Many women are accustomed to the sight of red menstrual blood and clear or white vaginal discharge during their childbearing years. Some women also experience extremely heavy periods, irregular bleeding between periods, and even pink discharge at times. While not always the case, such symptoms can indicate the presence of uterine fibroids, a common type of noncancerous growth that affects up to 85 percent of women by age 50.
If you notice any changes or irregularities in your bleeding or discharge, we recommend contacting your doctor as soon as possible. Be sure to discuss exactly what you see and when it occurs. For example, you might share that you are noticing light pink discharge at the beginning of your periods or having breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle.
What are Common Discharge Abnormalities?
There are other symptoms that can occur with abnormal discharge that you want to be aware of because they could indicate more serious conditions. Consult with your doctor if you notice any of the symptoms below in addition to abnormal discharge:
- Heavy, lengthy periods
- Breakthrough bleeding
- Increased cramping
- Blood clots larger than the size of a quarter
- Increased vaginal discharge of any type
- Unusually colored discharge, including gray, yellow-green, or pink
Along with screening for fibroids, your doctor may look for signs of infection, pregnancy complications, and ovarian or cervical cancer. Ultimately, whatever the underlying cause of your symptoms, seeking prompt medical attention will almost always lead to the best possible outcome for you.
At USA Fibroid Centers, we are available to answer any questions you may have about abnormal bleeding, pink spotting, light pink discharge, or other related symptoms to uterine fibroids.
What Different Discharge Means
Characteristics of vaginal discharge can vary from person to person, and even within a single menstrual cycle. It’s important to know what different colors and textures of discharge mean.
- White: Although white discharge is most commonly detected at the beginning and end of a menstrual cycle, it can be a sign of a yeast infection if it’s accompanied by itching.
- Clear: Discharge that is clear can be either watery or stretchy and sticky. Watery discharge can occur at various times, especially after exercise. Stretchy clear discharge is considered a sign of ovulation and usually occurs mid-cycle.
- Yellow or green: If you notice yellow or green discharge that is clumpy at any phase of the menstrual cycle, it may be a sign of infection.
- Brown: Brown discharge most commonly occurs at the end of your period as the result of old blood exiting the uterus.
- Spotting blood: This type of discharge may also occur during ovulation or in early pregnancy instead of a normal period.
No one can understand your body better than you. If you notice any signs of unusual discharge, contact your doctor right away.
Why Is My Discharge Pink?
If you have ever wondered why there is a light pink discharge when you wipe, you are not alone. The first thing we want you to know is that pink spotting or discharge is common and not necessarily a reason to be concerned.
Light bleeding during your period mixed with cervical fluid can often cause pink spotting. This combination can appear as a pink hue when it leaves your body; although, only a medical professional can accurately determine exactly what is going on with your specific situation. Pink discharge can also indicate infection, hormonal imbalance, or vaginal irritation. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to discuss the change with your doctor to rule out any serious health conditions.
There are quite a few potential causes of pink discharge or pink period blood. Some of these include:
- The beginning or end of your period: It is usually considered normal to have pink discharge instead of bright red blood as your period begins or ends. This can appear as pink spotting or as light pink and diluted period blood.
- Abnormal periods: Period irregularities may be to blame for pink discharge. If you experience only light periods, your bleeding may appear as pink discharge. Mid-cycle breakthrough bleeding can also result in pink or light pink discharge. If you notice any irregular bleeding or abnormal discharge of any hue, it is important to contact your doctor to discover the underlying cause.
- Miscarriage: Unfortunately, early pregnancy loss is very common and can sometimes cause pink discharge. If you are pregnant and experience pink spotting or any other type of bleeding, it is critical to seek medical attention immediately.
- Infection: Several types of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) can cause pink or light pink discharge. Keep an eye out for accompanying symptoms like pain during sex, painful urination, and pelvic pain or pressure. To avoid potentially dangerous complications, get medical help as soon as possible.
