Cervical mucus is a secretion of stem cells from the epithelial lining of the cervix. Changes in its consistency and color occur throughout the menstrual cycle and as pregnancy progresses. Often women want to look for physical signs, including changes in discharge, as a sign of early pregnancy.
Although changes in cervical mucus occur after conception, they are initially so subtle that they should not be taken as a sign of pregnancy in the first few weeks. A pregnancy test is more reliable.
During pregnancy, more mucus is produced due to increased estrogen levels and increased blood flow in the vaginal area. The medical term for this discharge is leukorrhea or leucorrhoea. However, this does not become clearly noticeable until the eighth week.
Changes in cervical discharge during pregnancy
After conception
After conception, changes in discharge can sometimes be a very early sign of pregnancy. But rather not the mucus itself, but the blood in it. Because some women experience slight spotting (spotting) lasting 1 or 2 days after implantation (the implantation of the egg into the wall of the uterus), which is called implantation bleeding. After implantation, cervical mucus will become thicker, clearer and stickier. This can happen 6-12 days after conception, i.e. even before a positive pregnancy test.
In the early stages
The amount of cervical mucus during pregnancy may be significantly higher than usual. In the first trimester, you may notice the appearance of sticky white or yellowish mucus, which is known as leukorrhea or leucorrhoea. This is the result of hormonal changes (increased estrogen levels) and is quite normal in the early stages of pregnancy.
As your pregnancy progresses, your vaginal discharge may continue to change. As a result, they gather into a dense mucus plug.
In the later stages
In later stages of pregnancy, cervical mucus may change again. The fact is that the mucus plug is a barrier to protect the uterus from foreign microorganisms penetrating through the cervical canal, but can allow some mucus through. This discharge will look like raw egg white. However, the mucus plug will remain in place until it is time to give birth.3
When should you not worry?
Physiologically, all healthy women are characterized by the presence of secretory fluid in the vagina. During pregnancy, its amount may increase, causing white discharge to appear on underwear or pads.
Their composition is as follows:
- mucous secretion produced by the glands of the female genital organs;
- various microorganisms that constantly live in the vagina - for the most part these are lactic acid bacteria, but the presence of other microbes is not at all a sign of infection;
- dead epithelial cells - they peel off from the surface of organs, being replaced by young ones.
After fertilization, the egg is implanted into the uterine mucosa, and the mother’s body immediately begins to produce progesterone. Under its influence, it is quite normal to increase the volume of white discharge in the early stages of pregnancy. This continues until about 12 weeks.
Then the “relay race” passes to estrogen, and the volume of secretory fluid may increase, which is also normal. Throughout the entire period it looks something like this:
- quantity – from one to several milliliters per day (sometimes it can be much more, but you need to check with a doctor);
- white discharge during pregnancy varies in color from transparent to dull white;
- consistency – homogeneous, mucus-like, similar to egg white, maybe thinner or thicker.
Interesting: What can a nursing mother do in the first days after childbirth?
There are cases that copious white discharge appears before menstruation, when the fetus is implanted into the uterus - then this is the first and so far only sign of pregnancy.
Appearing before menstruation
Sometimes an increase in secretion volume is associated with irritation or allergies. Some activities can reduce it. In such cases, it is enough to keep the genitals clean, change the pad three or four times a day, and do not use detergents with fragrances and various fillers.
At about 36-38-40 weeks of pregnancy, thin white discharge may appear. They leave noticeable marks on underwear and bedding, sometimes even running down your legs. Amniotic fluid may leak, which can be determined by a doctor.
It is quite simple to distinguish this phenomenon from the discharge of amniotic fluid at the “start” of labor: in the second case, about half a liter is poured out at once, which is difficult not to notice.
The appearance of white discharge - water - at 40 weeks of pregnancy can be a reason to stimulate labor. If this happens before 34-36 weeks, when the baby is not yet fully formed, then measures are taken to preserve it.
You need to pay attention to any changes in white discharge during pregnancy. Under normal conditions, they are odorless and do not cause discomfort. Otherwise, this is an indicator of pathological processes that are most often harmful to the health of mother and child. Moreover, some of them can lead to worse consequences.
What should you be wary of?
A change in color, an increase in quantity, the appearance of lumps or blood spots, even the thinning and thickening of white discharge during pregnancy may indicate the following ailments.
- Infection with a fungal, bacterial or viral infection.
- The presence of inflammatory processes in the internal genital organs.
Approximately every third pregnant woman may have thrush at any stage due to decreased immunity. During pregnancy, it manifests itself in the same way as usual - thick white discharge, similar in consistency to sour milk. They often cause itching or burning and smell sour.
Urgent treatment of thrush
Thrush needs to be treated so that it is not passed on to the baby. Pregnant women are usually prescribed topical antifungal drugs. They are used for several days.
