A sign of early pregnancy: vaginal discharge

Everyone knows that morning sickness is a sign that you might be pregnant, and the most well-known and obvious indicator of pregnancy is the lack of a menstrual cycle, right? Did you also know that vaginal discharge could probably be a sign of early pregnancy? If not, read on for the details.

The vaginal discharge you may see on your underwear or when you wipe after urinating can range in color from milky white to pinkish brown. It is caused by increased estrogen levels and more blood flow to the vagina. It might look like you’re spotting, especially if you see it around the time your normal menstrual cycle would start. The pinkish-brown color is a bit of blood that might have been left over from your previous menstrual cycle and is not a cause for alarm.

Not all women experience this type of vaginal discharge, so not seeing discharge doesn’t mean you’re not pregnant. It is quite possible that you are pregnant and do not have this particular sign of early pregnancy. The surest way to determine if you are pregnant is to see your doctor for a test.

Vaginal discharge is sometimes called a mucous plug because it blocks the opening of the cervix to protect your child from infection. As your pregnancy goes into labor, your body will expel the mucous plug due to dilation of the cervix.

As long as the vaginal discharge you experience is odorless and not accompanied by burning or itching, it may be one of the first signs of an early pregnancy. If the vaginal discharge you are experiencing smells bad and itches, you should see your gynecologist right away. Your doctor will need to examine you because you could have a viral or bacterial infection or sexually transmitted disease that needs to be treated.