Discharge During Pregnancy: What Is It?

Vaginal discharge is not only harmless but a pretty crucial part of having a vagina: it helps flush out bacteria and keep your lady parts clean. However, discharge comes in many forms, so it can be hard to know what's normal. Some women who are pregnant experience a fleshy, tissue-like discharge that resembles dead skin, which can be unsettling to find.

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"Anytime a woman experiences vaginal discharge during pregnancy, it can be very scary for

the patient and should certainly be brought to her doctor's attention, but there are a lot of non-worrisome causes as well," says Zev Williams, MD, PhD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

The most common causes of discharge during pregnancy include:

Uterine bleeding: "There can be bleeding inside the uterus that stops, but the blood that was there can clot and then be expelled days later," says Dr. Williams. "When it comes out, the old blood can look stringy, granular and dark." This type of discharge is relatively common, according to the National Health Service, but you should still consult your doctor about any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.

Elevated estrogen levels: Higher levels of estrogen and increased blood supply to the uterus and vagina produce an increasing amount of secretion during pregnancy.

Vaginal progesterone: In some cases, pregnant women need to take progesterone, which helps thicken the lining of their uterus and maintain the pregnancy. "The carrier material is often not absorbed, can clump up and also look like an unusual discharge," says Dr. Williams.

A bloody "show": Toward the end of a pregnancy, the amount of discharge increases, and it may contain streaks of a "sticky, jelly-like pink mucus," according to the NHS. This mucus is present in the cervix during pregnancy, and it's released as the body gets ready to go into labour.

Biochemical pregnancy: A biochemical pregnancy refers to a very early miscarriage where a fertilized egg doesn't implant itself properly. This type of pregnancy will show up positive on a urine pregnancy test, but an ultrasound will not be able to detect it. "Miscarriage tissue can appear a tan or light pink color," says Dr. Williams. "If a woman sees that, she should notify her doctor and save the tissue in case it's necessary to do testing on it."

Vaginal infection: The NHS recommends contacting your doctor or midwife if you experience discharge that smells unpleasant or strange, if you feel itchy or sore, or if it hurts when you urinate, as these symptoms could indicate a vaginal infection.

Healthy vaginal discharge is usually thin, clear or milky white, and shouldn't smell bad, according to the NHS. If you experience any unusual discharge or vaginal bleeding, let your health care provider know immediately.

• By Jenae Sitzes