Pink discharge: what can be and what to do

Some women may have pink discharge at certain times in life, which in most cases is not a cause for concern, as it may be related to the phase of the menstrual cycle, the use of contraceptives or hormonal changes.

However, in some cases, this color of the discharge may be related to other conditions, which must be evaluated by the gynecologist, especially if other signs and symptoms appear, such as abdominal pain, nausea or odor in the discharge, for example.

Some causes that may be the cause of brown discharge are:

1. Beginning or end of menstruation

Some women who are in the first or last days of menstruation may have a pink discharge, which usually results from a mixture of blood and vaginal secretions.

What to do: Having a pink discharge at the beginning or at the end of menstruation is perfectly normal and no treatment is necessary.

2. Hormonal imbalance

When a woman experiences hormonal fluctuations, she may have a pink discharge. This happens when estrogen is present in insufficient amounts to keep the uterine lining stable, allowing it to peel, which may have a pink color.

What to do: The hormonal imbalance can be caused by several factors, such as stress, poor diet, overweight or some illness. Therefore, it is important to seek a general practitioner or endocrinologist to understand the cause of this imbalance.

3. Contraceptive

Some women have a pink discharge when they start or change contraceptives, being more common among those who have low levels of estrogens or that contain only progestogens in the composition.

In addition, this can also happen when the woman does not take the birth control pill correctly.

What to do: Usually, this symptom appears during the first month or for 3 months after the start of the contraceptive. However, if it lasts longer, the woman should go to the gynecologist.

4. Cysts on the ovaries

The ovarian cyst consists of a fluid-filled pouch, which can form inside or around the ovary and be asymptomatic or generate symptoms such as pink discharge, pain, changes in menstruation or difficulty in becoming pregnant. Know what types of ovarian cyst.

What to do: Treatment for the ovarian cyst is performed only in certain situations, such as in the presence of symptoms or malignant characteristics. In these cases, the doctor may recommend the use of the contraceptive pill, with estrogen and progesterone and, more rarely, removal of the ovary.

5. Pregnancy

Pink discharge can also be a symptom of pregnancy, which occurs due to nesting, also called implantation. This corresponds to the implantation of the embryo to the endometrium, which is the tissue that lines the uterus internally.

What to do: The pink discharge during nesting, although it does not happen in all women, is perfectly normal. However, if the bleeding intensity increases, you should go to the gynecologist. Know how to identify the characteristic bleeding of the nesting.

6. Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection that begins in the vagina and ascends, affecting the uterus and also the tubes and ovaries, and can spread over a large pelvic area or even the abdomen, generating symptoms such as pink, yellowish or greenish discharge, bleeding during sex and pelvic pain.

What to do: Treatment is usually carried out with antibiotics, depending on the severity of the disease, and surgery may be necessary. Learn more about treatment.

7. Miscarriage

The pink discharge can also be a sign of spontaneous abortion, which is very common in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. It can happen due to fetal malformation, excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs or trauma to the abdominal region.

Generally, signs and symptoms appear suddenly and can be fever, severe abdominal pain, headache and pink discharge that can progress to stronger bleeding or loss of clots from the vagina.

What to do: If the woman suspects that she is having a miscarriage, she should immediately go to the emergency department.

8. Menopause

When a woman is in the transition period to menopause, she experiences hormonal fluctuations, which result in changes in the menstrual cycle. As a consequence, symptoms such as pink discharge, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, vaginal dryness and mood changes may appear.

Find out if you are entering menopause through our online symptom test.

What to do: Treatment for menopause should be done if symptoms cause discomfort and compromise the woman's quality of life. In some cases, hormone replacement therapy or dietary supplementation may be justified.