Ovulation Discharge

Women can have vaginal discharge throughout their menstrual cycle. Vaginal discharge is nothing but the fluid produced by the glands of the cervix and the vagina, which helps to keep the vagina clean. This is because, whenever the fluid flows out of the vagina, it brings with itself old and dead cells and bacteria. Vaginal discharge is quite normal, unless it is yellow or green in color or accompanied by a bad odor. The normal vaginal discharge is usually white or transparent and slightly thick or stretchy in consistency. However, the discharge can change during the menstrual cycle, and the changes can be more evident during ovulation.

What is Ovulation?

Ovulation is the process, where an egg or ovum is released by a ruptured ovarian follicle. The egg released thus then travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. The egg may take about 7 days to travel through the fallopian tube and reach the uterus. Fertilization usually takes place in the fallopian tube, if the egg meets a sperm. After fertilization, the fertilized egg or zygote gets implanted in the uterus.

The life span of a human egg cell is about 12 to 24 hours, after which it starts degenerating. However, the sperms can live inside the female body for about three to five days, and so, sperm deposited a few days prior to ovulation can survive and fertilize the egg cell after ovulation. Now, the most important question is when does ovulation take place? Women usually have menstrual cycle of 28 to 32 days when the first day of the menstruation is counted as day 1. For such regular menstrual cycles, ovulation can take place anywhere between 11 to 21 days from the first day of the menstrual cycle. But, women having shorter cycle can ovulate earlier than this, while those having longer cycle can ovulate later in their menstrual cycle.

Vaginal Discharge During Ovulation

Vaginal discharge and changes in it can serve as an indicator of ovulation. If monitored closely, women can observe significant changes in the texture and appearance of vaginal discharge throughout their menstrual cycle. In fact, changes in vaginal discharge, which is nothing but cervical mucus can be used to predict ovulation. Immediately after the end of the menstrual cycle, vaginal discharge can be too little or absent. Prior to ovulation, vaginal discharge can become sticky and cloudy or white in color. Slowly, women can experience an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge or cervical mucus, as they approach ovulation.

During ovulation, vaginal discharge can attain the consistency of egg white. It can be slippery and stretchy. If you take the discharge in between your finger and stretch it, it will stretch without breaking up to a few centimeters. In such slippery cervical fluid, the sperm can live for a few days. This is why slippery and stretchy vaginal discharge is considered to be an indicator of the most fertile period of a woman's menstrual cycle. During ovulation, the level of the hormone, estrogen increases in the body, which stimulates the glands of the cervix to secrete clear and watery fluid. This increases the amount of discharge during ovulation.

After ovulation, vaginal discharge can again become thick and sticky. So, thick and white discharge before period and after period is quite normal, if it is not accompanied by itching, irritation and a foul odor. Ovulation can be accompanied by some other symptoms too. Symptoms of ovulation that are usually observed are, a slight increase in body temperature, mild cramping in the lower abdomen and breast tenderness.

Brown Discharge During Ovulation

Sometimes, women can experience brown discharge. During ovulation, it can be caused by implantation bleeding, which occurs when the fertilized egg gets implanted in the endometrial lining of the uterus. However, brown discharge before period can indicate an approaching monthly cycle and polyps.

There is nothing to worry about such normal vaginal discharge. However, if there is a change in discharge color, especially if you observe green or yellow discharge then it can indicate an infection. Smelly discharge can also be a sign of infection. Such vaginal discharge can occur any time during the menstrual cycle including, ovulation. This type of abnormal vaginal discharge can be accompanied by itching and irritation. Women should immediately consider to visit their gynecologist on observing such abnormal vaginal discharge during their menstrual cycle.