Why is My Discharge Pink?

When you're on the verge of getting your period, you're probably aware that seeing pinkish or light-colored blood means a light flow is about to begin.

Pink discharge early in pregnancy, however, can raise a lot of questions and even cause some concern.

What about light-colored spotting that appears without a pregnancy being involved?

This article will explore the causes of pink or light pink discharge before a period and will also tell you why it can happen when a woman is either pregnant, not pregnant, or approaching menopause.

What is Discharge?

Discharge is the way that a woman’s body expels fluids and cells. It's a totally normal occurrence for women, with healthy vaginal discharge being clear or white in color.

Discharge can vary from woman to woman and can change in appearance, consistency, and smell depending on various factors. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

• Menstrual cycle
• Pregnancy
• Hormonal changes or imbalance
• Vaginal or ovarian infections

Around a woman's first period is when discharge first occurs. The discharge can sometimes be heavy or light, and this largely depends on the menstrual cycle and what stage of life the woman is in.

For example, throughout the various stages of pregnancy, a woman may produce either more, or less vaginal discharge than what she is used to.

With the onset of menopause, a woman may produce less vaginal discharge because her body has stopped ovulating and estrogen levels have changed.

Why is My Discharge Light Pink?

It's common for vaginal discharge to change in color. However, healthy vaginal discharge is thin and clear, or white.

When a person has light pink vaginal discharge, it is likely that the discharge forms part of your period and is typically no cause for concern.

Your discharge may appear light pink as it may mix with clear cervical fluid or blood while exiting the uterus.

Light pink discharge, however, may be caused by a number of other reasons, including hormonal imbalance or infection. Let’s cover some of the common reasons for light pink discharge.

Beginning or End of Your Menstrual Period

A woman may experience a pink or light pink discharge before, during or after her period.

During this time, blood is either beginning to flow or slowing down. Because of this, the discharge may mix with other fluid on its way out of the vagina, turning it slightly pink.

Another cause for a light pink discharge may be irregular periods.

With irregular menstruation, a light period, for example, may last less than two days and then turn pink.

There are many reasons why your menstrual cycle may be irregular, including weight change and stress.

Hormonal Imbalance

Light pink or pure pink discharge can occur from low estrogen levels at different points during a woman's menstrual cycle.

Estrogen is a hormone that helps stabilize and regulate the uterine lining and if there is too little of it, the uterine lining may break down or shed irregularly.

This could then result in your discharge changing to a pink or light pink color, as well as various other colors, such as brown.

An estrogen imbalance can also lead to:

• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Mood swings or depression
• Trouble concentrating
• Bone loss
• Weight gain
• Urinary tract infections

Contraception Effects

Hormonal contraceptives or pills like birth control may cause discharge to change color during the first few months of use.

In some cases, your hormones may adjust to the medication within a few months and the pink discharge will stop. Others may see this kind of spotting for longer than three months.

As previously mentioned, if there is an imbalance of estrogen in the body, a woman's uterine wall may shed between periods. This can also happen when hormone levels change due to the use of contraceptives.

Starting with hormonal birth control, or switching to one that is new to you, may lead to an artificial estrogen imbalance.

This imbalance can then cause a light pink discharge or spotting. This side effect is also known as breakthrough bleeding.

If this continues for more than three months, consider talking to your doctor about switching birth control methods.

Contraceptives with varying estrogen levels may be considered to find the one that works best for you.

Ovulation Spotting

Before your next period starts, an egg is released from the fallopian tube approximately 14 days prior.

During this time, a woman's uterus and cervix are more wet than usual, with clear cervical fluid being produced. Because of this, light ovulation spotting may occur and regular discharge may appear pink instead.

The color of spotting typically varies between shades of red and pink, as it mixes with clear discharge. However, spotting can also be brown discharge.

Symptoms of ovulation include:

• Discharge that has the consistency of egg white
• Low abdominal pain (also known as Mittelschmerz)
• A change in your basal body temperature (your body temperature at rest)

Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled pockets or sacks that form on one or both ovaries.

If the egg does not successfully detach from the ovary during ovulation, an ovarian cyst may form.

