Chlamydia or gonorrhea |
| Increased discharge from blisters or sores | Genital herpes |
Other signs of early pregnancy
Many signs — some subtle and some less so — can indicate pregnancyTrusted Source in the early stages.
A person’s period halting is the clearest indicator that they may be pregnant. However, menstruation can vary due to many other factors, including stress, birth control, and weight loss.
Learn about other possible causes of missing a period.
These other signs and symptoms can help identify pregnancy:
- tender and swollen breasts
- morning sickness
- cravings or distaste for certain foods
- increase in fatigue
- increased urination
- headaches
- constipation
- heartburn
- mood swings
- unexplained weight gain or loss
If a person had sex without effective birth control or barrier methods and is experiencing these symptoms or thinks that they might be pregnant, they should consider getting a pregnancy test.MEDICAL NEWS TODAY NEWSLETTERKnowledge is power. Get our free daily newsletter.
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How to test for pregnancy
There are two ways to test for pregnancy: urine testing and blood testing.
A person can test their urine at home or seek a doctor’s help. They should be able to buy a home pregnancy test relatively cheaply from a local pharmacy.
To do the urine test, a person catches their urine midstream on the test stick, which will check for the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine. This hormone is elevated during pregnancy.
A home pregnancy test will give a “yes” or “no” result, depending on the presence of hCG.
A urine test at a doctor’s office uses the same process, but instead of catching the pee on a testing stick midstream, a person will pee in a cup for a lab to analyze.
Home pregnancy tests are 97% accurate if a person uses them correctly.
Blood pregnancy tests are much more accurate and can tell a person more about their hCG level. This test will reveal to a person the exact amount of hCG in their blood. A blood test can also detect pregnancy earlier than a urine test.
However, a doctor must perform a blood pregnancy test.
When to contact a doctor
A person should see a doctor if they are experiencing signs and symptoms of pregnancy. A person can take their own home pregnancy test, but it is still wise to follow up with a doctor, no matter the result.
Regardless of pregnancy concerns, if a person notices a change in their vaginal discharge, they should speak with a doctor, who can help diagnose the issue and prescribe any necessary treatment. Seeking advice is particularly important if changes in vaginal discharge accompany pain or itchiness.
Summary
A change in the amount of vaginal discharge can be a sign of early pregnancy.
However, other changes in the color or texture of vaginal discharge are more likely due to an infection, and a person should seek help from a healthcare provider to treat them.early pregnancy signs symptoms
Early Pregnancy Signs Symptoms
If you have vaginal discharge early in pregnancy or soon after conception, you may wonder if it is normal or a symptom of a serious problem. You’ll also wish to know what action to take. While changes in vaginal discharge are frustrating, most are normal and harmless. Early discharge can be watery, sticky or cloudy-white or yellow, and odourless.
Do you know that icky feeling that comes with discharge? Caring for your vaginal health is ok, but it’s not the most pleasant thing in the world. Have you ever wondered what pregnancy discharge actually is? Or why it happen? Or if there’s any information you can do to stop it? Read on.
1. Early pregnancy discharge
While many women experience vaginal discharge, it’s not often associated with pregnancy. But most pregnant women will secrete sticky, white, or pale-yellow mucus early on in the first trimester and throughout their pregnancy.
Increased hormones and vaginal blood flow cause the discharge. It increases during pregnancy to prevent infections as your cervix and vaginal walls soften. Visit your doctor if the discharge starts to:
- smell
- burn
- itch
- turn greenish-yellow
- becomes very thick or watery
These may be signs of an infection.
2. Your body will turn up the heat
When you first wake up in the morning after ovulation, your body temperature is slightly elevated. It stays that way until you get your next period.
But if this temperature, known as basal body temperature, stays elevated for more than two weeks, you may be pregnant.https://www.myfinance.com/r/7ee2b3c3-dbef-4492-b8b1-7edacb8adf90?utm_campaign=hl-pregnancy&utm_medium=embed&selector=%23__next+%3E+div%3Anth-of-type%282%29+%3E+div%3Anth-of-type%283%29+%3E+div+%3E+div+%3E+div%3Anth-of-type%281%29+%3E+article+%3E+div%3Anth-of-type%284%29+%3E+div%3Anth-of-type%282%29+%3E+div&cxsid=bac70fbf-6771-464b-b244-6dfca046d598&imre=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGVhbHRobGluZS5jb20vaGVhbHRoL3ByZWduYW5jeS93ZWlyZC1lYXJseS1zeW1wdG9tcw%3D%3D&_mfuuid_=d1cff6a4-d42b-4287-92f4-e6331e81d670&width=750
3. Your head will hurt, you’ll feel cramps, and you’ll want to pee all the time
Hormonal and blood volume changes during pregnancy can lead to headaches.
Some women also experience period-like cramps on either side of the lower abdomen. And most women will make extra trips to the restroom. That’s because your growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder. Learn more about pregnancy incontinence.
4. It’ll feel like the room is spinning
It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to feel lightheaded or dizzy in the first trimester. Pregnancy causes blood pressure to drop and blood vessels to dilate.
But pay close attention to your symptoms. Severe dizziness coupled with vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Make sure to see a doctor right away to avoid life-threatening complications.https://f0bcadc39541e9e31ee7b11f6762ca59.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
5. You just can’t go
You may feel bloated, like you want to pass gas or go number two. But it’s just not happening. That’s because pregnancy’s hormonal changes can lead to constipation, as can prenatal vitamins.
Your digestive system slows down during pregnancy. This gives nutrients just enough extra time to absorb into your bloodstream and reach your little one.
If you can’t go, add more fiber into your diet, drink plenty of fluids, and exercise regularly. If needed, you can also check with your doctor about adding a pregnancy-safe stool softener.
6. You may experience a false period
About 25 to 40 percent of pregnant women will lightly bleed or notice spotting early on in their pregnancy. The slight bleeding can happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. This is known as implantation bleeding. It’s common about two weeks after conception.
Bleeding can also be caused by cervical irritation, an ectopic pregnancy, or a threatened miscarriage. Make sure to get medical help right away if your light bleeding gets heavier or is accompanied by severe cramps, back pain, or stabbing pains.
7. Grab some tissues, pour some tea, and curl up in bed
Pregnancy lowers your immunity. This means you’re more prone to a cough, colds, and the flu. It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to experience cold- or flu-like symptoms early in pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor about pregnancy-safe treatment options. Pregnant women are more vulnerable to severe illnesses from the flu. This can lead to serious health problems for your baby.
8. Your chest, it burns
Hormones change everything during pregnancy. This includes the valve between your stomach and esophagus. This area becomes relaxed during pregnancy, which can cause stomach acid to leak into your esophagus, causing heartburn.
Fight back by eating smaller, more frequent meals. Also cut out fried grub. Try to avoid fizzy drinks, citrus fruits, juices, and spicy foods.
9. You’re up, then you’re down
Your hormones suddenly change when you become pregnant. This can throw your emotions out of whack. You’ll feel unusually weepy and emotional. Your libido goes from hot to cold then back to hot again. You might also experience mood swings. This is very common during early pregnancy.
10. You’ll taste metal
Increases in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy can lead to changes in taste for many pregnant women.
A condition called dysegusia has some pregnant women tasting metal. You’ll feel like you were chomping on some old pennies with your lunch. Get rid of the metallic flavor by munching on saltines and chewing sugarless gum. Also try drinking colder liquids or eating spicier foods.