Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMenstrual CycleSexPregnancyBirth ControlInfectionsUterine FibroidsEndometriosisPCOSCervical CancerOther Discharge ColorsWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Menstrual Cycle
Sex
Pregnancy
Birth Control
Infections
Uterine Fibroids
Endometriosis
PCOS
Cervical Cancer
Other Discharge Colors
When to See a Provider
A pink discharge from the vagina commonly occurs with spotting before your period. Seeing a little pink after wiping may also be a sign ofovulation(the release of an egg) orimplantation bleedingthat can occur with early pregnancy. You may also see a pinkish discharge after sex as tiny tears in vaginal tissues mix with vaginal mucus.
On rare occasions, vaginal bleeding may be a sign of more serious conditions likeendometriosisor evencervical cancer.
FreshSplash / Getty Images
Your Menstrual Cycle
A pink discharge is not only common during stages of your menstrual cycle but can also occur as you approach menopause.
Ovulation and Your Period
A pink discharge candevelop at the beginningor end of your period. It is the result of menstrual blood mixing with clear vagina fluids.Irregularor light periods that persist for a few days can also appear pink.
Some people experiencespottingduring ovulation when an egg is released from theovary. The light spotting may be pink-hued and occur roughly 14 days before your next period. Cervical fluid is clearer around this time, so any blood would create a pink shade.
Light bleeding from ovulation is usually not a problem. If you experience any ovulation pain (known asmittelschmerz), you can treat it with an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever likeTylenol (acetaminophen)or aheating pad.
In most cases, light spotting before or after your period is not a cause for alarm. However, ifspottingis persistent or if your periods are suddenly irregular, see your healthcare provider.
Perimenopause
Fluctuating estrogen levels are characteristic ofperimenopause, the transition period leading tomenopause. As estrogen levels rise and fall,irregular spotting and periodscan occur, sometimes causing a pink discharge.
Perimenopause usually begins in one’s 40s, causing additional symptoms such as:
Estrogen replacement therapy(in pill, patch, spray, gel, or cream form) can help normalize hormone levels and relieve many of these symptoms. Antidepressants can help manage mood swings, while the drugNeurontin (gabapentin)has proven effective in easing the severity or frequency of hot flashes.
After sex, some people experience light spotting, otherwise known aspostcoital spotting.This usually occurs when thevagina is irritatedfrom excess friction, particularly when not enoughlubricationis used.
Additional lubrication may be all that is needed to overcome this concern. But if bleeding continues despite ample lubrication, see your provider to have it checked out.
A pink discharge can occur soon after fertilization and implantation of the egg and several weeks later duringearly fetal development. It can also occur as an early sign of miscarriage.
Implantation Bleeding
Implantation bleedingdescribes spotting or light bleeding that some people experience shortly after a fertilized egg has implanted into the lining of theuterus(womb). One or two weeks after this happens, the spotting might appear pinkish depending on how much bleeding has occurred.
Lochia
Lochiais vaginal bleeding that can occur four to six weeks after childbirth.The discharge often begins as birth red, heavy bleeding before gradually easing and turning a light shade of pink.
Lochia can cause the discharge of tiny blood clots. If the discharge smells foul or involves large blood clots, see a healthcare provider to rule out a potentially serious infection.
Outside of infection, lochia doesn’t require treatment other than the use of extra sanitary pads. Do not use tampons during this time.
Miscarriage
Signs of a miscarriage(the loss of pregnancy) include vaginal spotting, which can be light and pinkish.This would usually occur before the 20th week of pregnancy.
Seek immediate care if you experience other signs of miscarriage, including:
If no pregnancy tissue is left in your womb following a miscarriage, no treatment is needed. If some remains, you may be prescribed medications to help discharge the tissue or undergo a procedure calleddilation and curettage (D&C)to have it removed.
Hormonal Birth Control
Hormonal birth controlcan lead to anestrogen imbalancethat causesbreakthrough bleeding. This is especially true when you start a new form of hormonal contraceptive.In such cases, the pink discharge will gradually ease and start to resolve after a few months on the new medication.
If spotting does not stop, you may need to consider a differentmethod of birth control. Speak with your healthcare provider.
It is that also worth noting the irregular use ofbirth control pillscan lead to spotting. By taking your pills at the same time every day without interruption, you may be able to overcome breakthrough bleeding.
Yeast Infections
Other symptoms of a yeast infection include:
Most yeast infections can be treated with a short course of topical or intravaginalantifungaldrugs.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)is inflammation of the upper genital tract due to an infection, most commonly STIs likegonorrheaandchlamydia. The disease affects the uterus, ovaries, and/orfallopian tubes, sometimes causing a pink vaginal discharge.
In addition to spotting and a pink vaginal discharge, PID can cause symptoms like:
Treatment of the underlying infection can help ease PID symptoms. Your sex partner should undergo testing and potential treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with an STI.
Uterine fibroidsare a type of noncancerous tissue growth inside the uterus, The cause of fibroids is unknown but is thought to be associated with genetics,vitamin D deficiency,obesity,high blood pressure, and never having been pregnant.
Although many fibroids cause no symptoms, some people may experience light vaginal bleeding that can appear pink when mixed with clear cervical fluids.
Other signs of uterine fibroids may include:
Hormonal contraceptionis most commonly used to reduce bleeding. A drug calledLupron (leuprolide)can help shrink the fibroid and reduce heavy bleeding. Severe cases may require surgery to either remove the fibroid only (myomectomy) or the fibroid along with the entire uterus (hysterectomy).
