Understanding Discharge Before Your Period

Vaginal discharge might not be the most glamorous topic, but if you're female, you've got it.

But why does discharge vary in colour and consistency? Well, it's down to hormonal changes in your estrogen levels. We have the answers...

What Does Discharge Before Your Period Mean?

Discharge before your period is normal and can be up to 4ml (almost a teaspoon) every day. At the beginning and end of your period it can be white or creamy which may increase or decrease in volume. It's your body's way of preparing for menstruation and is usually nothing to worry about.

White Discharge

White discharge is what you'll see most of during your menstrual cycle and most women have a small amount of this daily.

White discharge is one of the most common types of vaginal discharge. Before your period, it can become thicker and more abundant. This type of discharge is typically a sign of normal hormonal changes in your body.

Hormonal birth control such as birth control pills or the coil can increase the amount of white discharge.

Creamy Discharge

Creamy discharge is another common type of discharge before your period. It has a thick, creamy consistency and may be white or slightly yellowish. Like white discharge, creamy discharge is usually nothing to be concerned about and is a sign of your body's natural menstrual cycle.

If however your discharge become more like cottage cheese, then it's possible that you have a yeast infection or thrush and should see your GP.

Sticky Discharge

Sticky discharge is exactly what it sounds like – thick and sticky. It's common to experience sticky discharge before your period as your body prepares for menstruation. This type of discharge helps to protect your vagina and keep it healthy.

If you're sexually active, sticky discharge can also simply be semen making it's way out of your body.

Stretchy Discharge

If you have stretchy, slippy discharge that looks like raw egg white, good news, you're just about to ovulate! And you may well have LOTS of it, up to 30 times the usual amount of discharge.

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Used the "feeling free" for two cycles now.

Whenever I just put them on they feel a tiny tad thicker and less stretchy than my usual briefs, and it has a kind of rustly sound to the touch, but I compare them to my usual nylon quick dry sports briefs, so it's kind of unfair because nothing is as supple and inexistent when worn as those.

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They even dry quite fast after sporting compared to regular cotton underwear in which my legs and the crotch stay wet for longer after sweating a lot.

I've both used them with my cup and without, and also when I'm losing a lot of discharge around my fertile phase. I have a light flow and I can wear one 24h no problem and smell free.

Bye-bye diaper feeling, it truly feels like regular underwear and when I say that it really means something! I have only 3, and it's enough for me.

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Why Do I Have Brown Discharge but No Period?

aBrown discharge or bleeding between periods can be alarming, but it's often nothing to worry about. If it's a few days after your period, brown discharge but no period is usually just old blood that is being expelled from your uterus. You may also have brown discharge after a pap smear.

However, if you experience brown discharge or pink watery discharge or vaginal bleeding with other symptoms like pain, it's a good idea to see your doctor.

What Does Discharge Look Like Before Period if You’re Pregnant?

Discharge before your period if you're pregnant may look like an increased amount of thick, milky white discharge just before your period is due.

It's tricky to tell whether this type of discharge varies from normal discharge, but it may be thicker than normal. If you think there's a chance you may be pregnant and have extra discharge, it's a good idea to do a pregnancy test as this can be an early sign of pregnancy.

"Excellent period pants. Actually used this in the very late stage of pregnancy as fluids discharge increased and very comfortable to wear. Hoping to use it for first bleed after birth too!" Rachel, Trustpilot

Is My Pre-Period Discharge Normal?

In most cases, as we have already discussed, pre-period discharge is completely normal. It's your body's way of preparing for menstruation and is a sign that your reproductive system is functioning properly.

However, if you notice any changes in color, odour, or consistency of your discharge, or if you experience itching or irritation, it's important to see your doctor.

When to Talk to a Doctor about Vaginal Discharge

While most changes in vaginal discharge are normal, there are some signs that may indicate a health condition or vaginitis infection, particularly if you are sexually active or have a new sexual partner. It's important to talk to a doctor about vaginal discharge if:

• you experience a significant increase in discharge
• you notice a foul smell or fishy odour,
• any changes in colour or odour,
• you have itching or a burning sensation in the vaginal area
• you have pelvic pain 

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and sexually transmitted infections (STI's) such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) can also impact your discharge. Discharge from BV is grey-ish in colour.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis can also cause changes to discharge. Chlamydia and gonorrhea cause more yellowy discharge. Trichomoniasis can smell fishy with yellow-green discharge and itching.

Your GP can help determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment if necessary.

In conclusion, vaginal discharge is a normal and healthy part of the menstrual cycle. By understanding the different types of discharge and what they might mean, you can better monitor your reproductive health and know when to seek medical attention if needed.

We hope you found this helpful.  If you've got any questions about making the switch to reusable period products, please get in touch.  We're a small team who all use the products ourselves and LOVE to help people ditch disposables.  Nothing is TMI!

Alternatively, if you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy these:

• Everything you need to know about vaginal discharge
• How long should a period last
• Wearing two period pads at once? What you need to know

About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, internal period protection such as tampons or menstrual cups were no longer an option for her and she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants and reusable sanitary pads.

The Cheeky customer services team pride themselves on providing honest, friendly advice and just LOVE to chat pee, poo and periods all day long, helping people make the switch to reusables! The Company was recognised for their hard work in developing environmentally friendly products with the Queens Award in Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2021.