Pink mucous discharge in women. Bloody and pink discharge before menstruation

Discharge can be observed in every healthy girl or woman. It is thanks to the secretions that the vaginal mucosa is cleared of dead cells, bacteria and mucus. It's normal if your discharge:

Transparent or whitish, creamy or slightly yellowish in color
Thin (watery) or slightly stretchy (mucus-like)
No smell
The discharge is not abundant: no more than a teaspoon per day

What discharge is not normal?

Your discharge is abnormal and a symptom of illness if:

Discharge that is yellow, green, brown, or other color
The discharge is very thick, foam-like or cottage cheese-like
The discharge has an unpleasant odor (sour, rotten, rotten fish odor, onion odor, or something else)
Heavy discharge: more than one teaspoon per day
Any discharge, if against its background you have itching, redness in the genital area, a feeling of dryness and discomfort in the vagina, abdominal pain, increased body temperature, pain and burning during urination and

Why does abnormal discharge appear?

The main cause of abnormal vaginal discharge is inflammation. Inflammation of the vagina or uterus occurs as a result of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as when the composition of the vaginal microflora is disrupted (). Unusual discharge may be caused by non-compliance.

Is it possible to determine its cause by the color of the discharge?

Unfortunately no. Gynecologists know more than 100 causes of vaginal discharge, and many of these causes present with the same symptoms. That is why, based only on the appearance of the discharge, even the most experienced gynecologist will not be able to make a diagnosis.

How to determine the cause of discharge?

Only with the help of a smear on the flora. - This is a smear from the vaginal mucosa, which is stained and examined under a microscope. Under a microscope, most bacteria and fungi that cause discharge become visible.

I have a lot of clear or mucous discharge, what is it and what should I do?

In some situations, completely normal clear or mucous discharge becomes excessively abundant (more than a teaspoon per day). This is normal discharge if:

Discharge appeared as a result of sexual arousal
Discharge appeared a few minutes or hours after sex
The discharge appeared in the middle of the menstrual cycle and lasted no more than 3-5 days

Contact your gynecologist if:

Heavy discharge appears at the beginning or end of the menstrual cycle and lasts more than 3 days
You are over 40-45 years old and you have a lot of watery or mucous discharge
In addition to clear discharge, you experience the following symptoms: they appear regardless of the menstrual cycle and after sexual intercourse, periods last longer than usual, you have back pain, weight loss. The symptoms listed above may occur with.

I have white discharge (leucorrhoea), what is it and what should I do?

White discharge may be normal or indicate inflammation of the vaginal mucosa.

Normal white discharge appears in small amounts shortly before your period and a few days after your period.

If yellow discharge appears, you should contact a gynecologist. The gynecologist will take a smear on the flora and determine the cause of the discharge. Each of the diseases that cause yellow discharge is treated differently. Until you find out what is causing the yellow discharge, treatment will not be effective.

I have green discharge, what is it and what should I do?

Green discharge is always a sign of infection. Healthy women do not have green discharge.

Green vaginal discharge occurs with sexually transmitted diseases: and some others. Such discharge appears soon after unprotected sex and is accompanied by itching, pain when urinating, dryness and discomfort in the vagina.

If you are not sexually active, then green discharge may indicate.

If green discharge appears, you need to see a gynecologist as soon as possible. The gynecologist will take a smear of the flora and, based on the results of the smear, will recommend treatment.

I have pink discharge, what is it and what should I do?

The pink color of the discharge is given by tiny droplets of blood. Pink discharge may be normal if:

Appear (appear) a few days before the start of menstruation
You are taking it and pink discharge appears in the middle of your menstrual cycle
Pink discharge appeared after rough sex
Soon after the appearance of this discharge you found out that you were pregnant

Pink discharge that appears frequently or every time after sex can be a symptom or even.

If soon after the appearance of pink discharge you have an unplanned menstruation, then most likely this is a menstrual cycle failure.

If the pink discharge has an unpleasant odor, you experience nagging pain in the lower abdomen and your body temperature is elevated, then you may have endometritis (inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus).

Pink discharge can be a symptom of more serious diseases: such as ovarian rupture,. With these diseases, pink discharge is often accompanied by very severe abdominal pain.

