Vaginal discharge keeps the vagina clean and provides lubrication or moisture. It’s usually clear, off-white, whitish, or pale yellow. It can have a subtle scent but does not have a strong, unpleasant, or foul odour. The amount and consistency of the discharge keep changing throughout the month. This is attributable to hormone-related fluctuations.
If you're wondering why there is a white discharge after periods or does it has to do anything with ovulation or pregnancy, we have covered various aspects of white vaginal discharge to help your concerns. We have also discussed how to understand unhealthy vaginal discharge and when to call the gynaecologist or your doctor.
Is It Normal for White to have Discharge After Period?
White discharge is a very normal aspect of any woman’s menstruation cycle. White vaginal discharge helps in keeping the vagina clean and also provides sufficient lubrication to the area.
White or clear discharge is widespread after periods. This type is generally safe, healthy, and routine. It's a probable sign that the woman's reproductive system is active. The type of discharge will vary throughout the menstrual cycle, which lasts for a month. The colour, as well as consistency, vary as the hormones fluctuate.
What Causes White Discharge After Periods?
The main reason why Vaginal discharge occurs is to keep the vagina clean and provide it with moisture or lubrication. Usually, it is white, clear, off-white, or even pale yellow at times. It often has a subtle scent, but a healthy discharge never has a strong, foul odour.
Our brain and even our ovaries give instructions to the reproductive system during the menstrual cycle. Female sex or reproductive hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone are secreted. During different parts of the cycle, the levels of these hormones rise and fall.
A group of glands in the vagina and cervix produce white vaginal discharge. Changes in hormones impact the kind and consistency of the discharge. White discharge usually appears a few days after monthly bleeding has stopped. Because our oestrogen levels begin to rise as our bodies prepare for the ovulation process, this is the case.
White Discharge After Period and Stomach Pain
Cramps accompanying white discharge post your period can sometimes be a pregnancy symptom. Other possible causes of such pain may be pelvic inflammation or pelvic disease, endometriosis, or uterine infection.
Is White Discharge After Period Sign of Pregnancy?
Anyone with a vagina can have discharge from this area of their body. Vaginal discharge is common and can reveal a lot about a person's health, including if they have an infection, where they are in their menstrual cycle and even their hydration level.
A change in the volume of vaginal discharge after a missed period might also suggest pregnancy in rare cases. Leukorrhea is a milky white vaginal discharge that can be a regular part of a woman's monthly cycle or an early pregnancy indicator. Many women detect increased leukorrhea in early pregnancy, about one or two weeks post conception.
During the first trimester, a minor increase in vaginal discharge may be experienced. Pregnancy raises oestrogen levels in our body, causing it to create more discharge and increase blood flow to the uterus and vagina.
Different Kinds of Vaginal Discharge
1. Bloody or Brown
This indicates that you may be suffering from irregular menstrual periods or, less commonly, cervical or endometrial cancer. Other signs and symptoms include irregular vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
2. Cloudy or Yellow
Other symptoms include bleeding between periods, urine incontinence, and pelvic pain, which could be a sign of Gonorrhoea.
3. Frothy, Yellow or Greenish With a Bad Smell
This could indicate Trichomoniasis. Some Other signs and symptoms include itching and soreness during peeing.
4. Pink
Pink discharge is a symptom of uterine lining shedding after childbirth or lochia.
5. White, Thick, or Cheesy Looking Discharge
This indicates yeast infection. Swelling and soreness around the vulva, itching, and painful sexual intercourse are some of the other symptoms.
When you have bacterial vaginosis, your discharge is primarily white, grey, or yellow and has a fishy stench. Itching or burning, redness, and swelling of the vagina or vulva are some of the other symptoms.
When to See a Doctor?
Healthy white discharge is usually found in the following consistencies: slippery, thin, creamy, thick, or sticky. White discharge having a chunky appearance like cottage cheese may be a reason to worry, especially if it is accompanied by itching or burning.
These may be symptoms of yeast infections or certain STDs. A mild odour is alright, but if your discharge had an intensely unpleasant, foul, or something like a “fishy” smell, it might also indicate infection.
If you observe any of these changes in your vaginal discharge appearance, colour or see any other accompanying symptoms listed below, immediately see your gynaecologist:
- Bright yellow, whitish, greenish, or greyish discharge
- Clumpy white texture like cottage cheese
- Pus-like secretion
- Foul or fishy-smelling discharge
- Pain during urination
- Vaginal pain
- Swelling, itching, redness in and around the vagina
- Whitish coating around the vaginal walls
- Burning sensation in vagina or urethra
- Watery or frothy(bubbly) discharge with a strong and unpleasant odour
- Pain that is not related to menstrual or period cramps
- Multiple phases of skipped periods
- Sores or rashes along with some vaginal discharge
Summing Up on White Discharge After Period
The amount and thickness of a woman's vaginal discharge may vary. Birth control, pregnancy, nursing, and sexual excitement may all increase the amount of discharge. The occurrence of white discharge before or after periods is good proof to ascertain that your reproductive system is active.
Pre-period white discharge is a sign that you've started to ovulate and it's an ideal time to conceive if you're planning a baby. Post-period white discharge is a sign of hormonal fluctuation that stabilises in a few days. However, if you notice any abnormality in the discharge, contact your gynaecologist immediately.
References
- Reproductive Health - https://opa.hhs.gov/reproductive-health?reproductive-health/fact-sheets/vaginal-discharge/index.html
- About Menstruation - https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menstruation/conditioninfo
