Are You Pregnant? Signs & Symptoms What Is Leukorrhea in Pregnancy? By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH LinkedIn Twitter Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 14, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Andrea Chisholm, MD Medically reviewed by Andrea Chisholm, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Andrea Chisolm, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has taught at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. She has over 20 years of clinical experience and is currently is in practice at Cody Regional Health in Cody, Wyoming. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Melissa Ling Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Leukorrhea in Pregnancy? Characteristics of Leukorrhea Causes in Pregnancy Coping With Leukorrhea When to Call Your Doctor What Is Leukorrhea in Pregnancy? Leukorrhea is a mild, odorless discharge from the vagina that is clear or milky in color. In pregnancy, many women notice that leukorrhea increases, either at the start of pregnancy or as the pregnancy progresses. In most cases, this is normal and healthy. Some women worry that having it means that they have a vaginal infection, but most of the time, this discharge is completely harmless. Characteristics of Leukorrhea Usually, this vaginal discharge is simply a normal byproduct of a healthy vagina. It is primarily composed of a mucus-like substance containing cells from your body. This liquid keeps the vaginal tissues moist and clears away impurities. It can vary in thickness from watery to more viscous, but tends to be somewhat thin, slippery, and/or sticky. Some people are prone to having minimal amounts of leukorrhea, while others produce more. Leukorrhea should not smell. It also should not vary in color besides a clear, whitish, or pale yellow. A bad smell, itchiness, burning sensation, or change in color are all indications of infection. The amount of leukorrhea a woman has will often change with her menstrual cycle as well as over time. Women can experience this discharge at any time but it is particularly common near ovulation. Just like the typical quantity of menstrual bleeding differs significantly across women, the amount and frequency of leukorrhea that's normal for each woman can vary dramatically as well. Causes in Pregnancy During pregnancy, leukorrhea may become more noticeable. This vaginal discharge often increases due to the added blood flow to the area and the increase in pregnancy hormones, like estrogen. The uptick in blood flow and pregnancy hormones stimulates the mucus membranes in the vagina, which causes increased discharge. This extra leukorrhea in pregnancy helps to remove dead cells from the vaginal walls, protect against infection, and maintain a healthy balance of "good" bacteria in the vagina. Basically, leukorrhea works to keep the vagina clean and infection-free, which is particularly important during pregnancy. It is not harmful, nor is it usually a sign of any problem with your pregnancy. You may notice it throughout pregnancy and/or it may increase slightly as you near your due date. Usually, after the postpartum period, leukorrhea will return to its pre-pregnancy levels. Top 5 Weird Pregnancy Symptoms Coping With Leukorrhea How do you know if you have it? You may see it occasionally as wetness or chalky staining in your underwear or notice it on bathroom tissue when you wipe after urination. Again, this is not a sign of a problem, although it might be annoying. Changing underwear and/or bathing more frequently can help you feel cleaner. You should not use tampons to absorb this discharge (or for any other reason during pregnancy). You can wear panty liners or pads in your underwear to keep you comfortable. Wearing breathable cotton underwear can help, too. You should also only clean the area with regular bathing. Remember, the vagina is self-cleaning, so no internal cleaning is necessary. In fact, the flow of leukorrhea is doing any cleaning that is needed. Do not douche in order to get rid of the discharge (again, as with tampons, do not douche during pregnancy for any reason). There is nothing to remove, and trying to do so can disrupt the normal pH and bacterial balance of the vagina, potentially causing an infection or other types of irritation. Additionally, douching may actually increase the amount of discharge. The Truth Behind Inaccurate Pregnancy Claims When to Call Your Doctor Many women experience this pregnancy discharge, and it is nothing to be concerned about as long as it stays odor-free, mild, non-irritating, and doesn't change in any other way. That doesn't mean it isn't bothersome or sometimes worrisome. Be sure to report any vaginal discharge to your doctor or midwife if it is: Accompanied by a burning sensation Accompanied by pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) Accompanied by painful urination (dysuria) Accompanied by pelvic or lower abdominal pain Copious (suddenly increases in quantity) Changed in some way that concerns you Chunky Foul-smelling Heavy or thick Itchy These changes may indicate an infection or another problem that warrants further evaluation. In some cases, experiencing increased leukorrhea can mean that you should be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Possible common causes of problematic vaginal discharge include: Acute pelvic inflammatory diseaseBacterial vaginosisChemical irritation or allergic response, such as from douchingSTI, such as gonorrhea or chlamydiaYeast infection You will normally have a routine screening in early pregnancy, but if you ever experience new symptoms, be sure to ask for additional screening, no matter what point you are at in your pregnancy. Causes and Treatment of Getting a UTI While Pregnant A Word From Verywell An uptick in vaginal discharge during pregnancy can be a bit alarming. However, usually, leukorrhea is perfectly normal and not a cause for concern. Still, the added wetness can be uncomfortable. While tampons are not safe, light pads or simply changing underwear more often can help ease any discomfort. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Vaginal discharge. Da Fonseca TM, Cesar JA, Mendoza-Sassi RA, Schmidt EB. Pathological vaginal discharge among pregnant women: Pattern of occurrence and association in a population-based survey. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2013;2013:590416. doi:10.1155/2013/590416 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Douching.