If pink discharge does not fit the description of normal discharge, then you need to see a gynecologist. The gynecologist will examine the cervix, take a smear on the flora and, possibly, prescribe. All these tests will help determine the cause of pink discharge and prescribe treatment.

I have brown or black discharge: what is it and what should I do?

Dark colored discharge (brown or black) is bloody - that is, it contains blood. This issue is addressed on our website.

The nature of pink discharge

Normally, pink discharge appears approximately two weeks before the onset of the next menstruation - this time coincides with the ovulation process. In this case, the discharge may have not only a pink tint, but also be bright red, which depends on the amount of blood and transparent vaginal secretion. Gynecologists call such discharge ovulation, as it indicates the most favorable time for fertilization.

Causes of discharge

When the egg matures, hormonal changes occur in the female body as a result of an increase in the level of estrogen, a hormone that affects the uterine mucosa. Such changes may cause slight bleeding, which turns into a pinkish discharge by mixing with vaginal secretions. Another reason that can provoke pink discharge is the use of oral contraceptives or an intrauterine device, which also provokes hormonal changes. Such reasons are quite justified, so there is no need to worry about this. Pink discharge often occurs as a result of gynecological manipulations when the mucous membrane of the vagina or cervix is damaged. Even careless movements during hygiene procedures can damage the delicate surface of the mucous membrane and thereby cause pink discharge.

Pathological causes of pink discharge

Another cause of discharge is erosion of the uterine cervix, in which the pink color often contains brown impurities, which indicates the development of a pathological process. It should be noted that in this case, discharge may appear not only in the middle of the menstrual cycle. If the discharge is accompanied by pain in the lower back and abdomen, and also contains admixtures of pus, this indicates the presence of an infection in the genital tract, which requires immediate contact with a gynecologist. In some cases, pink discharge is a symptom of serious diseases such as malignant tumors, uterine fibroids and polyps.

Discharge during pregnancy

Sometimes women notice that their discharge does not look quite normal. If there are no painful symptoms, then their appearance is not necessarily a sign of pathology. All processes of the cycle are controlled by hormones. Any shift in hormonal levels affects the functioning of the reproductive organs, the condition of the glands and blood vessels. This is what causes the faint color to appear. If it is pink, it indicates the presence of blood impurities, which is alarming. If you have any doubts about the origin of such discharge, you should visit a doctor and undergo an examination.

In the middle of the cycle, the discharge is thinner and more abundant than immediately after menstruation. Thanks to this, the mature egg moves freely from the ovary to the fallopian tubes. At the same time, the counter movement of sperm is facilitated.

Ovulatory bleeding

If the leucorrhoea in the middle of the cycle on some day becomes pale pink in color, and then again becomes colorless, reminiscent of egg white, this indicates that ovulation has occurred. When the follicular membrane ruptures, droplets of blood come out of the damaged capillaries and mix with normal mucus, giving it a faint pink tint.

This process was even given a special name “ovulatory bleeding.” Not every woman notices it, since there is no sensation of pain or other discomfort. But for those who are planning a pregnancy, pink discharge in the middle of the cycle is a sign that the most favorable days for conception have arrived.

When pink leucorrhoea is not a pathology

Do not be alarmed if spotting occurs between periods in a woman taking hormonal birth control pills. This happens for 3-4 months until the body gets used to the new hormonal levels.

Sometimes such discharge occurs after sexual intercourse. A reddish color appears if mucus production is insufficient, the walls and blood vessels are easily injured. The presence of blood may be facilitated by a decrease in blood clotting.

Warning: If such discharge appears systematically after sexual intercourse, painful sensations occur, this may be a sign of endometriosis, diseases of the cervix. In this case, consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.

Video: Causes of spotting after sex

Pink discharge as a sign of pathology

The appearance of such discharge indicates the occurrence of a hormonal imbalance. At the same time, the woman also develops other menstrual disorders (irregular rhythm, scanty periods). The development of the endometrium of the uterus is disrupted, which leads to its premature detachment and bleeding between menstruation.

