White Discharge Before Period

If you are a woman, you must have observed a white colored discharge from your vagina. Most of the time, this secretion from the vagina is absolutely normal, especially, if it is milky white in color or is transparent and if there is neither itching nor any smell associated with it. Women experience this vaginal discharge at any time during their menstrual cycle however, it is more likely that this discharge will change in consistency, color and quantity, just before menstruation.

Normal White Discharge Before Period

Why White Discharge Occurs
The regular white, non-smelly and non-itchy discharge that you see, occurs in all women. It is a kind of self-mechanism adopted by the body to keep your vagina free of any kind of infections. This white secretion is actually produced by the glands in the vagina as well as the cervix. When this fluid escapes your vagina, it takes away all the old cells which line the wall of vagina, thus, keeping it clean, bacteria-free and healthy.

White Discharge during Ovulation
When the period has just ended, i.e. at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the white discharge is slightly less in quantity. When the woman starts ovulation, which can be anytime between the tenth and nineteenth day of her cycle, lots of hormonal changes take place in her body. The estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall a number of times, causing the discharge during ovulation to become very slippery, stretchy, egg-white in consistency and white or transparent in color. During this time, the sperms can survive in the white mucous inside the vagina for as much as three days, thus it is the ideal time for women who are trying for a baby to conceive.

Milky White Discharge before Period
When the white discharge starts, it could have the same consistency as during ovulation or it may become slightly fragile and sticky. Its quantity may however increase some more. When the bleeding is about to start, the discharge may become brown in color. When this brown discharge before period starts, it is counted as the first day of your menstruation. However, brown discharge between periods could be due to implantation bleeding, especially, if it occurs a week before the periods are due.

Abnormal White Discharge Before Period

If you are having a thick white discharge, which is cottage cheese like and is accompanied by redness, soreness, pain and discomfort in and around vagina, the reason could be a yeast infection. Smelly discharge is another sign of a yeast infection. If you observe all these symptoms, you should get yourself thoroughly examined by a doctor and get treated for yeast infection as soon as possible. Also, if a woman is experiencing a sudden change in the quantity of discharge before periods and its color is becoming slightly grayish white or yellow with a fish-like smell emanating from it, especially after the woman has had sexual intercourse, then this white discharge is due to bacterial vaginosis. This condition requires immediate medical attention and treatment too.

White discharge before period or any time during the menstrual cycle, may occur before and during sexual intercourse in a woman. It is the body's way to lubricate and prepare the vagina for penetration. A woman who is taking oral contraceptive pills, may observe an increase in discharge too. Thus, as long as there are no symptoms such as itching, pain, smell accompanied with the discharge, it is totally normal. However, if these symptoms are observed, schedule a visit to a gynecologist at the earliest!