The appearance of white mucous discharge with blood fragments during pregnancy usually indicates erosion. The same symptom may be a sign of cervicitis, an inflammatory process inside the cervical canal. Another inflammation - colpitis - usually causes a noticeable increase in the volume of secretion.
If white discharge during pregnancy acquires a yellowish, greenish, or grayish tint, there may be an infection or advanced inflammation. For example, with salpingitis affecting the fallopian tubes, the fluid may turn bright yellow. In this case, as with infection, purulent contents are separated, which leads to the coloration of normal leucorrhoea.
During pregnancy, unhealthy white discharge caused by infection may appear in the first, second trimester, or in the last weeks. The pathogen is determined using tests, for which the doctor takes a smear from the vagina. For prevention, this is done at every scheduled appointment.
In general, it is very difficult to determine from the appearance of the discharge what exactly caused its occurrence. However, during pregnancy there may be such infectious changes in white discharge:
- wateriness;
- mushy;
- lumpy;
- color change;
- significant increase in volume.
According to the frequency of occurrence, the causes are distributed as follows.
| Thrush | Otherwise called candidiasis, a fungal infection of the vaginal walls. | Diagnosed in 30% of pregnant women |
| Chlamydia | In the first three weeks of pregnancy, it manifests itself with yellow-white liquid discharge, itching, and burning. | Detected in 10% |
| Bacterial vaginosis | A severe disturbance of the vaginal microflora (dysbacteriosis) often goes symptomatically unnoticed. | Occurs in 10-25% of pregnant women |
| Trichomonas vaginitis | It manifests itself in women during pregnancy as yellow-white, dark yellow discharge, itching, and painful urination. | Found in approximately 32% |
Trichomonas vaginitis is manifested by itching and painful urination
Pathology treatment methods
Of course, only a doctor can adequately determine the cause of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. This is especially important for a pregnant woman - so as not to harm the baby or complicate her own condition.
White discharge is normal, but even its change becomes only a symptom. Infections are treated with drugs that suppress the development and reproduction of microorganisms. Another group is used to restore normal condition. And very often a therapeutic diet, drugs to restore immunity, and general health measures are prescribed.
Together with them and with the permission of the doctor (sometimes on his recommendation), home remedies are used. Here you need not only to get rid of white discharge, either at the beginning of pregnancy or later. It's much more important not to cause more harm.
To treat heavy white discharge caused by thrush, douching cannot be used during pregnancy, but baths can be used. They will require a solution of:
- water – 3 liters;
- soda – 3 tablespoons;
- iodine – 3 teaspoons.
How to prepare a bath.
- Mix the ingredients.
- Pour into a bowl.
- Sit for about a third of an hour, no more than twice a day.
Calendula oil is effective against chlamydia.
- calendula – 50 g;
- olive oil – 250 ml.
Preparation and use.
- Boil the oil with flowers and leave for 24 hours.
- Strain and apply to the vagina at night.
Folk effective recipe
The following recipe can help eliminate white liquid discharge during pregnancy caused by dysbiosis:
- juniper berries;
- yarrow;
- sage;
- chamomile;
- calendula;
- eucalyptus.
How to prepare and take.
- One and a half tables. Brew 250 ml of boiling water with spoons of the mixture.
- Leave for about an hour.
- Take a third of a glass after meals three times a day.
About the author : Borovikova Olga
gynecologist, ultrasound doctor, geneticist
Graduated from the Kuban State Medical University, internship in the specialty “Genetics”.
After fertilization, the egg is implanted into the uterine mucosa, and the mother’s body immediately begins to produce progesterone. Under its influence, it is quite normal to increase the volume of white discharge in the early stages of pregnancy. This continues until about 12 weeks.
How to check cervical mucus?
The cervix secretes cervical mucus, which accumulates and coats the cervical openings during the menstrual cycle to promote or prevent pregnancy depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. The secretions of the cervical canal perform various functions. Until ovulation occurs, cervical mucus prevents sperm from penetrating into the uterus, since conception is still impossible. However, as ovulation approaches and during ovulation, the cervix secretes increasing amounts of mucus to help the sperm on its journey to fertilize the egg.
Checking your cervical discharge during pregnancy is very simple:
- wash your hands thoroughly;
- dry them and insert an extended finger or two into the vagina;
- pull it out and examine the mucus.2
To control cervical discharge, some women sometimes prefer to use a piece of clean cloth or toilet paper to wipe the vagina instead of their fingers. This should be done before urinating. You can also look at discharge on your underwear. But such methods are not always the best, since this way you can only study color. It is advisable to check the discharge daily, study its color and consistency between the fingers.3
Causes for concern
It is important to consult your doctor about any suspicious cervical discharge during pregnancy. This type of discharge is the first sign of infection or problems with the pregnancy.