The appearance of pink discharge in the middle of the cycle is possible with the following pathologies:

Infectious diseases of the genital organs. A characteristic manifestation is a change in the consistency and smell of leucorrhoea. For example, with thrush, the discharge resembles cottage cheese and has a sour smell. With gonorrhea, pink discharge contains greenish mucus and smells rotten. Unlike normal ones, they cause pain and discomfort.
Inflammatory diseases in the cavity and cervix, in the external genitalia.
Pathological growth of the endometrium (hyperplasia, endometriosis), formation of polyps.
Diseases associated with damage to the mucous membrane of the cervix (erosion, dysplasia).
Ovarian cysts.
Benign and malignant tumors of the uterus (fibroids, cancer).

The sooner pathologies are detected, the more successful the treatment will be. There are usually other painful symptoms that force a woman to see a doctor and undergo an examination. The hormonal background and the composition of the vaginal microflora are examined. Ultrasound and other instrumental methods are used to detect tumors in the uterus and ovaries.

Video: Diseases that cause bleeding between periods

Changes in the nature of vaginal secretions can occur under the influence of many factors. Thus, both psychogenic and physiological reasons can provoke pink or pale red discharge. But their occurrence is also characteristic of many infectious and inflammatory diseases that require urgent treatment. And now you will find out how to understand whether discharge in women is a sign of pathology or not.

Main provoking factors

The appearance of pink discharge can be caused by various reasons, for example:

psychological;
physiological;
inflammatory;
infectious.

Conventionally, they can all be divided into two main groups – pathological and non-pathological. Let's take a closer look.

Non-pathological

Pale discharge can occur at various times during the menstrual cycle. They can be observed immediately after menstruation, a week after their end and a couple of days before the next menstruation. This is due to constant fluctuations in hormonal levels. So, approximately 4-7 days before the onset of the next menstruation, active production of estrogen occurs, as a result of which a woman may experience pink or brown discharge before her period. And after their completion, the production of progesterone, which is responsible for the maturation of the follicle, increases. And when ovulation occurs (the moment the egg is released), the uterus becomes loose and this can also trigger the appearance of pinkish discharge in the middle of the cycle.

After the completion of the ovulation period, if fertilization has not occurred, estrogen production increases again and a pink spot appears before menstruation, which gradually becomes abundant and contains more and more menstrual blood, then menstruation begins.

All these processes occur completely painlessly. Apart from bloody vaginal secretions, the woman does not notice any changes in her condition. However, discharge may be a consequence of:

Treatment with antibiotics.
Use of OCs (oral contraceptives).
Frequent stress.
Changes in climatic conditions.
Alcohol abuse.
Use of vaginal suppositories (for example, Zalain or Diflucan).

Discharge when taking contraceptives occurs due to hormonal changes. Moreover, this happens, as a rule, only in the first 1–2 months of use. Further, the body adapts to new conditions for it and the discharge immediately stops after the second menstruation.

Moreover, pink mucus from the vagina can also be released in small quantities on days 8–11 of the cycle or later against the background of mechanical damage to the vaginal mucosa resulting from:

Instrumental gynecological examination.
Rough sexual intercourse.
Improper insertion of sanitary tampons.

Also, the appearance of spotting in the middle of the cycle or at the end can be provoked by an allergic reaction caused by wearing tight underwear, using cosmetics containing a large number of fragrances and fragrances, lubricants, etc. A sign of the development of an allergy is swelling of the labia, which can be accompanied by itching and rash. As a rule, when it occurs, spotting is observed for two to three days, provided that antihistamines are taken during this time.

Or maybe pregnancy?

Speaking about non-pathological causes of discharge a week before menstruation, we cannot help but say that quite often they appear during pregnancy. In this case, the vaginal secretion becomes pale in color and does not have a specific aroma. Some women experience discharge instead of menstruation for the same reason. Moreover, they can go on for 4–5 days or more, which is also a completely natural process. In this case, spotting instead of menstruation occurs against the background of increased synthesis of progesterone in the body and is accompanied by:

Nausea.
Headaches.
Frequent mood changes.
Insomnia.
Increased irritability.
Swelling of the mammary glands, etc.

If suddenly a week before your period the spotting suddenly stops and instead bleeding begins (in this case, red blood is released from the vagina in large quantities), accompanied by severe abdominal pain, then you need to call an ambulance. The reason for this may be spontaneous miscarriage.

