Did you find pink discharge on your underwear or on the toilet paper you used? Don’t worry, it’s a fairly common occurrence for menstruators. There are several biological processes, including your menstrual cycle, that influence the formation of pink discharge.
In this piece, we give you a 101 low-down on everything you need to know about pink discharge.
Vaginal discharge is mostly cervical mucus and a mix of fluid and cells from the vagina. The cervix secretes mucus in different amounts and consistencies throughout your cycle. When mixed with a tiny amount of blood, discharge can look pink or even brown.
Depending on what is going on with your body, discharge can look white, clear, tan, gray, or even green.
Cervical mucus looks and feels very different depending on where you are in your cycle. Check out our guide on tracking your cervical mucus for more info about these cyclical changes.
The first thing you should know about pink discharge is that it is generally normal. Especially around their period, many women notice pink discharge, which is not necessarily a cause for concern.
One thing to pay attention to is vaginal bleeding that happens outside of your period. Since we’re used to seeing blood during our period, women may disregard this symptom. But dark red or brown bleeding when you’re not on your period is something to alert to your doctor.
Spotting and pink discharge, meanwhile, are generally normal, but if you’re spotting consistently outside of your period you should tell your doctor. Reasons for this could range from birth control to hormonal imbalances.
Pink discharge means that there is just a little blood mixed in with your cervical mucus. There are several different reasons this can happen. Let us explore why you see pink discharge in your underwear.
As we can see, several different reasons can cause pink discharge. Here’s a chart to understand clearer these causes, as well as the timing of your discharge and any other symptoms.
Cause | When you may see pink discharge | Other symptoms you may notice |
Bleeding early or late in your period | The beginning and end of your period | Period symptoms like cramping, mood changes, fatigue, and headache |
Changing your birth control | Any time in your cycle | Weight gain, acne, mood changes, fatigue |
Perimenopause | Any time in your cycle, on average between 45-50 years of age | Hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, weight gain |
Ovulation | During ovulation | Sometimes, ovulation cramping |
Implantation | After ovulation | Sometimes, Implantation cramping, nausea, mood swings, breast sensitivity, back pain, and headaches |
Miscarriage | During pregnancy, before 20 weeks gestation | Abdominal pain and cramping, passing blood clots or tissue, dizziness, fainting |
Ovarian cysts | Any time in your cycle or menopause | Heaviness in the belly, pain, or bloating |
Uterine fibroids | Any time in your cycle or menopause | Pelvic pain, painful sex, or pain when you pee |
Ectopic pregnancies | Any time in your cycle | Sharp pain in the pelvis and abdomen, dizziness, fainting, and rectal pressure |
Disease or infection | Any time in your cycle or menopause | Painful intercourse and urination, groin itching, and spotting |
Cervical bruising | After rough sex | Sharp pain in your groin, sometimes even nausea. |
Cervical cancer | Any time in your cycle or in menopause | Pelvic pain, difficulty urinating or defecating, weight loss, fatigue, swelling in the legs |
If you’re pregnant and noticing pink discharge, don’t panic! This is often perfectly normal.
A major study found that pink discharge in the first trimester was not linked with increased risk for miscarriage.
So if you’re in the very early stages of your pregnancy, you could be experiencing implantation bleeding or spotting. This is a sign that a fertilized ovum has attached to the uterine lining, and pregnancy has begun.
Pink discharge can also happen late in pregnancy as your body gets ready for labor. It’s important to look out for other symptoms when you notice pink discharge. Are you also having cramps, contractions, or has your water broken? Either way, it’s best to consult your doctor if such a situation arises.
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