Suspicious discharge may:
- have a green, yellow or grayish color;
- strong unpleasant odor;
- cause redness, itching or swelling of the vulva.2
Yeast infection (thrush) during pregnancy is a very common problem. If a woman develops thrush during pregnancy, her doctor may recommend a vaginal cream or suppository.
To avoid thrush:
- wear loose clothing that does not restrict movement;
- give preference only to cotton underwear;
- Dry your genitals thoroughly after swimming, exercising, or showering;
- Add yogurt to your diet to improve your gut flora.3
Abnormal cervical discharge can also be caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD). At your first prenatal visit, you should be screened for STDs.
How to determine normal or suspicious discharge
To be able to independently distinguish pathology from the norm, you can use several recommendations from specialists. It is worth measuring your basal temperature. If it is from 37 to 37.4°, then this is absolutely normal for this stage of pregnancy. Thick clear discharge should not be a cause for concern.
If they are too bright, dark or contain a large amount of blood, then this indicates a rather dangerous condition that can even provoke termination of pregnancy. If a woman experiences mild pain, then, most likely, the pregnancy of the baby is proceeding normally. However, if a lady suffers from spasms and cramping or increasing pain in the lumbar or lower back, then in this case it is necessary to see a specialist. Regardless of the abundance of mucous transparent discharge during pregnancy, severe pain is an alarming sign.
As a rule, in the initial stages of bearing a baby, women do not refuse sexual contact with their husband. In addition, they are constantly examined by a gynecologist, undergo vaginal smears and perform other procedures. This can lead to minor damage to the mucous membrane. In this case, slight transparent pink discharge during pregnancy is also considered normal.
If, after the cessation of toxicosis, a woman still suffers from weakness and vomiting, then she needs to be careful. All these symptoms usually end sooner. If such an ailment is accompanied by very copious transparent, stretchy discharge during pregnancy, and at the same time it smells very unpleasant, then this indicates the likelihood of a miscarriage. Therefore, you need to immediately contact a specialist.
Types and importance of cervical mucus when planning pregnancy
Although examining cervical discharge cannot be considered a way to determine pregnancy, it can tell you about your fertility at that point in your cycle. The color, appearance, texture and consistency of cervical discharge are regulated by the hormone estrogen, and their appearance may suggest the possibility of becoming pregnant during this period of the cycle. For example:
Signs of unreadiness to conceive
- The absence or small amount of cervical mucus is typical for the first 3-5 days after menstruation (menstruation). If you rub this mucus between your fingers, it dries instantly.
- Sticky cervical mucus is released for 2 to 3 days. If you rub it between your fingers, it will be sticky and pasty. The color can be transparent, white or pink.
Signs of readiness to conceive
- Copious, creamy cervical mucus, the color of milk cream or butter, signals that ovulation is approaching, and the woman usually feels moist from the increased amount of discharge. The consistency of the mucus may be thinner and lotion-like, and the color may be yellowish or white. This mucus is observed for 2 to 4 days.
- Clear cervical mucus , similar to egg whites, indicates the most favorable time for conception. Such discharge indicates that ovulation has occurred. At this time they are transparent and shiny, and when rubbed between the fingers they are slippery and wet. Such mucus is usually observed from 1 to 5 days.3
There is a so-called cervical mucus method for avoiding unplanned pregnancy, which is based on determining safe days by cervical mucus.
According to the Mayo Clinic, 23 out of 100 women will become pregnant using this method. But with ideal use, this number can be reduced to 3 out of 100 women. If conception does not occur, the cervical mucus again becomes sticky and thick, and the vagina becomes dry. The woman’s hormonal background returns to its original state, the body rejects the thickened layer of the uterine mucosa, and the next menstrual cycle begins.
Features of the third month of bearing a baby
The last period of the first trimester is a turning point. Experts warn women that they should monitor their health, since it is during this period of time that the fetus is most susceptible to various problems. This is explained by the fact that until this moment the unborn baby was in the fetal membrane. Now all the main support functions will be carried out by the placenta.
If the fetus has formed normally, and there is no suspicion of genetic abnormalities, extra chromosomes, etc., then in this case, abundant clear discharge during pregnancy should completely stop.
At the same time, the woman experiences major changes in her hormonal levels. Her belly begins to appear, her breasts become swollen and full, toxicosis goes away (however, sometimes this condition can drag on for up to fourteen weeks) and her taste preferences change. She also notes changes in skin color.
If at the twelfth week the woman’s discharge, clear as snot, stopped, there were no complications during pregnancy and doctors did not note any development of pathology and there was no miscarriage, then in the future the risk of losing a child is significantly reduced.
