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4 Types of Ovulation Discharges, Which Are Normal for an Average Woman

What colour is ovulation discharge?

Changes in vaginal discharges are normal, since they happen due to the changes a woman’s body undergoes on the hormonal level. After the end of the menstrual cycle, for example, the amount of the discharge is very small or there are no discharges at all. Ovulation discharges are cloudy, sticky and white in color. Approaching ovulation, women can experience changes in the amount and color of the discharges.

What’s Ovulation?

Menstrual cycles range from 23 to 35 days, and ovulation occurs between days 10 and 19. What’s ovulation? This is the process, when ovaries release a mature egg. This egg travels down to the fallopian tubes and meets a sperm. After being fertilized, it is implanted in the uterus lining.

When the egg is not fertilized, it also goes through the tubes into the uterus, but in this case the process of implantation doesn’t take place. The uterus lining starts shedding and causes menstruation.

Is Vaginal Discharge Always the Sign of Ovulation?

In most cases, vaginal discharges indicate that a woman is ovulating. Most women experience discharges at any time of the month, but when it comes to ovulation, their amount increases. Ovulation-related discharges have a certain appearance and can’t be mixed with any other spotting or discharges. Many specialists compare their appearance to that of egg whites. Such secretions are very natural and can change depending on the health conditions of a woman, as well as the ovulation stage.

Sometimes these discharges are used for measuring ovulation. Many things depend on the body of a woman: it may/may not be very easy to use the discharge to measure when she’s ovulating. The reason for that is very simple: some women do not experience vaginal secretions. In addition, douching and certain drugs affect the ability of the body to produce  these discharges.

What Affects the Consistency and Amount of Secretions?

There are several factors that influence the amount of vaginal secretions. They include:

  1. vaginal infection
  2. use of lubricants during sexual intercourse
  3. surgery performed on the cervix
  4. perimenopause
  5. sexual excitement
  6. sexually transmitted disease
  7. douching
  8. breastfeeding

During ovulation, the discharges are egg white, slippery and rather stretchy. If you take it between two fingers you will see that you can stretch it without breaking it. The sperm can live in this fluid for 3 days, which increases the chances for a woman to get pregnant.

During the whole term of ovulation the level of estrogen increases. This stimulates the cervical glands making them secrete clear watery fluid faster, increasing the amount of discharge during ovulation. When ovulation is over, the discharges become sticky and thick. They are normal and safe, if not accompanied by irritation and itching, bad odor and body temperature, lower abdominal pain and mild cramping.

4 Types of Ovulation Discharges

1. White discharges appear when a woman is near ovulation. The mucus is rather slippery and when a woman stretches it, she can’t go beyond 1 cm without breaking it;

2. Stretchy discharges are common for the most fertile period. This is the time, when a woman has  the best chance to get pregnant. Such discharges resemble an egg white. In some cases they are transparent, in others they are white. This depends on the woman and the fluids inside the vagina. If a woman starts stretching the discharge between her fingers, she won’t go further than a couple of centimeters. This is the period, when the sperm can survive in the mucus for 3 days;

3. Sticky discharge is post ovulation discharge that makes a woman experience dryness around the area of the vagina, because there is lesser discharge or no discharge at all;

4. Brown discharges can be a sign of implantation bleeding that is experienced during pregnancy. However, not all women experience them.

After the end of the period, most women have no discharges at all or just small amounts of discharge. As a rule, this lasts for a few days. If you experience changes in color and consistency of discharges during ovulation, there is nothing you should get worried about. This is a very normal condition. However, if it is accompanied by itching, irritation and pain, don’t waste time and seek immediate medical help.

Abnormalities take place when a woman experiences discomfort, soreness and rashes and when ovulation discharges are yellow, dark red, black or green. This means that there is a possibility that some sort of infection is developing in the area. In this case, a gynecologist’s consultation is indispensible, as only a professional can prescribe the right treatment course.