Contents
Vaginal discharge is usually normal if there are no other alarming symptoms (pain, burning, bad smell, etc.). With the onset of pregnancy, the discharge does not stop, but changes. The secretion of the vagina increases due to the increased concentration of progesterone, thick white or light beige mucus is released from the genitals (1). We tell you what different shades of discharge indicate at all stages of pregnancy.
Characteristics of beige discharge during pregnancy
| Light beige | This is usually the norm if there are no unpleasant symptoms. If the discharge is accompanied by a burning sensation in the genitals, this may be a sign of bacterial vaginosis, inflammation, or sexually transmitted infections. |
| yellow-beige | This shade may appear immediately after the onset of pregnancy due to changes in hormonal levels. But if the beige-yellow discharge has a greenish tint, a pronounced smell of rotten fish or garlic, and the woman’s health worsens, itching and burning, pain in the lower abdomen appear, these are signs of an infectious or inflammatory process. |
| Dark beige | Such discharge appears 5-9 days after conception. They can remain after examination by a doctor on a gynecological chair. But at a later date, they can be an alarming signal about the unfavorable development of pregnancy, up to fading. |
| Beige with a reddish tinge or streaks of blood | In the first trimester, this may look like discharge on menstrual days, after an ultrasound or examination by a doctor. But this phenomenon can also be a sign of cervical erosion, ectopic or missed pregnancy, detachment of the fetal egg or placenta, uterine rupture. |
Why do beige discharge appear during early pregnancy
At the beginning of pregnancy, beige discharge is most often safe, this is a normal reaction of the body to the changes taking place. When a new life is born, the hormonal background of a woman changes, the concentration of progesterone increases, which is necessary for the normal development of the fetus. Against this background, the volume of the secret from the vagina increases. And since the integrity of the endometrium is violated during the implantation of the fetal egg, ordinary leucorrhoea acquires a beige tint.
But the reasons can also be pathological.
1 trimester
In the first three months after conception, the discharge is thick and viscous, which contributes to the formation of a mucous plug that protects the fetus from external infections.
The discharge of the first trimester is characterized by the most diverse range of colors.
A yellow-beige secret can be a signal of pregnancy. Less often, such a shade signals the onset of a genitourinary infection, especially in combination with an unpleasant odor or itching.
5 to 9 days after conception, dark beige discharge can be found on underwear or pads. This is also a variation of the norm.
After examination by a gynecologist or ultrasound of the pelvic organs, the discharge may become a little darker: due to manipulations, microcracks are sometimes formed that bleed a little – they change the color of the discharge. But the light beige shade is quickly returning.
Beige-brown spotting in the first trimester is an “echo” of an established menstrual cycle. They appear on days when a woman usually had her period before pregnancy. Doctors consider such discharge as a risk factor for miscarriage, and therefore prescribe the woman complete rest.
A beige secret can also be a manifestation of an allergy. The fact is that in the first trimester of pregnancy, intensive changes occur in the body of a woman, local immunity weakens. A woman may have an allergic reaction that was previously suppressed. The usual washing powders, intimate hygiene gel, underwear fabric, etc. become an irritant. If you remove the allergen, the intensity of the discharge will decrease. But if an allergy is ruled out, you should consult a doctor.
You should not delay a visit to the gynecologist in the case when the discharge is accompanied by a specific smell, itching and burning of the genital organs, and abdominal pain. These accompanying phenomena can be symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, thrush, infectious diseases (2).
Allocations that do not go beyond the norm, do not cause discomfort and do not smell.
Why do beige discharge appear during late pregnancy
Beli of this shade both in the middle of pregnancy and before childbirth can appear under the influence of various reasons. This is not always a dangerous symptom.
In some cases, there is no reason to worry, but sometimes beige discharge in late pregnancy can be an “alarm bell”.
2 trimester
In the second trimester (from the 21st week), beige discharge is the result of the same “game” of hormones. The body intensively produces estrogen, the vaginal secretion increases. Beige discharge is already more liquid.
A brown or dark beige “daub” at 6-12 weeks is a reason to immediately consult a doctor to prevent the pregnancy from fading.
An examination by a gynecologist is required if the discharge has become yellow or brown. The reason may be sharp fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen, or, for example, a polyp, erosion, endometriosis, etc.
3 trimester
In the third trimester, a dark beige discharge is a sign that the mucous plug that was formed at the beginning of pregnancy to protect the fetus is being released. And that means giving birth soon.
In addition, beige-brown discharge may signal placental abruption or abnormalities in the development of the fetus.
What to do if beige discharge appears during pregnancy at home
Pregnant women should pay attention to any changes, even harmless at first glance. The body changes every day, the causes of beige discharge can be very diverse. If it is, for example, infections of the genital tract (vulvovaginitis, endocervicitis, colpitis), they can lead to a complicated course of pregnancy, infection of the fetus, miscarriage, or inflammation in the uterus and its appendages.
Therefore, the first answer to the question “What to do when beige discharge appears?” – consult a gynecologist in a timely manner for a diagnosis. The specialist will refer you for tests or ultrasound, help to establish the cause of the beige discharge, eliminate it or explain (3).
Beige discharge, which intensifies, is accompanied by pain, burning and discomfort, changes color – a reason for an immediate consultation with a doctor.
If the doctor has prescribed treatment, it is important to follow all the recommendations. In addition, there are general recommendations for the expectant mother:
- wear underwear made from natural materials to reduce the risk of thrush and allergies;
- try to avoid stress and strong physical exertion;
- do not overcool.
Popular questions and answers
Numerous changes that occur to the body during pregnancy can scare a woman. The best remedy for panic is information. Our expert obstetrician-gynecologist, doctor of the highest category Elena Kollerova answers the most popular questions about beige discharge during pregnancy.
If the doctor prescribed treatment for beige discharge, will it harm the child?
Is it true that some hormonal drugs can cause beige discharge?
What discharge after sex should alert a pregnant woman?
Sources of
- Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases accompanied by pathological discharge from the female genital tract. Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2nd edition, corrected and enlarged. 2019. URL: https://minzdrav.midural.ru/uploads/19.pdf
- Vaginal candidiasis and pregnancy. breast cancer. Medical review. No. 1, 2022. Tyutyunnik V.L. , Ordzhonikidze N.V. URL: https://www.rmj.ru/articles/akusherstvo/Vaginalynyy_kandidoz_i_beremennosty/
- Normal pregnancy. Clinical recommendations of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2019. URL: https://minzdravao.ru/sites/default/files/2020/1/normalnaya_beremennost.pdf