It is also necessary to say that in those situations when the pink mucus released from the vagina acquires a brownish tint, this is also a sign of a threat to pregnancy, since the presence of dark, thick discharge indicates placental abruption.

Important! If pink-brown vaginal secretion appears, nagging pain in the lower abdomen and fever, you should immediately go to the doctor. All these symptoms indicate the development of an ectopic pregnancy, which requires immediate surgical intervention!

Pathological

Despite the fact that many women experience discharge in the middle of the cycle and the reasons for its appearance are different, do not forget that pathologies can also provoke the presence of vaginal secretions 10 days or more before menstruation. As a rule, their occurrence is often accompanied by burning and itching in the vagina, the appearance of a specific odor and pain.

Thus, cheesy discharge, depleting the sour aroma, occurs as a result of active reproduction of Candida fungi in the vagina and the development of thrush. At the same time, women often experience periods with mucus, which is caused by damage to the mucous membranes of the cervical canal due to excessive fungal activity. And after menstruation, the discharge becomes almost invisible. However, given that thrush is chronic, when the body is exposed to negative factors, after 4-5 days from the end of menstruation, curdled discharge in women appears again.

Negative factors that can provoke repeated manifestations of thrush include:

Frequent douching.
Climate change.
Taking antibacterial drugs.
Stress.
Poor nutrition.

Discharge before menstruation, approximately 3-4 days in advance, can also occur against the background of diseases such as cervicitis and endometriosis. In the first case, light red discharge occurs due to inflammation of the cervical canal, against the background of which its small capillaries are damaged. As a result of increased estrogen production, inflammatory reactions intensify and in addition to the fact that women complain about changes in vaginal secretions a few days before menstruation, they also often receive complaints that they have:

Pulls in the lower abdomen.
Streaks of blood appear in the vaginal mucus (pink mucus takes on a reddish tint).
Painful sensations intensify during sexual intercourse or after strong physical exertion.

Endometriosis is a disease in which there is a pathological growth of the epithelium of the uterus beyond its boundaries. And since after ovulation, the walls of the organ lose their tone and become loose, as a result of which women experience pink discharge before menstruation. At the same time, they are scanty and do not have an unpleasant odor. However, as in the previous case, the pink spot may give way to red discharge or scarlet blood, and nagging pain may periodically occur in the abdomen.

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Important! Endometriosis and cervicitis are very similar in their symptoms. And in order to make an accurate diagnosis and understand why the secretion coming out of the vagina acquires a pinkish or scarlet tint, it is necessary to do an ultrasound.

It must be said that if a girl or woman notices creamy vaginal discharge before her period, and then has normal menstruation, this does not mean that you can postpone going to see a specialist. Endometriosis and cervicitis are characterized by frequent remissions and exacerbations, as a result of which the symptoms either subside or begin to “hit” with renewed vigor. And the longer a woman delays treatment, the worse it will be for her health.

There is another disease that causes women to develop pink spotting outside of menstruation. And this is bacterial dysbiosis. With its development, opportunistic microflora begins to predominate in the vagina, resulting in symptoms such as:

Irritation in the intimate area.
The appearance of an unpleasant odor.
Swelling of the labia.

If a woman does not have her period, instead a brown or pinkish smear appears, the test is negative, and during the day there is nagging pain in the abdomen, then this may be a sign of the presence of polyps in the cervical canal. These are benign formations that can only be treated with surgery. And it is necessary to get rid of them as soon as possible, since if they are present, blood during menstruation cannot normally pass through the cervix and it begins to accumulate in the uterine cavity, provoking the development of congestion.

Important! You should not hope that the polyps will resolve on their own and after some time normal menstruation will begin. These formations rarely disappear on their own and, in the absence of adequate therapy, can provoke the development of cervical cancer.

Scarlet discharge also occurs as a result of erosive lesions of the cervix. In this case, a woman may notice the appearance of scarlet discharge throughout her entire cycle. Moreover, they often intensify after sexual intercourse and a few days before menstruation.

In order not to torment yourself with the question of why pink or scarlet mucus appears after menstruation and what they mean, you must immediately visit a doctor and undergo a full examination. If it reveals any disturbances in the functioning of the reproductive organs, you must immediately undergo a full course of treatment. If this is not done, the consequences may be adverse.