Menstrual cycle affects vaginal discharge. During menstruation, there is little or no discharge, while during ovulation, discharge thickens and increases. Low pH levels after menstruation increase the risk of yeast infections. Abnormal discharge and itching may indicate an infection, such as bacterial vaginosis.
The effects of menstruation on discharge tend to vary depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle. During menstruation, most women notice little or no discharge. There is also usually an absence of vaginal discharge just before and just after menstruation. During ovulation, which usually occurs about two weeks after the start of the menstrual cycle, vaginal discharge tends to thicken and may have the consistency of egg whites. Although the effects of menstruation on discharge vary each month, a woman should see her doctor if her discharge smells bad or is accompanied by severe itching because these symptoms are often signs of infection.
Soon after the menstrual period ends, the pH level inside the vagina tends to drop. Women usually do not notice vaginal discharge during this time of the month, and if discharge is present, it is usually very thin and watery. This is the time of the month when most women should pay close attention to the effects of menstruation on discharge, because when the pH level inside the vagina is low, the chances of developing an infection increase. Yeast infections are usually much more likely to occur during this time because a low pH level creates the perfect environment for yeast to grow and multiply. Eating lots of yogurt right after your period can help raise the pH levels within your body, which should help prevent a yeast infection from occurring.
The effects of menstruation on discharge are most evident during the ovulation phase. When most women ovulate, vaginal discharge becomes thick and stretchy. Most women also notice a marked increase in the amount of discharge they produce during this time of the month. Some women track the presence of their ovulation discharge to help them conceive because when this discharge is present, the odds are good that they are ovulating, which usually means the chances of conceiving are much greater. After ovulation is complete, the discharge usually becomes much thinner and then disappears almost completely before, during, and after menstruation.
While most vaginal discharge is normal, occasionally it can indicate some type of vaginal infection. When vaginal discharge smells bad and is yellow or gray in color, it is usually a sign of an infection. Excessive itching could also accompany the appearance of unusual vaginal discharge when an infection is present. In addition to yeast infections, another common type of vaginal infection that can have similar symptoms is bacterial vaginosis. Women who have bacterial vaginosis are typically unable to treat the infection with over-the-counter yeast infection creams and may need to consult their doctors for antibiotic prescriptions instead.
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