- Cervical cancer: Rarely, pink spotting or discharge can be a sign of cervical cancer. Many cervical cancer symptoms overlap with those of less serious health conditions, so medical testing is required for an accurate diagnosis. If you notice watery discharge, irregular bleeding, or pain and bleeding during or after sex, please don’t ignore your symptoms. If cervical cancer is the cause, early treatment can potentially save your life.
- Uterine fibroids: Many individuals are surprised to learn that 70 to 80% of women are affected by uterine fibroids by age 50. Fibroids can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including heavy periods, severe cramps, frequent urination, bleeding between cycles, or pink period blood.
Pink Discharge Before and After Period
While it is common to have pink discharge before or after a period, it may also indicate the presence of uterine fibroids or other issues. It is important to understand what may have caused this irregularity and when to be concerned.
If you experience pink discharge before periods, this may be due to having a light flow or spotting before your period starts.
The only way to know for sure what is going on is to contact your doctor for a full evaluation. The same applies if you have pink discharge after periods. This is also a common occurrence, as the blood becomes less saturated at the end of your period. It may be nothing to worry about, or it may be a sign of an underlying health condition.
We recommend discussing your symptoms with your doctor as soon as possible. Pink discharge at any time of your period could be a sign of uterine fibroids.
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are common, noncancerous growths that occur in or on the uterus. They can develop individually or in clusters, and range in size from a tiny pea to larger than a melon. The good news is that fibroids are not life-threatening. However, while not inherently dangerous, they have the potential to put pressure on surrounding organs, inhibit your daily life, and negatively impact fertility.
Although some women don’t experience symptoms, others are severely impacted by painful fibroid symptoms.
Symptoms of uterine fibroids:
- Menorrhagia (heavy or prolonged menstruation)
- Bleeding between or during your periods
- Anemia, which can lead to fatigue
- Pain during intercourse
- Frequent urination
- Constipation and/or bloating
- Pain in your pelvis, lower back, or legs
- Increased menstrual cramping
- Stomach swelling
- Watery vaginal discharge
- Pink spotting or vaginal discharge
If you are concerned that you may have uterine fibroids but haven’t yet been diagnosed, we encourage you to contact a fibroid specialist as soon as possible.
We generally recommend seeking treatment when your career, social life, personal relationships, and/or self-esteem are affected by fibroid symptoms.
What Is Fibroid Discharge?
Fibroids themselves don’t actually secrete any discharge; however, uterine fibroids can contribute to increased menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, large blood clots, watery discharge, or pink discharge.
We want you to understand that having pink spotting or discharge doesn’t always mean that you have fibroids.
To receive a fibroid diagnosis, you need to visit your doctor, who will likely conduct a pelvic exam. If they suspect you have fibroids, this can be confirmed with ultrasound or MRI imaging performed by an interventional radiologist.
Discover Uterine Fibroid Treatment at USA Fibroid Centers
If pink spotting or discharge, as well as other fibroid symptoms are negatively impacting your life, we can help. Although many women are told that a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, is the only available fibroid treatment option, this isn’t true.
At USA Fibroid Centers, our fibroid experts offer a unique, non-surgical approach called Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). This technique is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment performed by specialized interventional radiologists in dozens of state-of-the-art USA Fibroid Centers across the country.
Advantages Of UFE:
- Takes only 30 to 45 minutes
- Has no general anesthesia, only a local sedative
- Involves a short recovery of only one to two weeks
- Has fewer risks than fibroid surgery
- Requires no hospital stay, so you can go home the same day
- Avoids stitches or scarring
- Leaves the uterus fully intact
During UFE, our experts use fibroid mapping, a specialized ultrasound technique, to locate your fibroids. Next, a tiny catheter is inserted into your numbed upper thigh. Then, embolic materials are injected through the catheter, blocking the main blood supply to the fibroid(s) and causing it to shrink over time. As the fibroid shrinks, you’ll notice that your symptoms will begin improving and become less noticeable as time goes on.
Get Treatment at USA Fibroid Centers
Ignoring the signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids won’t make them go away. Uterine Fibroid Embolization can quickly and effectively eliminate your fibroid symptoms. USA Fibroid Centers is here to help you to take back control of your life.
Schedule an initial visit online or call us at 855.615.2555.
