Yellow Discharge Before Period: Any Itchy, smell, odor? 10 Top Causes

Do you experience yellow discharge before period and feel it’s abnormal? Do you feel vaginal itching, smell or odor down there? This guide will explain the causes of yellow discharge in women before period, when it’s abnormal and when to test for pregnancy.

Yellow discharge is often due to an infection. However, typical white vaginal discharge can look slightly yellow when it dries on exposure to air. This occurs due to oxidation on contact with air.

In some women, implantation bleeding may be one of the early pregnancy signs, and though may come out as brown discharge, some women may see a pink or brown discharge before period. Implantation bleeding can be a sign you are pregnant, and if you feel weak with other symptoms of pregnancy, you should take a pregnancy test and inform your doctor.

While it’s possible your yellow vaginal discharge is nothing serious, it could be due to Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and trichomoniasis infection. In women who douche or have a severe vaginal yeast infection, they may experince a yellow discharge too.

How does normal vaginal discharge look like?

Vaginal discharge is a natural way the vagina keeps itself clean. It consists of bacteria, mucus discharge from the cervix and epithelial cells. It is without odor and has no foul smell.

The presence of inflammation (redness, vaginal itching, soreness of the vulva) is abnormal.

Most women discharge are usually white, brown or thick white discharge. White discharge is the most common discharge in women. However, women can also experience brown discharge. Brown discharge is common in women and could be due to old blood (around your period) or light spotting as an early pregnancy sign.

What causes yellow discharge before period?

Yellow discharge before period can be normal if it is pale and you have no itching or bad smell. It could be due to a small amount of old blood mixing with discharge. However, bright yellow/green discharge can be due to an infection caused by:

• Bacterial vaginosis

• Gonorrhea

• Chlamydia

• Trichomoniasis

1. Chlamydia infection

Chlamydia is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and affects both men and women. However, many people infected will not show symptoms.

Therefore, it is possible to develop complications of chlamydia without any symptoms of infection. Some chlamydia symptoms in women are:

• Pain while urinating

• Low abdomen pain

• Yellow vaginal discharge or pus like discharge

• Fever (high body temperature)

• Pain during intercourse

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Early diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia is important to prevent any complication of the disease. Some complications of chlamydia include:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

• Ectopic pregnancy. This is because the infection can ascend the genital tract through the cervix to affect the fallopian tubes. This will result in the growth of the fertilized ovum outside the uterus.

• Infertility. Any damage to the fallopian tube and vaginal infections can cause infertility. If you have difficulty getting pregnant after previous untreated infection, then you should inform your doctor.

• In pregnancy, chlamydia infection can affect the baby leading to preterm birth and transmission to the baby during childbirth.

Therefore, if you develop yellow discharge with any of the above symptoms you should inform your doctor.

2. Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection and can affect both women and men. It can cause yellow vaginal discharge in women. Many women do not show gonorrhea symptoms. However, if not treated can have long term effects in these women.

Gonorrhea symptoms are:

• Painful urination

• Yellow discharge or white vaginal discharge with odor or pus like discharge

• Pain during intercourse

• Low abdominal pain

• Fever

Since gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection, use of condom and abstinence can prevent it. The good news is that gonorrhea can be treated and cured. Early gonorrhea treatment is important for prevention of complications which include:

• Premature delivery in pregnancy

• Increased chance to get infected by other sexually transmitted diseases including HIV

• Bartholin abscess

• Infertility

3. Trichomonas infection

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection too. It can cause yellow discharge in women. Many women will not show symptoms of trichomonas infection. However, you may experience any of this trichomoniasis symptoms if you have the infection:

• Vaginal itching

• Foul smelling yellow or yellow-green discharge

• Painful urination

• Low abdomen pain

If not treated early can increase your chance of getting or passing other STIs (including HIV). Some of the other complications of trichomonas are:

• Increased transmission of other STDs in women including HIV

• preterm delivery and premature babies

If you experience yellow vaginal discharge with the above symptoms, then it’s vital that you inform your doctor. Also, since not all women will show symptoms, if you have new or multiple sex partners, ask your doctor about regular STI screening.

4. Bacterial vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial vaginosis can cause a thin greyish-white discharge that may have a fishy smell, and it can sometimes look yellowish. Though not a classic STI, it is linked with sex and can be associated with a higher risk of other infections.

Common symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include:

• Fishy smelling discharge that is usually greyish-white and thin

• No pain or soreness

• Some women may experience mild itching of the vagina

The good news is that symptoms and signs of bacterial vaginosis (BV) can be treated and cured.

How is yellow vaginal discharge treated in women?

If you have yellow discharge before period then you may have an infection. Inform your doctor of your symptoms. The causes of yellow discharge can be treated easily and cured.

Your doctor will also ask you some questions to determine the cause of your infection. Some of the questions are:

• Any history of unsafe intercourse?

• Any history of sharing sex toys?

• Are you having abnormal vaginal discharge?

• Any fever or low abdomen pain?

• Are you having difficulty in getting pregnant?

• Any vaginal itching?

• Any previously untreated foul smelling discharge?

In addition, some other test will be carried out. This is to determine the cause of the infection.

If the cause of the infection is due to chlamydia, it can be treated with doxycycline (or azithromycin in some cases). In pregnancy, azithromycin (and sometimes amoxicillin) can be used.

If the cause of your vaginal discharge is due to bacterial vaginosis, it can be treated with metronidazole (Flagyl).

Gonorrhea infections are treated with ceftriaxone (usually as an injection). If chlamydia has not been excluded, your doctor may treat for chlamydia too. Early treatment of yellow discharge will prevent PID in women.

How can yellow discharge be prevented in women?

• Avoid having unprotected intercourse

• Use condoms correctly

• Abstinence is the best way to prevent any sexually transmitted infection.

• Stop vaginal douching

• Early treatment of infection

• Reduce sexual partners and counsel your partners on the need to get tested and treated. This is because you can get reinfected again.

• Inform people or friends you had intercourse with to get tested too. This will prevent further spread of the infection.

Frequently asked questions about Yellow discharge

You asked and we answered your questions on yellow vaginal discharge.

What causes yellow discharge before period?

Yellow discharge before period may be due to old blood mixing with discharge and can look yellowish-brown. It usually disappears when your period starts. However, if it is smelly or with odor, then it’s abnormal. If you also have a fever and low abdomen pain, you should inform your doctor.

What causes yellow discharge after period?

This is not usually a problem except you experience fever, itching or foul vaginal discharge. After your menstruation, some of the remnant blood covering the uterus will be expelled. This comes out as brown discharge or dark discharge in women.

Is yellow discharge before period sign of pregnancy?

Yellow discharge alone is not a reliable sign of pregnancy. In the first trimester, spotting before your next period is usually pink or brown.

Is yellow discharge due to a yeast infection?

Yeast infection discharge is usually white clumpy discharge that can sometimes be yellow. However, most women with a yeast infection will have white vaginal discharge that is cheese like with no strong smell.

Now it’s your turn, let us know if you experience abnormal vaginal discharge. Join the conversation and share your experiences.