Are you trying to get pregnant and you happen to notice a pink vaginal discharge before your period? Don’t get all disappointed already.
It could be because your periods are about to start or it can be because of implantation bleeding, which is an early sign of pregnancy. There could be many other reasons for brown or pink spotting. Read on to know the different causes of pink vaginal discharge.
It is through vaginal discharge that the body actually maintains the cleanliness of the vaginal area and prevents any kind of infection.
Most women are pretty used to seeing clear or white discharge every month, but when they notice a change in color, they are obviously concerned about it. Women think about seeing a doctor when they notice a pink discharge which is most of the time very natural.
What is Spotting?
Spotting is light bleeding that is noticed during pregnancy or menstrual cycle. Implantation spotting happens when the fertilized egg clings to the uterine wall.
Most of the time, spotting is pink in color or light brown. A heavier form of spotting can be red, but the flow is very light. It is not so much that it soaks a sanitary napkin.
If you are pregnant, spotting is also an indication of a miscarriage. Irritation of cervix and pelvic exams can also lead to spotting. Although spotting is generally normal, if you suspect anything abnormal you should see a doctor.
Does Spotting Mean You Are Pregnant?
Spotting can be a sign of pregnancy if the color of the discharge is brown or pink and occurs some days after ovulation.
Taking note of the timing is important. If it is implantation bleeding or spotting, then you are definitely pregnant. If it is periods the flow of blood will increase, but if it doesn’t, it means you need to check with a doctor in case you doubt that you are pregnant. Getting a pregnancy test to confirm is always better.
Some Natural And Normal Causes of Pink Discharge
You will notice light pink discharge usually when there is a little blood in the discharge. Most of the time, it just tells a woman that your period is about to start. However, there are times when this discharge can be something beyond normal and alarming.
Here are some of the common causes of pink discharge:
1. Menstruation
Very often, the pink discharge shows that the period is going to start. At the beginning of the period, the blood is usually light in color and seems pink. With time, the flow gets heavier and the color becomes darker.
2. Ovulation
many women notice some spotting in the middle of the menstrual cycle. It may be because of ovulation. What happens is that the follicle ruptures and produces the egg, which results in bleeding. The egg can make a little hole resulting in a bit of bleeding. It may continue for a few hours at max.
At times, it is the increase in the level of hormones during the time of ovulation process which causes light spotting. You need not worry about it at all as it’s only natural and normal.
3. Contraceptives
Some contraceptives like Intrauterine Device (IUD) or birth control pills can result in spotting when you start using it. These contraceptives interfere with the natural cycle of the body that results in spotting between periods. Random spotting occurs if using contraceptive is the reason. IUD can result in spotting, heavy or irregular bleeding.
4. Bleeding after birth
women who have recently given birth to a child may notice pink discharge. What happens is that a large amount of tissue is expelled through the vagina as the baby passes. This is the kind of discharge that continues for many days during the healing process.
Some Not So Normal Causes of Pink Discharge
While most of the time, pink discharge may not be a matter of concern, but at times it can be due to an underlying health condition. Some of which are:
5. Infection
Vaginal infections also result in discharge with blood streaks. You can tell by the consistency of discharge if it is mucous or puss filled. Other symptoms are pain, itching, burning sensation and foul odor from the discharge.
Endometrial inflammations and certain sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea result in pink color discharge between periods. Women also go through severe cramping with spotting and also fever.
6. Uterine fibroids
Fibroids are harmless and non-cancerous tumors that develop and grow in the uterus. They can also cause spotting or pink vaginal discharge between periods.
7. Cancer
Vaginal bleeding also occurs as a result of cervical or ovarian cancer. Women at the age of 45 years and above are more at risk of being inflicted by endometrial or cervical cancer. Pinkish discharge is one of the many signs of such conditions and it is usually visible in the later stages of cancer.
8. Ectopic Pregnancy
If you are facing severe cramping with no period, then that could indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a serious condition in which fertilized egg cannot leave the fallopian tube, but it keeps growing. This means the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus.
Most of the time women are unable to distinguish between cramping caused by ectopic pregnancy and normal pregnancy.
Other symptoms apart from cramping that should be taken notice of are frequent urination, nausea, vaginal bleeding or pink vaginal discharge, breast tenderness and vomiting. You will be able to notice these symptoms two weeks after a missed period and later on you might experience vaginal bleeding that could be wrongly thought of as spotting. Ectopic pregnancy is a serious health issue that needs immediate medical attention.
9. Cervical Erosion
Cervical erosion, as the name suggests, is an erosion of the cervix that results in painless pink discharge. You will notice mucus before, after and between periods. It can also happen after vigorous physical activity or sexual intercourse.
10. Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is an infection caused in the reproductive organs like uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) may also result in spotting or abnormal bleeding.
11. Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a result of a hormonal imbalance that interrupts ovulation. In Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, you will go through either no periods at all or irregular periods. You might occasionally notice very light periods or spotting.
