White Discharge Instead Of Period: Pregnant Or Not? 5 MAIN Causes

Question: What causes white discharge instead of period? Is it pregnancy? Should I take a pregnancy test?

Provided you’ve started having sexual intercourse; you are at risk of getting pregnant and also contracting sexually transmitted infections.

The truth is, after unprotected sex, you can get pregnant. And if you do, your regular monthly period usually stops, and many women notice increased clear or whitish discharge from the vagina.

White discharge from your vagina instead of period can cause women to panic, especially if you are not planning for pregnancy.

For women that are expecting a baby, a whitish vaginal discharge instead of your period can be one early sign that you could be pregnant, but on its own it is not proof. You still need a pregnancy test to be sure.

Here’s an email from Thelma (one of my readers)

Hi Dr. Dunn

I’m 23 years old and had sexual intercourse with my boyfriend on the 22nd of June (which is about a week after my period)

I’m expecting my period, and suddenly I get this clear white discharge instead of my menstrual period.

I’m worried because I had a pregnancy test and it’s negative. Are there other reasons my period could be delayed apart from pregnancy?

Just like Thelma, if your period gets delayed even by a day, it could cause you to worry. The thoughts of pregnancy come first especially if you’ve had unprotected sex with your partner.

During pregnancy, your vaginal discharge becomes excessive, milky or watery, and your body produces a lot more hormones that stop the regular menstrual period from showing up.

Another reason your period could be delayed is late ovulation. Other causes of white discharge instead of period are stress, Postinor (emergency pills), birth control medications, thyroid dysfunction and ovarian cyst.

This article explains

• Causes of whitish vaginal discharge instead of period

• Signs that show you are pregnant

• Why you have white discharge instead of period with a negative pregnancy test

• When to take a pregnancy test

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What causes clear white discharge instead of period?

If you get clear white discharge when you are supposed to have period, here are possible reasons.

1. Pregnancy

To get pregnant, you’ve had intercourse with your boyfriend without the use of a condom. If you’ve used a condom and it breaks, you are still at risk of getting pregnant.

During pregnancy, different hormones will prevent your period from coming when due. Around the time before your period, hormone levels usually fall. However, if you become pregnant, these hormones change to support the pregnancy and stop your normal menstrual bleeding.

An abundant creamy white discharge instead of period occurs because estrogen hormone causes your cervix to increase the production of mucus from your vagina.

If this happens, you will notice a whitish mucus from your vagina that is clear or milky and a delayed period.

Remember, white or milky discharge can also be normal at other times in your cycle (for example, just before your period), so discharge alone cannot tell you if you are pregnant or not.

The truth is, your period can be delayed for days by other reasons apart from pregnancy. Some women have no obvious early pregnancy symptoms, so the most reliable way to know is to take a pregnancy test if your period is late.

It’s possible you’ve had a hard week with so much stress, or you’ve recently started vigorous exercise to lose weight fast. If this happens, your period could be delayed due to unbalanced hormones.

Apart from a missed period and a clear discharge, there are other pregnancy symptoms you should check for.

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Early pregnancy symptoms to look out for

Fatigue

When you get pregnant, feeling exhausted and fatigue will suddenly be a new friend. You will notice you get weak easily. This usually happens because of changes in hormones and your body’s metabolism in early pregnancy.

Breast pain

While you are about to miss your period, a heavy discharge and breast pain a few days from the start of menstruation may signify you are pregnant.

Breast changes are common during your menstrual cycle, and if you get pregnant, you will experience dramatic changes to your boobs as they become larger than normal.

If you’ve already missed your period, you will begin to feel itching nipples and notice a darkened skin around your nipples (called the areola).

Other symptoms

Other early symptoms of pregnancy you may or may not have experienced are slight brown spotting before your missed period (implantation bleeding), headache, abdominal cramps, constipation, frequent urination, vomiting and mood swings.

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What to do?

If you’ve not had sexual intercourse that puts you at risk of pregnancy, you should be patient for a few days because it’s normal that your menstrual cycle hormones may fluctuate from time to time, resulting in a delayed period.

However, if you’ve had sexual intercourse, and missed your period with excessive vaginal discharge, it’s important you take a pregnancy test.

