Early pregnancy discharge vs pre period discharge

Vaginal discharge, also referred to as cervical mucus, comes in many different forms and affects all women - in fact, vaginal discharge primarily exists to keep the vagina clean and protect it from infection. Nonetheless, when the colour, amount or consistency of your discharge changes in the run-up to your period, it can leave you slightly confused.

We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about discharge before your period - including the most common types of discharge that may appear before your period, how to know if your discharge is 'normal' plus, if your discharge is a sign of pregnancy.

See also: Brown Discharge: What does it mean?

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White discharge isn’t uncommon for most women, and it’s usually nothing more than a regular part of menstruation. But what if it isn’t time for your period? Could your white discharge be a symptom of pregnancy instead?

White discharge before your period can be a sign of pregnancy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is. This kind of discharge can also be a regular part of your reproductive cycle, or it could mean you have an STD, STI, or other illness. Pregnancy-related discharge is usually thicker than average.

Hopefully, this article will tell you everything you need to know about white discharge before your period and how it could be related to pregnancy. It’ll also give you some other possible reasons for the vaginal discharge.

Covered in this Article:

• Is White Discharge a Sign of Pregnancy?
• Is Thick or Creamy White Discharge a Sign of Early Pregnancy?
• Is White Discharge in My Underwear an Early Pregnancy Sign?
• White Discharge: Before and After Period vs Pregnancy

Is White Discharge a Sign of Pregnancy?

White discharge can signify pregnancy, especially if it’s creamier or thicker than usual. Unfortunately, it could also be a sign or symptom of many other things that aren’t related to pregnancy at all. If your white discharge accompanies a late or missed period, it’s more likely pregnancy-related.

We’ll explore whether your white discharge could be pregnancy-related in the following sections.

First, however, let’s go over a few non-pregnancy-related reasons you may be experiencing it. 

• Recent sexual activity: If you’ve recently engaged in sexual activity either by yourself or with a partner, you may find a sticky white discharge on your vagina or in your underwear. It’s completely normal and usually caused by sexual arousal. It could even contain your male partner’s seminal fluid (source: Everyday Health).
  
• Impending period: Sometimes, you’ll pass white discharge as a normal part of the menstrual cycle. Depending on how far into your cycle you are, it may look and feel different.
  
• Bacterial vaginosis: This bacterial infection happens when too much bad bacteria in your vagina leads to an infection. You may be at higher risk for vaginosis if you douche regularly or have multiple sexual partners (source: Mayo Clinic).
  
• Yeast infection: Most women don’t need an explanation for yeast infections, as nearly all of us have had one. If you’ve recently been on strong antibiotics, it could increase your chances of a yeast infection.
  
• Birth control: If you’ve recently begun (or stopped) taking birth control or have switched to a new brand, that could be your culprit. Birth control is famous for causing vaginal discharge and even spotting in many women (source: WebMD).
  
• STDs, STIs, and other illnesses: If your discharge is white and odorless, it probably isn’t related to an STD or STI. While these can cause odorless white discharge, they’re more likely to cause vaginal discharge with a foul smell. Still, if you’re concerned or have other symptoms, see your doctor right away (source: Healthline). 

As you can see, there could be many reasons other than pregnancy that are causing your vaginal discharge. So don’t get too overly excited or nervous just yet. Remain calm and watch for other impending signs of pregnancy before heading to the store for a test. 

Is Thick or Creamy White Discharge a Sign of Early Pregnancy?

Thick, creamy, white discharge can be a sign of early pregnancy. In fact, of all the possible types of discharge and colors, it’s most likely to signify pregnancy. However, it’s also a common occurrence on days seven through nine of the menstrual cycle, or it can be a symptom of a vaginal infection.

Unfortunately, thick, creamy, white discharge with no odor is also a relatively common sign of a yeast infection (source: Princeton University Women’s Health).

Luckily, yeast infections also come with other symptoms, including itching, burning, and vulva swelling. So, if you notice any of those with the odorless discharge, you’re probably looking at a yeast infection. If not, pregnancy could still be on the table.

However, it’s still best to watch for other common pregnancy symptoms before jumping to conclusions.

Is White Discharge in My Underwear an Early Pregnancy Sign?

White discharge in your underwear could be an early pregnancy sign, but chances are that it isn’t. If you’ve only noticed the discharge in your underwear, it could be any number of things, including a clear discharge that dried white. Arousal-related discharge is a common possibility. 

Any of the causes listed above could be behind the white discharge on your underwear. If you’ve recently had sex, masturbated, or applied creams or lotions, it might not even be discharge! Instead, it could be seminal fluid or dried toiletry that is transferred from your vagina to your underwear. 

White Discharge: Before and After Period vs Pregnancy

Now, let’s briefly look at an average 28-day menstrual cycle and how your discharge levels may change throughout it. 

Discharge isn’t noticeable for many women until about seven days into a normal cycle. At this point in the menstrual cycle, your estrogen levels are getting higher, which may produce a thick, creamy discharge. 

It may be white or yellowish and shouldn’t have any odor. For some women, it’s creamier; others compare it to cottage cheese.

About halfway through the cycle is when most women begin to ovulate. At this point, you may feel more discharge than you see. It often loses its white color and becomes transparent instead. However, your vagina is likely to feel wetter and more slippery. If left to dry on your underwear, it can appear white and flaky.

You’re less likely to see much vaginal discharge in the days between ovulation and your period. However, some women experience it again about three days before their periods. The discharge is usually more transparent than white in these cases. For some women, though, it could look milky.

After your period, you shouldn’t see much discharge. Most women are at their driest in the few days immediately following their periods.

Either way, days seven through nine are usually when most women experience the thick, creamy, white discharge (source: My Cleveland Clinic).

If you’re tracking your ovulation cycle and notice the thick and creamy discharge at some other point, it could indicate that you’re pregnant, especially if your period is late.

If you’re looking for more information on specific discharge, you might also want to read our articles on whether yellow/brown discharge might be a sign of pregnancy, as well as more clear or watery discharge types and what they mean, too.

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