Does more vaginal discharge during ovulation mean you have gynecological problems? Two of these five are true...

gossip

"During ovulation, there is increased secretion, dull pain in the lower abdomen, and occasional bleeding. I must have a gynecological disease!"

Ovulation is a normal thing for women of childbearing age. However, due to physiological reasons such as hormone fluctuations and a small amount of local bleeding during ovulation, it may cause some discomfort. Due to a lack of understanding of ovulation, many people may misunderstand the normal physiological response of our body.

There are many related sayings circulating on the Internet, such as: "More vaginal discharge during ovulation indicates gynecological problems", "Sudden swelling and pain in the lower abdomen during ovulation is a sign of early menstruation", "Blood stains or brown secretions on underwear during ovulation indicate gynecological tumors", "Sex during ovulation increases the probability of pregnancy", "Women's sexual desire increases during ovulation"...

Rumor Analysis

Women of childbearing age will experience significant changes in estrogen and progesterone levels in the middle of their menstrual cycle due to the maturation of follicles and ovulation, which will lead to a series of physiological and psychological changes. This does not necessarily mean that you have a serious illness, but it may just be the normal ovulation period that comes on time. It is the vanguard of women's menstruation. Only when it visits regularly will there be normal menstruation later.

The female menstrual cycle consists of four phases: follicular phase, ovulation phase, luteal phase, and menstruation phase. In each menstrual cycle, the related hormone secretion, endometrial hyperplasia, etc. are going through a cycle over and over again. In this process, there may be some small physical or emotional changes. These changes do not necessarily represent diseases, but may also indicate that the normal menstrual cycle is moving forward steadily.

For women who have normal menstruation, our ovaries will select a dozen follicles from the ovarian bank for "ripening" every month. Of course, not all of these dozen follicles can "bear fruit". Under the care of multiple hormones in the body, it is likely that only one egg will be able to stand out, successfully ovulate and "fall off the vine", while the rest of the eggs can only close on their own and dare not compete for favor.

In this process, estrogen is crucial to the development of the egg. It is under its step-by-step care that our eggs can grow happily. Before ovulation, it will have a small peak so that the egg can finally be discharged. When the egg is successfully discharged, it will induce the ovary to form a corpus luteum and further secrete estrogen and progesterone. These hormonal changes will be reflected in our physiology and psychology, causing us to show different performances in different menstrual periods.

At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, because the estrogen level is not high and the egg is still in the process of development, women often do not feel obvious discomfort. As the egg matures and the estrogen and progesterone levels change, women may experience a series of changes before and after ovulation, such as changes in the amount and nature of vaginal discharge, swelling of the breasts, mood swings, and even fluctuations in sexual desire...

A woman may need to experience such cyclical changes 400 to 500 times in her lifetime, because the number of ovulations a woman undergoes in her lifetime is approximately 400 to 500.

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1. Leucorrhea becomes more and thicker during ovulation

Does it mean you have gynecological diseases?

Before a woman ovulates, estrogen must reach a peak to induce a peak in luteinizing hormone, which is necessary for ovulation, leading to the smooth discharge of mature follicles.

Due to the increase in estrogen, the amount of mucus secreted by cervical gland cells increases significantly. The mucus at this time is thin and transparent, just like egg white, and even obvious stringing may appear (up to more than 10 cm). The leucorrhea at this time is conducive to the smooth swimming of sperm in it and ultimately conception.

Therefore, it does not matter if the amount of vaginal discharge is a little more at this time, as long as there is no itching of the vulva and vagina, and no odor of the vaginal discharge.

This process will gradually end with the increase of progesterone levels after ovulation. After the progesterone level is high, the mucus secreted by cervical gland cells gradually decreases, the texture becomes viscous and turbid, and the silkiness also becomes worse.

However, if there are persistent changes in the amount, odor, and properties of vaginal discharge, especially if accompanied by obvious vulvar and vaginal itching, or yellow-green vaginal discharge, curd-like vaginal discharge, watery vaginal discharge, or meat-washing watery vaginal discharge, you still need to go to the hospital for treatment in time to rule out whether there is vaginal inflammation or other diseases.

2. Sudden pain in the lower abdomen during ovulation

Is it pelvic inflammatory disease? Is menstruation coming early?

Many female friends will experience slight lower abdominal distension or even slight pain around ovulation, which is not necessarily pelvic inflammation.

When a woman ovulates, a small opening will appear on the ovary (the small opening through which the egg is discharged), and there will be a small amount of local bleeding. The blood may irritate the surrounding peritoneum. Coupled with the increased release of prostaglandins and pelvic congestion during ovulation, some women will experience a feeling of heaviness or even pain in the lower abdomen. Some people will experience cramp-like or electric shock-like pain, and some women will experience changes in gastrointestinal function.

