Vaginal discharge is normal in menstruating women. Changes in color, odor, or consistency may be a sign of a health condition. Your discharge can say a lot about your health. Here's our swatch-guide to vaginal…. It might be alarming to find that you have little or no vaginal discharge before your period, but vaginal discharge varies from person to person.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Type 2 Diabetes. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. What to expect. The amount of discharge they experience depends on whether they are menstruating, are pregnant, or going through menopause. Normal discharge looks like milk, water, or egg whites, and any changes in its consistency indicate an infection. So, why do women have watery discharge? What are the factors associated with clear watery discharge early pregnancy? What does it mean when you have clear watery discharge and cramps?
This article explores how clear watery discharge is associated with pregnancy and the other factors and conditions that can lead to this type of discharge. It also describes what can lead to an excessive vaginal discharge and other signs that women can look for when they are pregnant. Women start having vaginal discharge before they go through puberty, and this ends in the postmenopausal stage. When women are pregnant, both the cervix and vaginal walls soften and increase vaginal discharge as the body starts preparing for pregnancy.
This helps to prevent viruses and bacteria from entering the vagina. Without this increased vaginal discharge, women would have a high risk of developing an infection that could affect the womb, placenta, and the baby. In addition, as the pregnancy progresses, women may notice that they may have excessive vaginal discharge, and they may confuse it for urine. Other factors can lead to watery or clear discharge. Other signs and symptoms that can indicate that you might be pregnant include:.
If you have a clear watery discharge and cramps accompanied by a strong odor and itchiness, or a discharge that has a different color, then you might have an infection. Risk factors that can lead to a high-risk pregnancy include the following:. The volume of discharge increases throughout pregnancy to reduce the risk of vaginal and uterine infections. The mucus is typically sticky and jelly-like in consistency, and it indicates that the body is preparing for labor. This color suggests leukorrhea, which is usually a normal and healthy discharge, especially if it smells mild.
However, any changes in its quantity or consistency may suggest an issue. A woman who is pregnant but not yet at full term should see a doctor if she experiences an increase in clear discharge that leaks continuously or becomes thick and jelly-like.
Vaginal discharge that is lumpy and either white or off-white, resembling cottage cheese, can indicate a yeast infection. Yeast infections are common, and the body is particularly susceptible to them during pregnancy.
Other symptoms include itching, burning, and painful urination or intercourse. Green or yellow vaginal discharge is not healthy and suggests a sexually transmitted infection STI , such as chlamydia or trichomoniasis. Other possible symptoms include redness or irritation in the genitals. STIs sometimes do not cause any symptoms. These complications sometimes do not present until years after the birth, but they can affect the nervous system and development of the child and cause infertility in the woman.
People may occasionally think that they have yellow discharge when they are merely leaking small amounts of urine. Gray vaginal discharge may indicate a vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis BV , particularly if it also has a fishy smell that becomes stronger following intercourse.
BV is the result of a bacterial imbalance in the vagina. Douching and having multiple sexual partners are risk factors for BV, which is the most common vaginal infection during childbearing years. Discharge is usually brown due to old blood leaving the body, which can be an early symptom of pregnancy. Not Normal Discharge The general rule of thumb with pregnancy discharge is that if it smells bad, if it is any other color other than clear or white, or if it causes pain, burning, or itching, there could be a problem and you should call your midwife or doctor.
Discharge Color White or clear: Normal. Discharge Consistency Creamy, milky: Normal. Frothy: Not normal -- call your midwife or doctor. What About the Mucus Plug? Dealing With the Discharge While you can't get rid of pregnancy discharge it's actually a necessary and helpful side effect of pregnancy , there are ways to help alleviate the annoyance factor. How do you deal with pregnancy discharge? What tips would you share? Theme picker. Contact author Message sent. Name: Please enter your name.
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