Throughout the menstrual cycle, the female reproductive system produces mucus. Depending on the period, it has different consistency, color and smell. The release of sticky, transparent white mucus without a particular odor is one of the signals that ovulation is approaching, that is, the body is preparing for fertilization. But sometimes mucus occurs instead of menstruation. This situation may indicate hormonal imbalance, problems with the menstrual cycle, infectious diseases of the female reproductive system, as well as pregnancy.
Mucus instead of periods: is pregnancy possible?
If a woman notices the appearance of copious mucus from the vagina in the phase of the cycle when her period is due, this may be one of the first signs of pregnancy. Of course, white or transparent clots may appear later, when the delay is already, so to speak, evident.
But this is not enough. To make sure that the reason why white discharge began instead of menstruation was pregnancy, a woman should pay attention to the presence of specific “symptoms”:
- Discoloration and change in mucus thickness. The discharge can be either scanty or very abundant, white or completely transparent. The appearance of such mucous clots is almost always accompanied by a delay in menstruation at the end of the cycle. It is worth noting that during pregnancy, vaginal secretions become more viscous. Such changes have nothing to do with internal changes affecting the menstrual cycle. In this case, the discharge may additionally have brown spots or streaks, indicating the attachment of the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus. This is the main confirmation of pregnancy.
- Complains of a tingling feeling in the lower abdomen, in the area of the uterus. At the very beginning of pregnancy, this symptom will not be too pronounced. However, as the gestational period progresses, the tingling will become more noticeable as the uterus begins to stretch. But the white or colorless discharge will stop.
- Sensations of pulsation in the abdomen.
- Engorgement and soreness of the nipples, accompanied by an increase in the volume of the mammary glands.
It is worth noting that if the reason why clear discharge began instead of menstruation was pregnancy, then abundant colorless clots will be observed only at the very beginning of the gestational period. As a rule, they accompany a delay in menstruation.
After installation of the intrauterine device
The IUD today is considered one of the most reliable methods of contraception and is widely used in gynecology not only to prevent pregnancy, but also for treatment purposes. When using a spiral, the cervical canal is practically not disturbed, so the risk of bleeding is minimized.
Bloody discharge, but not menstruation, may appear after insertion of the IUD for the first 3 weeks or less. This is due to the fact that during insertion the cervix is mechanically damaged, so bleeding increases slightly. If heavy bleeding does not stop within 24 hours, you should visit a doctor.
Light spotting leucorrhoea lasts longer. They talk about successful restoration of the cervix. They usually stop after 5-10 days, but can continue until the next menstruation.
The appearance of clots, increased blood secretion, a change in the color of the secretion to green and yellow may indicate a hormonal imbalance, the addition of a bacterial infection, the development of endometriosis, damage to the cervix during installation, injury to the polyp or erosion during manipulation.
Other reasons for clear discharge when regulation is delayed
The reasons why white discharge appeared instead of menstruation may be associated not only with pregnancy. Moreover, many pathologies or physical disorders are accompanied by changes in the vaginal microflora and delayed menstruation.
But we will look at the pathological reasons why white discharge occurs instead of menstruation later. Now let us dwell on the physiological aspects of this deviation.
The release of endometrium remaining from previous menstruation
Sometimes it happens that during the next menstruation, not all of the rejected mucous layer of the uterus - the endometrium - comes out. Subsequently, it begins to leave the woman’s body at the end of the next menstrual cycle in the form of copious mucous - white, completely transparent or brown - vaginal discharge.
Hormonal imbalance
An imbalance of female sex or thyroid hormones can lead to a shift in the menstrual cycle. Against this background, clear discharge may appear instead of menstruation, or menstruation may be delayed.
The reasons for this deviation may be associated with both external factors and diseases that affect the woman’s reproductive system or thyroid gland.
Moreover, we are talking not only about sexually transmitted infections, but also about oncological diseases of a benign or malignant nature.
Taking oral hormonal contraception
Oral contraceptives have a direct effect on the menstrual cycle. They may well provoke a delay and also change the viscosity of vaginal secretions. Due to such changes, even if the uterus begins to prepare for menstruation at the right time, it may come late or change its character.
Also, white vaginal discharge in many women taking COCs appears shortly before the regulative period and stops after their arrival. This is another result of the effect of COCs on the body, or, more precisely, on hormonal levels.
Premature menopause
In this case, we are talking about the results of a long-ignored hormonal imbalance. Due to a disruption in the production of estrogen, changes occur in the functioning of the reproductive system, so instead of menstruation, a woman may experience white vaginal discharge.
Previous surgery
Any operations on the uterus or other genital organs in women provoke a shift in the menstrual cycle. At the same time, the nature of the discharge changes over time.
Intravaginal interventions, in turn, lead to changes in the vaginal microflora. Therefore, if a patient, after a recent operation, has a clear mucous discharge instead of menstruation, and even with a significant delay, there is no need to worry. The menstrual cycle will completely return to normal after a few weeks, when the scar on the uterus or other organ of the reproductive system has healed. Although for some women this may take longer.
Endometriosis
Inflammatory processes in the body, as well as the amount of hormones in the blood, cause a disease such as endometriosis. The disease is observed only in women of reproductive age and is characterized by proliferation of the endometrial layer of the uterus. It can grow so large that it penetrates the vagina, kidneys and other internal organs of women.
Endometriosis also affects your periods. The discharge takes on a mucous appearance and is accompanied by severe pain. Menstruation lasts 7 or more days for such women, and can begin and end with heavy spotting. Some women call this “daub” scanty periods mixed with mucus.
By contacting an experienced gynecologist, you can get rid of this pathology by taking a course of medications.