• For most home urine tests, it is best to test from the first day of your missed period.

• If the first test is negative and your period still does not come, repeat the test after 5–7 days.

If you are positive, talk to your doctor or visit a clinic for proper antenatal care and ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy is in the right place (not ectopic).

If your discharge becomes thick like cottage cheese, green or yellow, has a strong bad smell, or comes with itching or burning, it may be an infection rather than pregnancy and you should see your doctor.

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What causes white discharge instead of period with a negative pregnancy test?

The fact that you’ve missed your period for days and have an increased vaginal discharge does not always mean it’s pregnancy. If you’ve missed your period and tested negative to a pregnancy test, it could be something else apart from pregnancy.

Causes of whitish vaginal discharge with a negative pregnancy test are:

1. Delayed ovulation

Ovulation occurs in your body from time to time. In most women with regular cycles, ovulation will take place roughly in the middle of the menstrual cycle (about 2 weeks before the next period).

Ovulation is the release of an egg from your ovaries, and if the egg gets fertilized, you become pregnant and start showing pregnancy symptoms.

If an “ovulation egg” is not fertilized, your body will observe changes too and start preparing for your next menstrual period.

Sometimes, a woman’s body hormones may fluctuate resulting in variations in the timing of ovulation. If ovulation becomes delayed, it simply indicates your next menstrual period will also be delayed for a few days.

Reasons for delayed ovulation are excessive body exercise, hormone imbalance, polycystic ovarian syndrome, acute illness, chronic illness, and too much body stress.

2. Wrong testing technique

A whitish discharge but no period and a negative pregnancy test are common in women who also do not take a pregnancy test as recommended.

To prevent this, take your test in the morning with your first bladder urine (especially if your period is just a day or two late) and then follow instructions on your kit.

If you still get a negative test and your period has not come after 2–3 weeks, see your doctor for a blood test and further evaluation.

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Other causes of white discharge but no period

• Perimenopause (common in women aged 40–50 years)

• Premature ovarian insufficiency (sometimes called premature menopause)

• Hypothalamic dysfunction that could result from eating problems, long-distance travel, physical stress of your body, many nights without adequate sleep and relaxation, emotional problems, hypertension, and diabetes.

Some of these conditions can cause missed periods (amenorrhea) and hormonal changes, while you still notice some normal vaginal discharge.

Always see your doctor if:

• You have missed your period for 3 months in a row and you are not pregnant.

• Your periods were regular before and suddenly stop.

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What causes white discharge instead of period on birth control pills?

If you are on birth control medications, a whitish discharge but no period will come as a surprise.

Here’s an email I received from one of my readers

Hi Dunn

I need to know if I’m pregnant or not.

I’m on birth control pill and I am not planning on getting pregnant. I was supposed to start my period yesterday, but when I wipe I notice I have so much clear white discharge.

Is it possible I could be pregnant on the pill?

A birth control pill prevents pregnancy, but nothing is 100 percent perfect. Also, it’s unlikely you will get pregnant if you’ve consistently taken your pills routinely at the same time every day.

Depending on the type of birth control pill you’re on, your bleeding pattern will change. Some pills allow a withdrawal bleed every month, while others are designed so that your period becomes very light or may not come at all, and it’s okay if you have white discharge too.

Normal hormonal birth control can:

• Make your periods lighter or shorter

• Make your cycle more regular

• Sometimes stop your periods completely while you are on the pills

It’s important you notify your health care provider and ask relevant questions (including side effects) about your medications.

If you are on the pill and:

• Missed one or more pills

• Had vomiting or diarrhoea that could make the pill less effective

• Or your period is late and you are worried

…then do a pregnancy test. If in doubt, use condoms as backup and speak with your doctor or family planning clinic.

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You should also see your doctor urgently if you have:

• Severe lower abdominal pain on one side

• Dizziness, fainting or shoulder-tip pain

• Heavy bleeding or clots with severe pain

• Fever or foul-smelling discharge

These may be signs of a more serious problem such as ectopic pregnancy or pelvic infection and need emergency care.

Sources

• PubMed

• nhs.uk

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration

• ACOG