White Discharge After Ovulation

Who said being a woman wasn’t glamorous?

Between leaking breasts, childbirth, and periods, we also have to deal with white discharge after ovulation.

But what exactly is white vaginal discharge, and should we be worried about it?

In this article: 📝

What is vaginal discharge?

First of all, there’s no need to worry about vaginal discharge.

It's a perfectly normal bodily function and helps to keep your vagina clean.

The vagina has a very delicate, low pH, and has a self-cleaning mechanism to keep it lubricated and free from infection.

Even better, if you’re trying to conceive, then white vaginal discharge could just be your friend.

Discharge comes in many forms, and there are only a couple of causes for concern:

Clear discharge

This type of vaginal discharge is usually watery and can happen at any stage of your menstrual cycle.

It’s odorless and perfectly normal, though you may notice it in heavier flows straight after exercise.

Stretchy discharge

This type is also clear, and could be a sign that you’re ovulating.

This cervical mucus helps to provide an easier environment for sperm to swim in and fertilize an egg.

Brown or bloody discharge

There could be many explanations for brown or bloody discharge.

It could be the beginning or end of your menstrual period, or in some cases, could be a sign of an ‘implantation bleed'.

In other cases, it could be a normal case of spotting between periods, but if you are pregnant, it’s wise to get this checked out.

It could also be a sign of menopause.

White discharge

Again, white discharge could be caused by many things.

Thick white discharge that's like cottage cheese in appearance may be a sign of a yeast infection.

However, if it’s milkier in appearance, it could be normal at the end or beginning of your cycle.

In some cases, it could even indicate pregnancy.

Green or yellow discharge

This one’s a trip to the doctor, ladies!

Green discharge may commonly be accompanied by an unpleasant odor, and could be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection such as trichomoniasis.

Is white discharge after ovulation a sign of pregnancy?

Now, remember how we mentioned that white vaginal discharge might be good news if you're TTC?

You may notice this change in your body around midway through your cycle.

White discharge before period: sign of pregnancy?

If you notice thicker, whiter, or gluey discharge after you ovulate, this may be a sign of pregnancy.

This is due to an increase in hormones, so keep an eye on this in the two weeks running up to your period.

Don’t take a pregnancy test until after your period is due, as it may affect the result.

Ideally, you should take a test around five weeks into your pregnancy, when the human gonadotropin hormone is at its highest.

Is white discharge a sign of early pregnancy?

As there are so many things that could affect vaginal discharge, it’s best to assume that white discharge is not a sign of early pregnancy.

For example, you may experience creamy white discharge 6 days after ovulation.

This could be a sign of post-implantation mucus, but it could also be affected by anything from a sexually transmitted infection to birth control pills.

A better indication of early pregnancy symptoms is an implantation bleed.

This may look like pink or brown discharge in small amounts.

It doesn’t happen to everyone and could just be spotting, so you should always check with your doctor to make sure.

What does discharge look like 2 days after ovulation?

Your cervical mucus changes considerably throughout your menstrual cycle, and it all comes down to the individual.

For example, you could be on birth control, nearing menopause, or there may be other things, like stress, affecting your hormones.

Typically, you can expect the following changes to discharge over the course of your menstrual cycle:

1. Days 1-5: During your period, you will see blood rather than cervical mucus.
2. Days 1-10: At this time, your hormones will be lower, so you’re likely to have ‘dry’ days with little discharge.
3. Days 10-13: Just before ovulation, you may notice white or cloudy discharge, which may be stretchy.
4. Days 13-16: On the point of ovulation and in the days leading up, you will see clear, stretchy discharge, similar to egg whites in consistency.
5. Days 14-20: Around the time of ovulation (which is different for everyone, but around 13 to 20 days), you may notice ‘egg white’, clear discharge. This is a great time to try to conceive!
6. Days 20-28: At this point, your hormone levels will drop once again, unless you manage to conceive. You may experience some more dry days before your next period starts.

Can I use my vaginal discharge to time my conception?

There are lots of ways you can time your conception, even by simply listening to your body and recognizing the signs.

You might try an ovulation testing kit, which works similarly to a pregnancy test.

Rather than looking for human gonadotropin, the strips are looking for the luteinizing hormone in your urine.

You may also want to check for ovulation using your discharge as a guide.

You can look at your underwear or wear panty liners, or if you feel comfortable doing so, you may wish to insert your fingers into the vagina.

Once you’ve been trying for a few months, you may get a little more in line with your menstrual rhythms.

For best results, try to have sex every two to three days around your ovulation window.

Remember, sperm can live for up to five days in the womb!