Pink vaginal discharge or spots have to do with bleeding that originates at some point in your menstrual period, which is not observed during the period. It is quite normal for pink vaginal discharge to occur in at least 30% of women. In some cases it is due to ovulation or implantation in the wall of the uterus, but in other cases it can be a symptom of a vaginal infection. Ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
If this is the first time you are experiencing this discharge, you are probably worried about this and you want to know what this type of vaginal discharge means, if it is normal or a symptom of some complication. The body of a woman produces this reaction to protect itself, the characteristics and quantity will depend on the stage of the menstrual period . But only under specific events is the pink coloration of the normal discharge, such as when you are in the first trimester of pregnancy or after delivery, etc.
Although this reaction can also occur as a sign of some inflammatory diseases, hormonal disorders, cervical erosion, ectopic pregnancy, genital cancer, endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia and other genitourinary complications. Therefore, if you notice any regularity in the bloody discharge, followed by other discomforts in the body, it is essential that you go to the doctor immediately to rule out possible complications in time. Keep reading because below we clarify some doubts related to the pink discharge such as the causes, consequences, reasons for the discharge during pregnancy and after childbirth, the pink discharge in menstruation or after sexual intercourse, among other important points that you they will serve as support to make the appropriate decisions regarding your intimate health.
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Index
What is pink discharge?
It is a secretion of pinkish hue which occurs in your vagina, most of the time the presence of blood occurs in the normal flow. Pink discharge can have multiple causes like pregnancy, ovulation, before and after menstrual period, etc.
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Causes and consequences of pink discharge
If you notice that you have a little pink discharge when cleaning, you don’t need to be alarmed. Among the most common causes we find the following:
Pink discharge from ovulation
Normally you may notice pink discharge during ovulation, usually about two weeks before the start of the menstrual cycle these vaginal secretions occur. Pink discharge is normal because it is an essential part of your ovulation. The release of an egg in your ovaries occurs in the second half of the menstrual period, then it moves from the ruptured follicle through the fallopian tube to the uterus, a process that can cause slight pink bleeding.
The pink discharge can be accompanied by other symptoms such as lower back discomfort, cramps, and breast tenderness. Little pink discharge is not a sign of concern, you need to be careful about the amount of flow and if it is abundant, you should see your gynecologist immediately, especially if the pink discharge turns bright red.
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Pink implantation bleeding
A consequence of the pink discharge may be related to the implantation in the uterine wall of a fertilized ovum, this process can be generated between day 6 and 7 after fertilization, this is medically called “implantation of the embryo”. This light flow comes from your endometrium, the tissue that houses the amniotic sac and gives rise to the placenta . Usually, when this happens, a slight bleeding occurs, known as implantation bleeding, which goes from pink to a fairly dark brown.
So that you can distinguish the bleeding, you should know that as the days go by, the tonality of the implantation bleeding becomes lighter, lasts less time and is lighter than the rule. On the contrary, in menstruation the tonality of the bleeding is a more intense red and becomes more abundant as the days go by.
The pregnancy
The causes of pink discharge during pregnancy can be different, but the most common are those described below:
- Estrogens: When you are pregnant, estrogens increase, your body begins to experience different hormonal changes and this can cause slight pink bleeding.
- Sexual intercourse: it is likely that during intercourse the rupture of certain blood vessels in your cervix is generated and that is why light bleeding occurs.
- Separation of the mucous plug: from the fifth week of your pregnancy, the mucous plug is made up of mucous secretions that are stored in the cervix until the pregnancy ends, this prevents bacteria from reaching the uterus. When the mucous plug is expelled, you may notice a pinkish or reddish discharge if it has a little blood and its removal can mean a sign that labor begins, this can occur in days hours or weeks.
Pink discharge after menstruation
In most cases the pink discharge after the rule is produced only by the elimination of accumulated blood or the expulsion of bacteria in your vagina. The color of the mucus can vary from a lighter pink to a dark brown discharge that is watery, pasty or thick.
