What does discharge look like before your period?
Before your period, discharge is usually white or cloudy, creamy or sticky, and there may be less of it. That's because progesterone rises after ovulation and thickens cervical mucus. Right before bleeding it can turn light brown or pink. Discharge that's green, gray, frothy, itchy or smells bad is not part of the normal cycle.
How discharge changes across your cycle
| Cycle time | What discharge usually looks like |
|---|---|
| Just after your period | Little or none; you may feel dry |
| Approaching ovulation | Increasing, cloudy, then wetter |
| Around ovulation | Clear, slippery and stretchy, like raw egg white |
| After ovulation (luteal phase) | Thicker, white or cloudy, creamy or sticky, often less |
| A day or two before your period | Can be light brown or pink as the lining starts to shed |
These changes are driven by hormones. Rising estrogen before ovulation makes mucus thin and stretchy to help sperm through. After ovulation, progesterone takes over and makes it thicker and stickier. So creamy white discharge in the week before your period is normal.
Is it normal or not?
| Usually normal | Worth checking |
|---|---|
| White, cream or clear | Green, yellow-green or gray |
| Mild or no smell | Strong fishy or unpleasant smell |
| Creamy, sticky or slippery | Frothy, or thick like cottage cheese with itching |
| Light brown just before your period | Brown or bloody between periods, or after sex |
| No itching or soreness | Itching, burning, soreness or pain |
The usual culprits for the right-hand column are thrush (a yeast infection), bacterial vaginosis and some sexually transmitted infections. They're common and treatable. For a full color guide, see discharge types, white discharge and yellow discharge.
Discharge before period or early pregnancy?
Early pregnancy can also cause more white, milky discharge, because progesterone stays high. On its own, discharge can't tell you whether you're pregnant. If your period is late, a test is the only way to know. See PMS vs pregnancy symptoms.
Noticing the switch from stretchy to creamy discharge is one sign that ovulation has passed. Logged alongside mood, it can help you see when your luteal phase, and your usual PMS days, are starting.
See a doctor or sexual health clinic if discharge changes color, smell or texture, if you have itching, burning or pelvic pain, if you bleed between periods or after sex, or if you might have been exposed to an STI.
Frequently asked questions
Does creamy discharge mean my period is coming?
Often, yes. Creamy white discharge is typical of the luteal phase, the week or two before a period.
Why do I have no discharge before my period?
It's normal for discharge to drop off after ovulation. Some people notice very little before their period.
Is watery discharge before a period normal?
It can be. Amounts and textures vary. Check with a doctor if it comes with smell, itching or pain.
What does discharge look like at ovulation?
Clear, slippery and stretchy, like raw egg white. See ovulation discharge.
Sources
- NHS: Vaginal discharge
- Cleveland Clinic: Vaginal discharge
- ACOG: Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
Discharge color chart: what each type means through your cycleA kind, clear discharge color chart: clear, white, creamy, egg white, yellow, green, gray, pink and brown discharge, what's normal and when to get checked.
White discharge before your period: what's normal and what's notWhite discharge is usually healthy. What thick, creamy or milky white discharge means before your period, in pregnancy, and the signs of thrush or infection.Egg white discharge: what it says about ovulationEgg white discharge is your most fertile cervical mucus. What it looks like, when it shows up, how to check it, and what it can tell you about ovulation.
How do you know your period is coming?Signs your period is coming: cramps, bloating, sore breasts, spots, cravings, tiredness and mood changes. When each one starts and how to read your own.
What phase of my cycle am I in? Free phase finderWhat phase of my cycle am I in? Enter your last period to see your cycle day, today's phase and how people often feel in it. Private and instant.