Mucus instead of periods and pregnancy
If mucous discharge occurs precisely during the period when menstruation should occur, the possibility of pregnancy must be taken into account.
General characteristics include:
- identification of discolored mucus;
- discharge is scanty;
- no unpleasant odor;
- mucus is more viscous and is not associated with internal changes in the cycle;
- possible presence of brown discharge;
- also sometimes, along with mucus, slight pink or brownish discharge is observed.
Associated signs of pregnancy:
- painful sensations or tingling in the mammary glands;
- swelling of the mammary glands
- feeling of pulse in the abdomen;
- morning sickness;
- lethargy, fatigue, possibly chills;
- changes in taste and smell.
If any of the above symptoms are present, it is recommended to take a home pregnancy test and, if the result is positive, consult a doctor.
Discharge due to sexual intercourse
Discharge after sexual intercourse with a red tint indicates damage to the mucous membrane. There are several reasons for this phenomenon:
- mechanical damage - minor injuries, cracks, hymen rupture, insufficient natural lubrication and intense sexual contact;
- infectious diseases - in addition to brownish discharge after sex, a woman will be bothered by soreness, burning, itching;
- inflammatory process;
- neoplasms - with intense sexual intercourse, polyps, cysts, erosion, fibroids, malignant neoplasms will be subject to mechanical trauma, which provokes a brownish secretion.
A single appearance of brownish discharge is not dangerous. But if they accompany every intimate relationship for a long time, it is necessary to find out the reason.
Brown mucus instead of periods
Brown mucus instead of menstruation can make a woman think about terrible diseases. But in most cases, such discharge does not pose a threat to health. There are a number of conditions under which a woman may have brown vaginal discharge instead of her normal period. To accurately answer the question of whether this condition is unsafe, you should find out the main reasons.
Mucus instead of menstruation - reasons
1. The release of remnants of the last menstruation:
Sometimes, if the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is not completely removed, they may come out at the beginning of the next menstrual period.
2. Hormonal imbalance:
In almost 35% of cases, menstrual irregularities are caused by changes in a woman’s hormonal background. The hormonal state of the body can be affected by such serious diseases of the female system as polycystic ovaries, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, pathologies of the endocrine system, functional cysts, etc. However, hormone imbalance is often caused by general conditions: menopause, changes in lifestyle, diet, psychological condition, etc. In most cases, treatment is not required.
3. Taking birth control pills:
Contraceptives are a synthetic form of progesterone and estrogen that suppress cyclic hormones, change the structure of cervical mucus and prevent pregnancy. They are also used to treat acne, ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, etc. Hormones affect mucus and prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. The influence of hormones also leads to color changes in the endometrium and can cause mucus with blood instead of menstruation.
4. Menopause or premenopausal state:
One of the initial stages of premenopause results in brown discharge instead of menstruation as estrogen drops. The ovaries produce less of the hormone, and the entire reproductive system slows down. This is due to irregular cycles.
5. Mucus instead of menstruation as a sign of serious illness
- Inflammation of the pelvic organs (salpingitis).
- Serious infections of the female genital organs, such as the fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries, provoke brown secretion instead of menstruation.
- Treatment involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics for two weeks.
- Brown discharge can also be caused by cervical cancer, chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis. These diseases are accompanied by a large amount of discharge with an unpleasant odor, itching, vaginal dryness, burning and pain during sexual intercourse.
Types of dysfunction
Abnormal periods can appear against the background of exacerbation of chronic infections, in the acute phase of various female diseases, and with the onset of menopause.
Orange, brown, red discharge, but not menstruation, can develop as a result of various pathologies:
- Physiological mucus acquires an orange color as a result of a disease such as gonorrhea. Pathogenic microflora suppresses lactobacilli, and vaginal dysbiosis develops. At the same time, the menstrual cycle is disrupted. Scanty orange discharge appears. In addition, pain is felt in the lower back and abdomen, burning, itching, and an unpleasant smell of rotten fish appears. Also, similar secretion can be observed with vaginosis not associated with sexually transmitted diseases.
- Black discharge characterizes inflammation of the cervix and appendages when using incorrectly selected contraceptives. Hormonal imbalance can cause pain in the lower back and abdomen and fever. Additionally, there is nausea (and even vomiting), and digestion is disrupted. Also, very dark secretion in a small volume can occur after an abortion and complicated childbirth, cervical biopsy, or when wearing a spiral.
- Yellow or green leucorrhoea is a sign of increased bacterial flora. With an increase in leukocytes caused by the development of pathogenic microflora, inflammation occurs, as a result of which the vaginal mucus acquires this color.
Discharge in women instead of menstruation can also appear normally in the early stages of pregnancy, with climate change, nervous fatigue, poor nutrition, hormonal therapy, and decreased immunity.
What to do
Visiting a gynecologist is recommended for women from adolescence at least twice a year. When visiting a doctor, it is advisable to report all the features of intimate discharge. The specialist will prescribe the necessary tests and other diagnostic methods to determine the presence of pathological causes of deviations.
You will learn about the reasons for bleeding after menstruation from this video:
In some cases, it is possible to establish the cause already at the first appointment when examining the patient in a gynecological chair.
When a woman's period is late, but she has spotting and the test is negative, treatment will most likely be required. However, in most cases the problem can be dealt with quite simply. It is important not to start the process and consult a specialist in time, without taking any measures for self-medication.
Video: “Discharge in women, norm and pathology”
Menstruation, which is monthly bleeding from the vagina, is normal for the female body. But there are times when you are worried about bloody discharge, but not your period. The cause of such manifestations is most often pathological processes requiring medical attention.
Girls' periods are usually regular.
