| Vaginal Discharge |
| Written by Jim Sims | |
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There are seven or eight early pregnancy signs, all of which can be caused by something else entirely, so just because you have one or more of the signs will not necessarily mean you are pregnant. You may be one that won’t have any of the early pregnancy signs including the one we’re going to investigate today. Some women will experience all the signs and some women won’t have any of them. We’re going to look at one of those signs in more detail as it is one that a lot of women would miss or not even consider as a sign of pregnancy. That is vaginal discharge. What Causes Vaginal Discharge?Shortly after conception your hormones and body start to do all sorts of odd things, all related to helping the fertilized egg, or Zygote, do all the things it needs to do and also to protect the Zygote from infections or other dangers.Part of this protection is the increase of mucus discharge. This is usually a white or clear or pinkish brown discharge that can be slight to moderately heavy. It should be odorless or at the most have a very mild odor. A change in what is normal vaginal discharge for you can be an early sign that signifies pregnancy. The name for this discharge is leucorrhea and having the discharge is very normal. The discharge is nothing more than dead cells sloughing from the vaginal walls. These cells collect bacteria and secretions from the vagina and cervix before being discharged. Mucus PlugThese secretions have a purpose as they also help your body manufacture the mucus plug. The purpose of the mucus plug is to create a protective covering for your cervix. The plug will stay in place throughout your pregnancy, right up until just before your labor begins. If you notice an increase and change in the color and consistency of any discharge, you might want to take a home pregnancy test. Remember that pregnancy tests do not work for the first few days of pregnancy and since the discharge sign is one that is a very early sign you might want to wait a few days after you notice the discharge to take the test.What else could it be?If the discharge is a different color such as a grey, greenish or yellow color, it could be the sign of an infection or of a sexually transmitted disease. That’s also true if there is a bad or strong odor to the discharge, or if there is an itchy or burning sensation.There shouldn’t be any pain associated with this discharge. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned directly above see your doctor immediately. Remember that everyone is different. That what your body does can be the complete opposite of everyone you know. The female body is a wonderful creation and the birth process is truly amazing from the moment of conception right through the labor and delivery. If you have any questions, either call your doctor and speak with the nurse or mid-wife, or if you don’t feel the question is urgent - write it down so that you can remember to ask for advice during your next visit. What is new to you is probably something they’ve dealt with countless times and the medical personnel can help you quit worrying, or make sure you are seen when it is necessary. The signs and symptoms of pregnancy are many and varied. But each and every one of those signs can also signal something else. So make sure you don’t ignore your body. Don’t assume you know what is happening if there is a question. Ask that question and keep your doctor or nurse apprised of any changes in your body. Medical personnel can only help if they know what is going on. And if you think you might be pregnant, don’t wait to find out. The tests today are accurate within just a few days of a missed period. If you are having symptoms like vaginal discharge, nausea or sore breasts, figure out when your last period was and go from there. |
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