Pink vaginal discharge may occur as part of your period or at other times during your menstrual cycle. It is not necessarily cause for concern. Blood may combine with clear cervical fluid on its passage from the uterus, turning it pink. However, this color could also indicate several illnesses, such as a hormone imbalance or infection.
The timing of the discharge and any other symptoms you may be experiencing can aid in determining the underlying cause.
Causes Of Pink Discharge
Beginning or End of Menstruation: Pink discharge is usual at the beginning and end of your menstrual period. The blood is just starting to flow or is slowing down at this point. On its passage out of the vagina, it may mix with other vaginal fluids, diluting its red color.
Hormonal Imbalance: Pink discharge brought on by low estrogen levels can occur at various times throughout your cycle, not always when you might anticipate a period. The hormone estrogen stabilizes the uterine lining. Insufficient amounts may cause the uterine lining to degrade and shed unevenly, resulting in spotting of various colors.
Birth Control: Starting or switching hormonal birth control techniques might result in red, pink, or brown discharge. Any hormonal birth control might cause a hormonal imbalance, leading to breakthrough bleeding. Sometimes, your hormones may adjust to the medicine, and the spotting will stop within a few months. Others may get a pink discharge for up to three months.
Ovulation Spotting: Approximately 14 days before your next period, an egg is discharged from the fallopian tube. Ovulation, or mid-cycle spotting, affects approximately 3 percent of women. This spotting may seem pink instead of red because more wet, clear cervical fluid is produced now.
Ovarian Cysts: These are sacs of fluid that appear on the ovaries. They are most likely to appear during a person’s reproductive years, usually on an ovary after it has released an egg, and disappear during menstruation. Sometimes, an ovarian cyst may not resolve and instead grows larger. This can result in irregular discharge between periods.
Implantation Bleedinh: The process by which a fertilized egg embeds itself in the uterine lining is known as implantation. It happens between 10 and 14 days after conception and can result in minor bleeding of various colors, including pink. Implantation bleeding does not occur in every woman.
Ectopic Pregnancy: An embryo may occasionally implant in the fallopian tube. This is called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy, which might result in spotting or bleeding. Pink discharge may emerge if it is mild and mixed with other vaginal secretions.
Miscarriage: Miscarriage occurs in ten to 20 percent of pregnancies before the fetus reaches ten weeks gestation. Symptoms include a sudden discharge of clear or pink fluid or intense red hemorrhage.
Infections: Pink blood and other odd discharges are possible symptoms of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and other STIs. At first, these infections might not show any symptoms.
Fibroids: A fibroid is a benign tissue development in or near the uterus. Symptoms do not usually accompany fibroids. When they do, irregular vaginal bleeding is an early warning indication. Pink cervical fluid may develop due to light bleeding or spotting combined with other cervical fluid.
What To Do About Pink Discharge
The reason for pink discharge will determine the course of treatment. For instance:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy or antidepressants that increase serotonin are used to treat estrogen abnormalities
- Breakthrough bleeding caused by hormonal contraception should cease within a few months; if not, you can consult a doctor about alternative birth control options
- Cysts in the ovaries may disappear on their own; if the cyst becomes particularly large or twists, surgery may be required
- Methotrexate and surgery to separate the pregnancy from the fallopian tube are two treatments for ectopic pregnancy
- A miscarriage might end naturally; you might require a dilation and curettage (D&C) if the fetus doesn’t wholly exit the uterus
- Antibiotics are necessary for infections like STIs and PID; make sure to engage in safe sex during and after therapy to prevent re-infection
- Surgery is used to remove uterine fibroids to treat them
When To Go To The Doctor
Pink discharge is not always cause for alarm, especially if it happens towards the start of your period. A typical menstrual cycle lasts 21 to 35 days, from the start of one period to the start of the next. The menstruation itself usually lasts two to seven days. Outside this timeframe, bleeding or spotting accompanied by pain, fever, or dizziness is a reason to see a doctor.
Consult a doctor if you have any bleeding during your pregnancy. Pink discharge is common, especially around the time of implantation or early pregnancy stages. Any discomfort, disorientation, tissue, or clots could indicate an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.