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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.
Several biological processes, including your menstrual cycle, influence the formation of pink discharge.
This piece gives you a 101 low-down on everything you need to know about pink discharge.
Key Takeaways
- Pink discharge is caused by bleeding along the reproductive tract. When a few drops of blood mix with your cervical mucus, the color of the discharge turns pink.
- Pink discharge is generally normal, and is most often found before and after your period.
- If you do notice pink discharge, note the timing during your cycle as well as any other symptoms you’re experiencing. These signs can give you a hint as to the cause of your pink discharge.
- There are a lot of different reasons why pink discharge is released, ranging from ovulation bleeding or in rare cases, cervical cancer. Most times though, pink discharge is nothing to worry about.
- If you’re noticing spotting that continues or repeats outside of your period, tell your doctor. They’ll be able to tell you whether your pink discharge is something you should worry about or not.
What Is Pink Discharge?
Pink discharge is a tiny amount of blood mixed with vaginal discharge which may even appear brown or pinkish-brown.
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.
Cervical mucus looks and feels very different depending on where you are in your cycle.
Depending on your body’s condition, discharge can look white, clear, tan, gray, or even green.
Is it normal to have pink discharge?
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 your doctor to.
While spotting and pink discharge are generally normal, spotting consistently outside your period isn’t. Consult your doctor to find out the reasons—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’s explore the whys behind pink discharge in your underwear.
Common causes of pink discharge
Start or end of periods
Pink discharge a day before or a day after your period is normal. You may see pink discharge at the beginning or tail end of your menses. When early or late menstrual blood mixes with your cervical mucus, it can result in pink discharge.
Irregular periods
Women on birth control may have periods that are so light they look like pink discharge for several days.
These very light menstrual flows are sometimes called hypomenorrhea. This can also be caused by stress, overexercising, breastfeeding, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and menopause.
Other factors that could make your period irregular are weight changes, stress, medications, and menopause.
Hormonal changes
Changes in your hormones may lead you to bleed at irregular times in your cycle. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuations can cause your body to shed uterine lining even when you’re not on your period.
These hormonal changes can be linked to birth control medications and IUDs (intrauterine devices). If you’re just getting off birth control to have a baby, your cycle may take as many as 3 months to regulate.
Hormone changes from coming off birth control can also lead to mood swings, fatigue, weight changes, and acne.
Perimenopause
When your body is transitioning out of childbearing years, pink discharge can occur randomly. During this time, estrogen drops, but not in a straight line. Because of these fluctuations, women may notice pink discharge along with hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and weight gain.
Ovulation
Ovulation bleeding can be a rare cause of pink discharge. When the ovaries release an egg, ovulation can cause spotting for some women. A few drops of blood from ovulation may appear as pink discharge. This happens between days 12-14 before your next cycle.
During ovulation, your hormone levels go through big fluctuations. This small amount of bleeding, along with breast tenderness and Mittelschmerz, signals that you’re in your most fertile window.
As the speed of your flow regulates, the color of your blood changes. For some women, this may result in pink discharge, while the standard red discharge in others.
Know More: Ovulation Bleeding: How Long Does it Last?
Implantation bleeding
Not really a cause, but implantation bleeding can look like pink discharge. Implantation occurs when the fertilized ovum attaches to the uterine wall. This marks the beginning of pregnancy, causing a rise in hCG as your body begins bringing new life into the world.
This attachment can lead to very light spotting or pink discharge for some women. Cramping, mood swings, nausea, lower back pain, and headaches are other symptoms that some women notice around implantation. Learn more about implantation bleeding here.
Miscarriages
Miscarriages are more common than most people realize. They refer to losing a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Miscarrying causes a gush of bloody fluid and tissue, which may look like red or brown discharge.
Pink spotting occurs in early miscarriages. Heavy bleeding is typical of a miscarriage, while light spotting continues for a week or two before the miscarriage passes.
Other symptoms of miscarriage can be abdominal pain and cramping, passing clots and tissue, dizziness, and sometimes lightheadedness or fainting. Miscarrying is often traumatic and can be medically serious occasionally.
You should let your OBGYN know if you bleed during pregnancy.
Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on your ovaries and can grow large enough to cause pink discharge or spotting. Though most ovarian cysts go away on their own, larger cysts may also cause pain, heaviness, or a bloated feeling in the belly.
Ovarian cysts can be associated with endometriosis or other hormonal imbalances. If you have a history of ovarian cysts, your doctor may tell you to watch for bleeding or spotting outside of your period. A pelvic examination will be able to adequately detect an ovarian cyst.
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are another growth that can happen in the reproductive system. They are non-cancerous fibrous growths in the uterus. Uterine fibroids don’t always cause symptoms, but when they do, pink discharge may be the first one.
Uterine fibroids sound scary, but they’re more common than you think. Some experts think that 20-70% of women will get a fibroid at some point in their reproductive life. Generally, they’re harmless. But they may come with other symptoms, like pelvic pain, sexual pain, and painful urination.
Ectopic pregnancies
Ectopic pregnancies are a rare condition. They occur when an embryo mistakenly implants inside the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. Trauma to the fallopian tube can cause light bleeding that may look like pink discharge. Ectopic pregnancies can also cause abdominal and pelvic pain, dizziness, fainting, and a feeling of pressure on the rectum.
The fallopian tube is not built to carry the embryo, and this can cause the tube to rupture. An ectopic pregnancy, ruptured or not, is a medical emergency. It can also cause abdominal and pelvic pain, dizziness, fainting, and a feeling of pressure in the rectum. If you notice any of these symptoms, see a medical professional immediately.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) happens after STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) go untreated. If unchecked, infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can move up the reproductive tract and cause inflammation in the pelvis.
PID can cause light bleeding, along with painful intercourse and urination, itching, and spotting. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, approach a health professional for advice.
Yeast infections, while they are not sexually transmitted, can also cause pink discharge. These happen when the candida or yeast in your vagina overgrow.
Other symptoms of a yeast infection include itching and burning around the vulva, vaginal pain and rashes, and thick discharge. If you’re sick, or have taken antibiotics, you may be more likely to get a yeast infection.
Bruised cervix
Pink discharge after sex could be a sign that you have bruised your cervix, owing to rough intercourse. The sex could have caused tears in your vagina or irritated your cervix.
This is accompanied by pain and sometimes cramping. The good news is that it resolves on its own. Take a break from sex for a little while, and the bruising will heal on its own. Take a look at our guide on bruised cervix to learn more about this.
Cervical cancer
It’s rare but pink discharge could be an indication of cervical cancer. Irregular bleeding and spotting are the most common signs of invasive cancer and tracking your menstrual cycle will help you identify signs early.
In the initial stages of cancer, the discharge is typically a white or clear liquid that can look pink when mixed with blood.
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in females. If you are between 21 and 29 years of age, getting a pap smear every 3 years is one way to protect yourself against cervical cancer.
Other late-stage cancer symptoms are pelvic pain, difficulty urinating and defecating, weight loss, fatigue, and leg swelling.
Timing your pink discharge
As we can see, several different reasons can cause pink discharge. Here’s a chart to understand these causes, as well as the timing of your discharge and any other symptoms.
How Long Does Pink Discharge Last?
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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