Let’s talk vaginal discharge!
It is NORMAL and no woman should feel weird or ashamed about it!
So let’s get educated on what is normal discharge and what is abnormal discharge when you’re not pregnant and when you are pregnant.
FACT: The vagina is self-cleaning, and vaginal discharge plays an important role in keeping the vagina healthy (hence no need for anything more than water when you wash yourself, as soap can effect the pH balance and cause irritation).
The odour, colour and consistency may be different for all as it can range from clear to milky white-ish depending on the time in your menstrual cycle. For example, there is generally more discharge when you are ovulating, breastfeeding or sexually aroused. Abnormal vaginal discharge, however, is usually caused by an infection.
Vaginal discharge when you’re not pregnant
It's your body's way of cleaning and protecting the vagina. For instance, it's normal for discharge to increase with sexual arousal and ovulation. Exercise, use of birth control pills and emotional stress may also result in discharge.
Do not over clean yourself or use strongly scented soaps/gels, as you can end up with thrush.
Different types of discharge:
1. White – thick, white discharge is common at the beginning and end of your cycle
2. Clear & Stretchy – this is ‘fertile’ mucous and means you are ovulating.
3. Clear & Watery – This occurs at different times of your cycle and can be heavy after exercising.
4. Yellow or Green – this may indicate an infection, especially if it is thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a foul odour.
5. Brown – this may happen right after periods, and is just ‘cleaning out’ your vagina. Old blood looks brown.
6. Spotting blood/Brown – this may occur when you are ovulating/mid-cycle. Sometimes early in pregnancy you may have spotting or brownish discharge at the time your period would normally come.
If you have spotting at the time of your normal period rather than your usual amount of flow, and you have had sex without using birth control, you should check a pregnancy test.
If you have discharge and it is 4, 5 or 6 (reference above), and you have no idea why it is this colour or consistency, then it is important that you see a doctor (GP or Gynaecologist).
Pregnancy and vaginal discharge
If you have vaginal discharge whilst pregnant this is normal, as long as its clear/white. If you have blood (pinky/red/brown) discharge you must contact your doctor. Don’t stress! As this can also be normal and is common in many women during pregnancy, however you must always be checked by your doctor as it also could be an infection. Don’t wait until later on to see how it goes, call your doctor now!
Why am I getting more vaginal discharge since being pregnant?
In pregnancy, the layer of muscle in the vagina thickens, and cells lining the vagina multiply in response to an increase in the pregnancy hormone oestrogen. These changes prepare the vagina for childbirth. As a side effect, the extra cells mean that there is an increase in vaginal discharge, known as leucorrhoea. If you feel sore or itchy in the vaginal area and the discharge is anything other than cream or white, or it smells, your doctor will need to take a swab to rule out infection.
Some infections, such as thrush, cause an abnormal discharge. They are common in pregnancy and are easily treated. Over-the-counter creams and pessaries, inserted into the vagina, are the most effective treatment for thrush. They are not harmful in pregnancy and one pessary often clears the problem. Don't take oral medication for thrush. You can help prevent thrush by wearing loose cotton underwear, and some women find it helps to avoid perfumed soap or perfumed bath products.
Always consult your GP, Obstetrician, midwife or pharmacist before taking thrush medication.
You may also notice an increase in vaginal discharge that may happen several days before your labour begins, or potentially it’s the start of labour.
Remember pregnant or not if something doesn’t look or feel right and you’re unsure, always consult your doctor!!