Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Leukorrhea?Causes in PregnancyCopingWhen to Seek Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Leukorrhea?
Causes in Pregnancy
Coping
When to Seek Help
Pregnancyis an exciting and unusual time during which your body will go through numerous changes. One change you may not expect is an increase invaginal discharge, called leukorrhea. In most cases, this is a normal and healthy change. Still, sometimes it could be a sign of infection.
Keep reading to learn more about what leukorrhea is, signs of infection, and tips for coping with increased vaginal discharge.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Leukorrhea is a normal type of vaginal discharge present in both pregnant and non-pregnant people. It is an odorless discharge that is clear or milky in color. Just likemenstrual flow, the length, heaviness, and amount of leukorrhea will vary from person to person.
The composition of leukorrhea is fluid and dead cells being shed from yourvagina. It is a sign of a healthy vagina. The mucus-like fluid helps keep vaginal tissues moist and clears away impurities that could lead to infections.
Leukorrhea may appear as a thin,clear substanceor may become thicker and stretchy depending on the phase of your menstrual cycle.
It’s normal for some people to experience more leukorrhea and for the amount to increase during pregnancy. Still, some people may be concerned that an increase in discharge may indicate an infection, especially with the normal increase during pregnancy.
What Causes Leukorrhea During Pregnancy?
When you’re pregnant, you may notice changes in the amount of leukorrhea you experience. It’s believed the amount and consistency of vaginaldischarge during pregnancymay change because of increasing pregnancy hormones and blood flow.
Leukorrhea helps keep the vagina and birth canal free from harmful bacteria to support a healthyvaginal flora(microbes normally present in the vagina).
Changes from the usual odorless and clear or whitish discharge, such as afoul smellor changes in the color, and other symptoms such as itchiness, could be a sign of infection.
Coping With Leukorrhea During Pregnancy
With leukorrhea, you may notice occasional wetness or chalk-colored stains on your underwear. Sometimes you may see the discharge when wiping after using the bathroom. This is all completely normal and not a cause for concern.
If you’re experiencing an excessive amount of leukorrhea, and you have to be out and about, consider wearing a panty liner or pad to help you feel more comfortable.
Here are some other tips for coping with leukorrhea during pregnancy:
When to See a Healthcare Professional
Most pregnant people experience this vaginal discharge. Most of the time, an increase in discharge during pregnancy isn’t a sign of a problem as long as it’s odorless and mild. If you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare professional for a checkup.
Report any changes to vaginal discharge and the surrounding area that could be a sign of an infection, such as:
These signs and symptoms could signal an infection, such as:
Typically, your obstetrician (a doctor specializing in pregnancy and childbirth) will do STI screening during early pregnancy. Testing for bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection may be needed if you experience symptoms, so be sure to contact your healthcare professional if they occur. That way, if there is a problem, it can be treated to help prevent pregnancy complications.
Summary
Increases in vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea, are a normal and healthy part of pregnancy and are usually nothing to worry about. Still, the added moisture and wetness can be uncomfortable. Consider wearing breathable underwear and occasionally wearing a liner or pad for part of the day to help. Discuss any concerns with your healthcare professional to ensure your leukorrhea is healthy.
A Word From Verywell
3 SourcesVerywell 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.da Fonseca TMMV, Cesar JA, Mendoza-Sassi RA, Schmidt EB.Pathological vaginal discharge among pregnant women: pattern of occurrence and association in a population-based survey.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2013;2013:590416. doi:10.1155/2013/590416Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2020;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch AS, Shah SGS.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi:10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187
3 Sources
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.da Fonseca TMMV, Cesar JA, Mendoza-Sassi RA, Schmidt EB.Pathological vaginal discharge among pregnant women: pattern of occurrence and association in a population-based survey.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2013;2013:590416. doi:10.1155/2013/590416Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2020;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch AS, Shah SGS.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi:10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187
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.
da Fonseca TMMV, Cesar JA, Mendoza-Sassi RA, Schmidt EB.Pathological vaginal discharge among pregnant women: pattern of occurrence and association in a population-based survey.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2013;2013:590416. doi:10.1155/2013/590416Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2020;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch AS, Shah SGS.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi:10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187
da Fonseca TMMV, Cesar JA, Mendoza-Sassi RA, Schmidt EB.Pathological vaginal discharge among pregnant women: pattern of occurrence and association in a population-based survey.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2013;2013:590416. doi:10.1155/2013/590416
Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2020;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700
Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch AS, Shah SGS.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi:10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187
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