Usually these symptoms are not severe, and they can almost all be relieved within 2-3 days, and no special treatment is needed. If it is uncomfortable, you can use a hot towel or a warm baby to apply local heat, which will improve it to a certain extent.

Whether or not lower abdominal discomfort occurs during ovulation has no direct relationship with whether or not menstruation will occur early.

If you experience persistent and gradually worsening lower abdominal pain during the non-ovulation period or ovulation period, especially if it is accompanied by frequent urination, urgency, pain, fever, and other discomforts, it is recommended that you go to the hospital for a check-up to rule out the risk of pelvic inflammation or other systemic infections.

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3. Brown discharge from underwear during ovulation

Does it indicate that you may have a gynecological tumor?

As mentioned above, ovulation will only occur when estrogen and luteinizing hormone peak before ovulation. After ovulation, a corpus luteum will form on the ovary and secrete estrogen and progesterone, but this requires a process. The estrogen level after ovulation will drop significantly compared to before ovulation. At this time, our endometrium may shed irregularly, resulting in a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Since most women do not bleed much, it often appears as coffee-colored or brown discharge.

A small number of women may experience heavy vaginal bleeding, which can sometimes even be confused with normal menstruation. If the amount of vaginal bleeding is heavy or it is discharged immediately after it flows out, it will appear bright red. This type of abnormal vaginal bleeding is mainly related to estrogen fluctuations. Later, as the corpus luteum matures and the levels of estrogen and progesterone increase, the relevant situation will generally gradually improve. Generally, vaginal bleeding will disappear on its own within 3 to 7 days.

If you only have a small amount of vaginal bleeding occasionally during the middle of your period, it does not necessarily mean that you have a gynecological malignancy. However, if you have repeated intermenstrual bleeding, in addition to considering the cause of ovulation bleeding, you should also consider endocrine disorders, endometrial polyps, uterine fibroids, uterine diseases, endometrial cancer, benign and malignant cervical lesions, abnormal coagulation function, etc. Therefore, if you have repeated intermenstrual bleeding, it is recommended to go to the hospital for further treatment in a timely manner.

4. Having sex during ovulation

Will it increase the chances of pregnancy?

Some people believe that having sex during ovulation will lead to pregnancy, and conversely, having sex outside of ovulation will not lead to pregnancy, so there is no need to take contraceptive measures. But in fact, having sex during ovulation can indeed increase the probability of pregnancy, but pregnancy does not only occur during ovulation. Therefore , those who want to prevent pregnancy should also take contraceptive measures during non-ovulation periods.

Research data shows that if you have sex 5 days before ovulation, there is a nearly 10% chance of pregnancy, 4 days before ovulation, about 16%, 3 days before ovulation, about 14%, 2 days before ovulation, 27%, 1 day before ovulation, 31%, and 33% on the day of ovulation. In addition, studies have also shown that the probability of pregnancy is 8% to 10% if you have sex 24 hours after ovulation.

Therefore, if you do not want to get pregnant, you need to take contraceptive measures even if you do not have sex on the ovulation day. Otherwise, once you become pregnant, whether it is medical abortion or surgical abortion, it will cause great damage to the woman's body.

Of course, if you want to prepare for pregnancy, don't pin your time on the ovulation day. After all, the probability of pregnancy on the ovulation day is only 33%. If you want to get pregnant earlier, it is recommended to increase the frequency of sexual intercourse appropriately before and after ovulation, but not too frequently. Once within 72 hours is enough.

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5. During ovulation

Will women's sexual desire increase?

Before and after ovulation, women's hormone levels fluctuate dramatically. Studies have found that women's needs and sexual desire do increase before ovulation, and their charm will rise sharply. They will become more beautiful, and even their body odor will smell better.

At this time, the female body is fully prepared for conception, so both physiologically and psychologically give female compatriots strong hints. Sex is the most primitive impulse of human beings and a necessity for our human reproduction. Therefore, sexual desire increases before ovulation, and female friends do not need to feel ashamed of this!

Looking in the mirror of rumors

Due to the dramatic fluctuations in hormones during ovulation, women will experience some changes in their physical and mental health. Most of these changes are normal, indicating that our ovarian function is still good and there is no need to be overly anxious or worried.

However, if discomfort occurs repeatedly, we still have to do the necessary examinations. Annual routine physical examinations are also the most cost-effective investment in your body. After all, only when you are healthy can you enjoy a better life.

References

[1] Shui Miao, Hu Peicheng. Discussion on the main factors affecting female sexual desire[J]. Chinese Journal of Family Planning and Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2016, 8(02): 14-16+27.

Planning and production

Author: Lan Yibing, deputy chief physician, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Review丨Lai Yucheng, deputy chief physician of gynecology department, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital

Zhang Xuefang, deputy chief physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University