If you notice that the discharge is brighter and you have redness, inflammation, itching in the vulva, abdominal pain, bad smell in vaginal secretions, pain when urinating or having sexual intercourse; It is essential that you consult your doctor as it could be a sexually transmitted disease or an infection.
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Pink fungal discharge
This represents one of the less frequent causes of pink discharge: fungal infection caused by an exaggerated increase of Candida albicans in the genital area, which can cause the elimination of white discharge in most cases along with other symptoms such as irritation, burning, redness and itching of the vulva. The discharge may turn pink if the mucosa of the vagina is too irritated and there is light bleeding from a wound.
Pink vaginal discharge caused by infections and other diseases
You are probably wondering if there is a relationship between pink discharge and infection in the urine. Observing pink discharge can be a sign of inflammation due to an infection or other health complication.
- Genital infections: It is quite common for infections to occur in your internal or external genitalia that cause pink discharge in the vagina. It is important that you first observe if this discharge is accompanied by itching or burning in the genital area.
- Pink discharge , a sign of cervical erosion: One of the signs of cervical erosion is pink vaginal discharge after menstruation, before or during the menstrual cycle, some sports activity or after sex. Through a colposcopy this diagnosis can be confirmed.
- Cancer: When the pink discharge is not related to your menstrual cycle and there is no pain, this can be a sign of cancer. In most cases it is a sign of advanced cervical cancer or endometrial cancer (especially in women over 45 years of age).
- Hormonal imbalances: currently the pink discharge is a frequent phenomenon of some hormonal disorder. It occurs due to sudden climate change, stress, PCOS, strenuous sports activity, ovarian cysts, PCOS, endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis, hypothyroidism, and other complications related to the endocrine and reproductive system.
- Diseases associated with other organs: in cases of blood clotting disorders, diabetes, rectovaginal or vesicovaginal fistula, diseases of the hematopoietic system, liver or kidney diseases, vaginal bleeding may occur.
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Pink discharge due to an ectopic pregnancy
In some cases, the implantation of the embryo takes place outside the cavity of the uterus, in spaces not suitable for the progress of the pregnancy. Pregnancy often occurs in the cervix or fallopian tubes. All this can cause pink discharge without the presence of the rule . Another peculiarity of this dangerous pregnancy is that the pregnancy tests discover a line, promoting carelessness in the woman.
Pink vaginal discharge from birth control
Hormonal contraceptives can cause pink discharge, regardless of whether the method is a vaginal ring, patches, pills, intradermal implants, or intrauterine devices. All these contraceptives cause hormonal disorders in your body, because ovulation is suppressed because natural hormones are replaced.
Other causes of pink discharge
There are other problems that can cause pink discharge: uterine or cervical cancer, after menopause the thinning of tissues of the woman’s reproductive system, uterine polyps, fibroids, gynecological examinations such as cytology, etc.
Is it normal to have pink discharge? Why?
During the menstrual cycle, all women experience multiple changes, with pink discharge being one of the most worrisome changes. These secretions are produced particularly by these changes during the menstrual cycle. Why is this pink discharge occurring? Because natural secretions include a slight amount of blood, vaginal discharge is normal throughout the cycle.
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Pink discharge during pregnancy, why? How does it affect?
Miscarriage is associated by many women with bleeding during pregnancy. There is really nothing serious about discharge during pregnancy. Pink discharge when you are pregnant is a sign of small amounts of diluted blood in the cervical mucus, causing it to turn pink. It is not so worrisome and it is not related to any problem in the baby, the abundant and red discharge if it is.
During pregnancy, the number of blood vessels increases in the cervix. When they have physical contact, the vessels are normally fragmented and bleeding occurs. Exercising or having sex when you are pregnant can cause your blood vessels to break, so small amounts of blood are produced . You must bear in mind that the normality of this event does not imply that you should ignore it because pregnancy can be complicated in different ways.