Other Health Conditions
Pink vaginal discharge can also be an indication of other health conditions like diabetes, blood clotting issues, liver and kidney diseases.
In case you face bleeding when you are not expecting our period and you are not pregnant, you should see a gynecologist to see if you have any serious health condition.
Having Not So Normal Discharge – What to Do Next
If you doubt your pink vaginal discharge to be abnormal, the first thing you should do is consult your gynecologist. The gynecologist is going to ask different questions and examine your history to find out the root cause.
The doctor is going to enquire if the discharge gives off any bad smell, the time it started happening and the color of the discharge. You are also going to be asked if you are experiencing other symptoms like burning, pain, itching or irritation because it can hint towards sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In order to confirm, the gynecologist will take samples of discharge or Pap test.
The treatment the doctor recommends is based on the cause of the pink discharge. Fungal or yeast infections are treated using antifungal creams or gels whereas bacterial infections are treated using antibiotics or creams.
Sexually transmitted disease have their own treatment. There is also a possibility that there is probably nothing wrong with you and the doctor will confirm it through further tests.
Pink Discharge Before Period- What does it mean?
Pink discharge before a period usually tells you that the period is about to begin. It can also be due to implantation bleeding. In fact, it is very common for women to notice light pink spotting or discharge right before their periods.
In implantation, the fertilized egg connects to the uterus and sheds some uterine lining due to which a bit of bleeding may occur in the form of pinkish blood. When you are actually trying to conceive and awaiting the good news of pregnancy, you are likely to mistake implantation bleeding with periods. To know more about implantation spotting or bleeding, read on.
What exactly is implantation bleeding and what color is it?
Implantation bleeding happens to be the earliest sign of pregnancy. You will notice it even before morning sickness. It will happen six to twelve days after the fertilization of egg takes place.
On average, one out of every three women experiences bleeding as a result of implantation. Many women confuse it as periods, but is really light in flow and continues only for few hours or days.
During the early stage of pregnancy, the uterus starts making preparation for the growth of the embryo which implants itself in the uterus. This fertilized egg connects itself to the wall of this uterus. This implantation can also cause spotting or bleeding. This kind of light spotting does no harm to the baby and you are going to have a perfectly normal pregnancy, even if you experience implantation spotting which is brown or light pink discharge.
It is only in the rarest cases that the implantation bleeding is bright red in color. The pink color simply shows that there is mucus combined with blood. Many women also experience cramps due to implantation, which is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about. If you happen to notice that the mucus has an unpleasant smell, pain, itching, or burning, you need to see your gynecologist right away because it is an indication of something serious.
Another reason for cramps during pregnancy is hen the uterus expands to make space for the growing fetus. Pregnancy can easily be confirmed with a pregnancy test. To get correct results, it is advisable to get yourself tested few days after you have missed your period.
Implantation Bleeding, or Period- How Do I Know?
Don’t know how to figure out if the pink vaginal discharge is due to period or implantation bleeding? Here are few things you that can help you know the difference and save you from anxiety:
Frequency
In implantation bleeding the blood simply comes and goes, it doesn’t flow continuously like in periods. It is around for a few minutes and may continue to happen for one to two days and not more than that.
If the blood flows continuously and continues for more than two days, it is not implantation bleeding, it is menstruation.
Flow
If the bleeding is because of implantation, you will experience very light flow. Most women just experience a very small amount of brown or pinkish discharge after implantation.
It is not at all like the bleeding you are likely to notice during periods. Keep in mind that heavy implantation bleeding occurs rarely and it is usually a sign of an impending miscarriage or a serious health issue.
Color
The color is a very important factor. If you notice the color to be pink or brown, then it is implantation bleeding and if it happens to be bright red or red, then it is surely your periods.
Blood that is released because of implantation takes a few days or a few hours to get out of the body. As it moves out it, with times it gets discolored. If you notice pink blood, it means it is fresh whereas brown blood is much older, but both show implantation have taken place. Red blood is the freshest and doesn’t take much time to travel. It indicates that he spotting is most likely because of menstruation.
Timing
Taking note of timing is also important. Implantation usually happens six to twelve days after you conceive. This is the time when most women are expecting their next periods. If you notice pink or brown blood around the time when your period is due, then it is probably implantation bleeding. If you have not conceived in the last few months, it is only impossible that the spotting is implantation bleeding.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test
If you are looking forward to becoming pregnant and notice light pink spotting around the time when your period is due, then you might be pregnant. If you notice other signs of pregnancy as well and your period is delayed, then take a pregnancy test to confirm.
Keep in mind that implantation bleeding is brown or pink in color, light in flow and lasts for a short time. If you experience heavy bleeding and continues for more than two days, then you probably have periods.
References
Vaginal Discharge: What’s Abnormal?
Pink Discharge
Vaginal discharge
Image Credit: std-gov.org