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to theendometrium(the lining of the uterus) grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 40.
Endometriosis can cause episodes of heavy bleeding during periods. In between periods, endometriosis can cause spotting, light bleeding, or a pink discharge.
Depending on where the abnormal tissue growth occurs, endometriosis can also cause other symptoms such as:
Tylenol and OTCnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) can help ease pain, while hormonal therapies can help suppress ovulation and periods. Surgery can be used to remove or destroy the excess tissues, known asendometrial ablation.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that causes the formation of fluid-filled cysts on the ovaries. PCOS causes hormonal imbalances that can lead to infertility and irregular periods.
People with PCOS typically haveandrogenlevels. These include hormones liketestosteroneassociated with male sexual development.
PCOS can cause abnormal menstrual periods with a pink discharge rather than a full flow. Other symptoms include:
PCOS can be managed with lifestyle changes, hormonal therapy,anti-androgen drugs,acne treatment, and procedures likeelectrolysisto remove unwanted facial or body hair.
Cervical canceris a rare cause of a pink vaginal discharge. An early sign of cervical cancer includes vaginal bleeding after sex and between periods. In the United States, cervical cancer is the 20th most common cause of cancer, affecting around 13,800 people annually.
Cervical cancer is oftenasymptomatic(symptom-free) in the early stages but can lead to other, more overt symptoms as the disease progresses, including:
The treatment of cervical cancer depends on the type of cervical cancer you have and how far the cancer has spread. Treatments include surgery,chemotherapy, andradiation therapy.
Other Vaginal Discharge Colors
Vaginal discharge can come in a variety of colors and consistencies. Some of these changes may be completely normal, while others may be a sign of a potentially serious disease.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Vaginal discharge is common. For some people, the amount of discharge can fluctuate daily due to medications, sex, menstrual cycle, and other factors.
If you suspect you may be pregnant, you can take an in-home pregnancy test and confirm a positivepregnancy test resultwith our healthcare provider.
Summary
Pink discharge that happens before your period, after sex, or at the start of new hormonal birth control may be normal. This can occur when light vaginal bleeding mixes with clear cervical fluid, appearing pink.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Vaginal discharge.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.University of Florida Health.Mittelschmerz.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Perimenopausal bleeding and bleeding after menopause.Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(4):859–876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058World Health Organization.Family planning.Planned Parenthood.Is it normal to have a little spotting after sex?.Memorial Care.What color is implantation bleeding?.Kim SM, Kim JS.A review of mechanisms of implantation.Dev Reprod.2017 Dec;21(4):351–9. doi:10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.351MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Going home after a C-section.MedlinePlus.Vaginal delivery - discharge.MedlinePlus.Miscarriage.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Early pregnancy loss.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What you should know about breakthrough bleeding with birth control.Villavicencio J, Allen RH.Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: Increasing satisfaction and continuation rates.Open Access J Contracept. 2016;7:43-52. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S85565.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Think you have a vaginal infection? Here’s what you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)-CDC basic fact sheet.Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95–114 doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: endometriosisOffice on Women’s Health.Polycystic ovary syndrome.National Cancer Institute.Cancer fast stats: cervical cancer.MedlinePlus.Cervical cancer.MedlinePlus.Vaginal itching and discharge - adult and adolescent.Planned Parenthood.How much vaginal discharge is normal?.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Vaginal discharge.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.University of Florida Health.Mittelschmerz.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Perimenopausal bleeding and bleeding after menopause.Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(4):859–876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058World Health Organization.Family planning.Planned Parenthood.Is it normal to have a little spotting after sex?.Memorial Care.What color is implantation bleeding?.Kim SM, Kim JS.A review of mechanisms of implantation.Dev Reprod.2017 Dec;21(4):351–9. doi:10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.351MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Going home after a C-section.MedlinePlus.Vaginal delivery - discharge.MedlinePlus.Miscarriage.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Early pregnancy loss.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What you should know about breakthrough bleeding with birth control.Villavicencio J, Allen RH.Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: Increasing satisfaction and continuation rates.Open Access J Contracept. 2016;7:43-52. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S85565.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Think you have a vaginal infection? Here’s what you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)-CDC basic fact sheet.Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95–114 doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: endometriosisOffice on Women’s Health.Polycystic ovary syndrome.National Cancer Institute.Cancer fast stats: cervical cancer.MedlinePlus.Cervical cancer.MedlinePlus.Vaginal itching and discharge - adult and adolescent.Planned Parenthood.How much vaginal discharge is normal?.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Vaginal discharge.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.
University of Florida Health.Mittelschmerz.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Perimenopausal bleeding and bleeding after menopause.
Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(4):859–876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058
World Health Organization.Family planning.
Planned Parenthood.Is it normal to have a little spotting after sex?.
Memorial Care.What color is implantation bleeding?.
Kim SM, Kim JS.A review of mechanisms of implantation.Dev Reprod.2017 Dec;21(4):351–9. doi:10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.351
MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy.
MedlinePlus.Going home after a C-section.
MedlinePlus.Vaginal delivery - discharge.
MedlinePlus.Miscarriage.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Early pregnancy loss.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What you should know about breakthrough bleeding with birth control.
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Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Think you have a vaginal infection? Here’s what you need to know.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)-CDC basic fact sheet.
Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95–114 doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: endometriosis
Office on Women’s Health.Polycystic ovary syndrome.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer fast stats: cervical cancer.
MedlinePlus.Cervical cancer.
MedlinePlus.Vaginal itching and discharge - adult and adolescent.
Planned Parenthood.How much vaginal discharge is normal?.
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