{"id":61604,"date":"2023-11-17T09:30:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T14:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=61604"},"modified":"2024-05-29T15:58:06","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T19:58:06","slug":"discharge-before-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/discharge-before-period\/","title":{"rendered":"What does discharge before your period look like?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vaginal discharge is a fluid secreted from the vagina. It\u2019s made up primarily of<\/span> water, mucus, and a balance of healthy bacteria and yeast<\/span><\/a>, and its job is to maintain the pH of the vagina, lubricate the vagina, and prevent <\/span>infections<\/span><\/a>. Vaginal discharge is perfectly normal, and it\u2019s also normal for the amount of discharge to ebb and flow throughout the month. If you\u2019re seeing an increase in vaginal discharge before your period or if you are noticing changes in discharge texture, you aren\u2019t alone. It\u2019s common for vaginal discharge to change before periods, at various points in your menstrual cycle, and during pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Here, we\u2019ll take a closer look at vaginal discharge before periods, including what discharge looks like before a period, what causes cervical mucus to change before a period, and when vaginal discharge changes might be a reason to visit a healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does discharge look like before a period?<\/span><\/h2>\n

White discharge and clear discharge without a noticeable smell are considered normal, according to the<\/span> American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG<\/span><\/a>). \u201cBefore menstruation, the discharge may change in texture and appearance,\u201d says <\/span>Rakhee Patel, MD<\/span><\/a>, an OB-GYN with<\/span> Pinewood Family Care<\/span><\/a> in Jersey City, New Jersey. \u201cTypically, the discharge can be white or creamy in color and might feel sticky to the touch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens to discharge before a period is unique to each woman. \u201cIt’s usually clear to white, with a creamy or thick texture like lotion,\u201d says Shandra Scruggs, RN, a labor and delivery nurse and founder of <\/span>Simply Birthed<\/span><\/a>. \u201cSome people notice a small to moderate amount of vaginal discharge, which might get slightly thicker as their period approaches.\u201d It\u2019s also normal to notice an increase in thin, white, milky, and mild-smelling discharge, Scruggs says. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>RELATED: <\/b>What does the color of your period mean?<\/b><\/a> | <\/b>What causes brown discharge?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Does discharge increase before a period?<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s common for vaginal discharge to increase before your period,\u201d Scruggs says. \u201cAs your body gets ready for menstruation, hormone levels change, affecting the amount and texture of vaginal discharge.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Women secrete about <\/span>2 ml to 5 ml of vaginal discharge every day<\/span><\/a>, though the amount and texture change throughout the menstrual cycle and a woman\u2019s lifetime. Some women experience quite a bit of discharge during the luteal phase before their periods, but it will usually be less than their regular menstrual flow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe increase in discharge typically lasts 10 or more days and helps to lubricate the vagina in preparation for a potential pregnancy,\u201d Scruggs says. Most women tend to experience lower levels of vaginal discharge after <\/span>menopause<\/span><\/a> due to decreasing estrogen levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes discharge?<\/span><\/h2>\n

As soon as women hit puberty, they begin to have vaginal discharge. Having vaginal discharge is normal and is nothing to be concerned about. Vaginal discharge keeps your vagina healthy, balanced, and clean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVarious factors can affect discharge differences before your period, including hormonal factors, pregnancy, and hormonal birth control,\u201d explains <\/span>Michael Green, MD<\/span><\/a>, an <\/span>OB-GYN and co-founder of <\/span>Winona<\/span><\/a>. These are some of the most common causes of vaginal discharge before your period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hormonal fluctuations<\/span><\/h3>\n

By far, the most common cause of vaginal discharge before your period is hormonal changes. Throughout your menstrual cycle, your<\/span> hormones fluctuate<\/span><\/a>. For example, at the beginning of your cycle, both <\/span>estrogen<\/span><\/a> and progesterone are low. Toward the middle of your cycle, as your ovaries prepare to release an egg, estrogen levels rise, along with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone. After ovulation, both estrogen and progesterone dominate, and both drop right before your period begins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the days leading up to your period, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate,\u201d Dr. Green says. \u201cThese hormonal changes can stimulate the glands in the cervix to produce more mucus, leading to increased discharge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Estrogen causes an increase in cervical mucus that is thinner while progesterone causes an increase in thicker cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is part of vaginal discharge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hormonal birth control\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hormonal contraception, which includes birth control pills, injections, patches, implants, and hormonal IUDs, can have various<\/span> side effects<\/span><\/a>, including nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes, and spotting. Changes in vaginal discharge is a lesser-known, but common side effect of hormonal birth control, according to Dr. Patel. For example, birth control pills can \u201cimpact the consistency and volume of the discharge,\u201d Dr. Patel says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregnancy\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cPregnancy often results in an increased volume of discharge because of more blood flow to the pelvic area and increased hormone production,\u201d Dr. Patel says. This increased discharge lasts throughout your pregnancy and is called<\/span> leukorrhea<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThis type of discharge is thin, white, milky, and has a mild odor,\u201d Dr. Patel says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most women don\u2019t notice obvious changes in their vaginal discharge in very early pregnancy, such as right before a missed period. But for some women, increased discharge can be one of the early indicators of pregnancy, Dr. Patel explains. Another possible early sign of pregnancy is light spotting around the time you expect your period. This may be a sign of<\/span> implantation spotting or bleeding<\/span><\/a>, which occurs when your fertilized egg implants inside the uterine lining.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Abnormal causes of discharge before your period<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hormonal changes, birth control side effects, and pregnancy are all normal and common causes of vaginal discharge before your period. At times, though, infections and other health conditions may cause discharge changes before your period. These are not normal and may require a visit to your healthcare provider. Here\u2019s what to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yeast infections<\/span><\/h3>\n

Yeast infections, known as<\/span> Candida<\/span><\/i><\/a>, occur because of an overgrowth of yeast or fungus in the vagina. This can cause all kinds of uncomfortable symptoms, such as itching and burning. It can also cause changes in your vaginal discharge, including before your period. \u201cYeast infections can cause thick, white, cottage cheese-like discharge,\u201d Scruggs says. If you have these symptoms, it could be a sign of an infection and you should visit a healthcare provider for care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Treatments for vaginal yeast infections<\/span><\/a> include antifungal medications, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n