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First trimester
One of the changes that a woman may experience during the first trimester of pregnancy is pink vaginal discharge. Normally these discharges originate early in pregnancy, at which time your body begins to adapt to pregnancy, and later, when the moment of labor approaches. During the first trimester the pink discharge represents a normal circumstantial effect. In any case, you should be aware of other symptoms such as contractures, back pain, expulsion of abundant blood clots or fever, because this can be a reason to worry.
second trimester
The pink discharge usually does not appear in the second trimester of pregnancy and if it occurs normally it is in the sixth month of pregnancy, becoming one of the main signs of labor. The causes of pink discharge in pregnancy can change and will depend on each woman, remember that each organism is different and pregnancies are also different.
Third trimester
In the last trimester of pregnancy, pink discharge can be a sign of preterm labor. If you are not very sure about the discharges, you can check if you are presenting any of the following symptoms: menstrual cramps, bleeding, fluid leakage, back pain, changes in vaginal discharge or increased pelvic pressure. The beginning of labor may include heavy, heavy bleeding. This is a clear sign that the mucous plug has been expelled. Which means it’s time to call your doctor right away.
Pink bleeding during and after breastfeeding
For a new mother, a recurring doubt represents the moment when her fertility will return after having the baby. Although your body is different from other women, the most common determining factor in knowing when your period will return is the breastfeeding stage or if you are not breastfeeding. Pink spotting can indicate that your period has resumed, but it can also be a symptom related to healing after labor.
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Pink discharge after intercourse, why?
It is very common for pink discharge to occur after sexual intercourse. If your cervix is irritated during sex, you may notice some spots after sex. It can also happen that you have fragile vaginal mucosa, you may find yourself among the group of women whose vaginal mucosa is quite delicate, so that during intense sexual intercourse, you may have a slight bleeding that in combination with normal vaginal secretions, She can wear something pink without the need for you to be pregnant.
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Before and after menstruation pink discharge, why?
Pink bleeding before the menstrual cycle can be caused by a physiological loss of flow. You should not worry about pink discharge before and after menstruation because it is normal in most cases, due to the hormonal changes that occur in your body before menstruation.
Most women do not expect to bleed after their menstrual period, expecting the bleeding to stop completely until the next cycle; but on many occasions it is not like that and a slight pink discharge occurs, this should not worry you because this can be caused by: the use of an oral contraceptive, it is a sign of implantation bleeding, stress or as we have talked about previously, by ovulation. You may experience lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, cramping, or pelvic pain (this depends on the cause of the bleeding). The most advisable thing in these cases is to consult your gynecologist.
Pink discharge can also be caused by hypothyroidism, ovarian cysts, or cancer in the reproductive system.
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Pink discharge in babies, is it normal? Why?
In order for your baby’s leather to start working properly at birth, the baby needs to expel, in addition to a dark poop, a pink-colored pee. When changing his diaper you should not be scared, because his urine may have a particular color, his urine contains urates which are substances which make the liquid very concentrated. That is why in the first days, your baby probably stains the diaper with a diffuse pink color, it is normal. But if you notice that the dyeing is very evident and intense red or brown, you should go immediately to the pediatrician, your little one may need to drink more liquid.
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Does pink discharge occur after delivery? Why?
The pink discharge probably occurs after delivery, due to the natural shedding of the lining of the uterus after giving birth to your baby (lochia). After delivery, your menstrual period may return and ovulation begins, followed by your first menstrual cycle. So, you are likely to be fertile after ovulating, before the first menstrual cycle with vaginal spotting or bleeding arrives.
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Pink discharge after an abortion
On certain occasions, after an abortion occurs, it is possible to observe residues which are part of the tissue of your belly. The body discards this waste through bleeding and little by little the body is eliminating it. As the discharge progresses, the coloration changes from pink to dark brown and the consistency is thick . The appearance of the flow is similar to the flow that originates after each menstrual period, the smell is similar to that of the rule.
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Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.