Yellow discharge before a period can have a range of potential causes. Diagnosis depends on the consistency, smell, and color of the discharge. It may…. Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection caused by an imbalance of naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms include a grayish discharge…. A color-coded guide to vaginal discharge. Medically reviewed by Holly Ernst, P. What is vaginal discharge? Red White Yellow-green Pink Clear Gray Seeing a doctor Outlook It is common to wonder whether the color or consistency of vaginal discharge is normal or needs to be checked out.
When to see the doctor. Share on Pinterest Discuss any unexplained changes in vaginal discharge with a doctor. Latest news Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?
Related Coverage. What causes white vaginal discharge? How to get rid of a yeast infection. What exactly is vaginal discharge? Cervical fluid aka cervical mucus is one major component of vaginal discharge. Produced by the cells of your cervix, cervical fluid changes throughout your cycle from dry to wet, creamy to eggy, stretchy to sticky.
Tracking your cervical fluid in Clue will give you a better indication of what hormonal changes and events are happening in your body at any given point. Understanding your own patterns can help you to know when your estrogen is rising, when ovulation has occurred, and when you might be able to skip the lube. Getting to know your vaginal discharge and cervical fluid cycle can also help you recognize when something may be off—from an infection to a hormonal issue.
For a pregnancy to happen , you need an egg, sperm, and fertile cervical fluid. Cervical fluid allows sperm to enter your uterus and reach your egg at ovulation. The cervix is the passageway between your lower and upper reproductive tract. It has glands in and around it which produce fluid. The consistency, opacity, and volume of this fluid changes along with your reproductive hormones. At different times of your cycle, cervical fluid changes to make it difficult, or easy for sperm to swim past your cervix into your uterus 1.
Cervical fluid also protects sperm from the acidic environment of your vagina, and contains antibodies which help keep out unhealthy bacteria and viruses 2, 3. If you want to get to know your cervical fluid, try looking and feeling for changes in the consistency pasty, slippery , amount, and color of the fluid, along with the sensation at your vaginal opening wet or dry. You can use your fingers to feel for fluid at the entryway to your vagina, or at your cervix directly.
Look for color and consistency. Feel for things like thickness, wetness, slipperiness like soap and stretchiness of the fluid. Another way is to look for fluid on your toilet paper. Cervical fluid should be visible on the paper and look different than your other vaginal moisture. If you want to get into it, you can also try dipping fluid-covered fingers into a glass of water. Cervical fluid will either stay stuck to your fingers or will sink to the bottom of the glass in a little clump.
Also, avoid checking when you're feeling sexually aroused. Checking after sex is also a bad idea because it's too easy to confuse semen with cervical secretions. You can check your cervical mucus by looking at the toilet paper or your underwear. Not everyone is comfortable with putting their finger inside to check themselves. But you don't have to. You can instead pay attention to how wet your vulva feels on a day-to-day basis, pay attention to the discharge on your underwear, or look at the toilet paper after urination.
There is, in fact, an entire method based on this: the Billings Ovulation Method , With all that said, however, it's easier for many women to physically check themselves and reach inside.
Consider checking your cervical mucus after bowel movements. Of course, first, wash your hands well! But if you have trouble finding cervical mucus, it may be easier after a bowel movement. Having a bowel movement moves down any vaginal discharge closer to the entrance of your vagina.
If you have multiple patches of fertile cervical mucus, look for additional ovulation signs besides CM. Some women, especially those with PCOS , have several patches of fertile-looking cervical mucus throughout their cycle. If this is your situation, predicting ovulation by tracking cervical mucus might not work well for you. You should consider paying attention to other ovulation signs, like cervical position changes.
You may also want to chart your basal body temperature, so you know which if any of the fertile cervical fluids indicated ovulation. Some medication may interfere with your cervical fluids.
Antihistamines dry up more than your sinuses — they also dry up your cervical fluids. Ironically, Clomid can prevent you from having fertile quality cervical mucus. In this case, you might not find as much fertile cervical mucus before ovulation. So, you might want to try using an ovulation predictor kit to detect ovulation instead. If you never get fertile quality cervical mucus, tell your doctor. Lacking fertile quality cervical mucus can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance or fertility problem.
Cervical mucus that doesn't ever become fertile is sometimes referred to as hostile cervical mucus. You may see fertile cervical mucus again right before your period. Do you take herbs or vitamins? Do you have pain or itching? Are you pregnant? Do you have any other health problems, such as diabetes? If you have any of the following symptoms, see your healthcare provider: Discharge is yellow or green, clumpy or has a bad odor. Rash or sores alone or with a vaginal discharge.
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