The cyst may go away by itself after a few months. It may, however, also grow larger and could cause anything from pink discharge to the twisting of an ovary — which could cause a rupture or the cutoff of blood supply.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

A sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, can also be the reason for pink discharge, other color variations, or spotting.

Some symptoms can include:

• Bleeding with sexual intercourse
• Painful urination
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Vaginal itching
• Spotting between periods

Implantation

Implantation of a fertilized egg occurs 10 to 14 days after conception and can result in light bleeding in a variety of colors, including pink.

Implantation is the process whereby the fertilized egg embeds itself in the uterine lining.

Not all women experience implantation bleeding.

Some other signs of early phase conception include:

• Frequent urination
• Morning sickness
• Sore breasts
• Fatigue

If your period is late or pink spotting replaces it, consider taking a home pregnancy test.

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy, also known as a tubal pregnancy, occurs when an embryo implants in the fallopian tube.

Because of this, there may be spotting or internal bleeding which could lead to a light pink discharge.

Other symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include:

• Sharp pain in the abdomen, pelvic, neck, or shoulder
• One-sided pelvic pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Rectal pressure

If you experience spotting or bleeding and severe one-sided pain or any other symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible, as this could signify a fallopian tube rupture, which is a potentially life-threatening complication.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Besides STIs, other vaginal infections may also result in a pink discharge or light pink discharge.

Light pink discharge may be caused by an infection of the cervix and uterus, called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

This infection may cause you to experience other STI symptoms, as well as a fever.

If left untreated, PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain and infertility.

Symptoms of PID include:

• Pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen
• Pain during sex
• Fever
• Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• A burning sensation when urinating

Cervical Cancer

Pink discharge may also be a sign of cervical cancer, although this is a rare sign.

The most common sign of cervical cancer is irregular bleeding — after sex, between regular periods, or after the onset of menopause.

Discharge with early cervical cancer is often white, clear, or watery. Any blood that mixes with it may look pink.

Symptoms of progressed cancer can include:

• Pelvic pain
• Feeling a mass or growth
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fatigue
• Trouble urinating or defecating
• Swelling in legs

Annual pelvic exams and regular visits to your doctor can help detect cervical cancer as early as possible.

Miscarriage

The loss of a pregnancy during the first 20 weeks is known as a miscarriage. A gush of clear or pink fluid, as well as heavy red bleeding, can occur suddenly during or after a miscarriage.

Other symptoms may include:

• Cramping or pain in your lower abdomen
• Passing tissues or blood clots from the vagina
• Dizziness
• Fainting

If you’re pregnant and notice brown discharge, it’s important to notify your doctor.

Lochia

Lochia is a 4-6 week period of bleeding following childbirth. It starts with a heavy red flow that is usually filled with small clots.

This discharge has a stale, musty odor.

After the first few days of bleeding, the flow typically slows and becomes more pink or brown in color. Before it completely stops, lochia will change color again to a more yellowish or creamy color.

Let your doctor know if you see large clots or experience foul-smelling discharge. These may be signs of infection.

Perimenopause

The time when a woman's body is transitioning to menopause is called perimenopause.

Throughout this time, a woman's estrogen levels fluctuate randomly, rising and falling.

Because of this, you may experience pink spotting or irregular periods. Perimenopause typically occurs during a woman's mid 30s to early 40s.

Other symptoms of perimenopause include:

• Hot flashes
• Trouble sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings

When Should I See a Doctor?

Experiencing pink discharge is often not a serious concern, particularly if it happens around the time of your regular period.

However, bleeding or spotting outside this time frame, along with other symptoms like pain, fever, or dizziness should be looked at further. So booking a doctor's appointment is advised.

Pink discharge after menopause is unusual and should be addressed by a physician. During this period, the irregular discharge could be a sign of fibroids, cervical cancer, or other medical conditions that require medical attention.

Where Can I Learn More about Medical Issues and Treatments?

If you are currently experiencing some of the symptoms mentioned in this article, or are concerned about a potential vaginal infection, you can make a telehealth appointment with a board-certified doctor by visiting LifeMD today.