Vaginal discharge before menstruation: how to analyze it?

What if we finally lifted the veil on vaginal discharge ? Almost all women observe discharge in their underwear throughout their menstrual cycle , but without really knowing what it is.

Yet these discharges reveal a great deal about your health and your cycle! By learning to observe and recognize them properly, you can know exactly when you ovulate and when your period will start . Observation is far more reliable than any cycle-tracking app; it just takes a little practice.

Today, we'll teach you how to decode losses before your period .

What exactly is cervical mucus?

Cervical mucus is commonly referred to as " vaginal discharge ." This substance is naturally produced by the cervix and is composed of water, proteins, and minerals. It's not just there to soil your underwear; it performs many essential functions for your intimate health :

• balance the bacteria in the vaginal flora,

• to act as a barrier against infections,

• automatically clean the vaginal walls

• to give a little boost to sperm that are having trouble making their way to the egg.

When you are pregnant, cervical mucus also forms the famous mucus plug that blocks the cervix to keep the baby warm.

In short, it's a multi-functional secretion that we should definitely take care of!

If you experience light vaginal discharge daily, it's perfectly normal. In fact, your vagina cleans itself every day. That's why vaginal douching is discouraged, as it tends to irritate and disrupt your vaginal flora. Your vagina does all the work perfectly on its own !

Throughout your menstrual cycle , cervical mucus changes in appearance under the influence of estrogen ( sex hormones ). Before your period, vaginal discharge may be thick and drying: we'll help you recognize it.

How do losses change throughout the menstrual cycle?

Cervical mucus during menstruation

Simply put: the higher the estrogen level , the more abundant, supple and transparent the cervical mucus.

If you experience vaginal discharge just before your period , there's nothing to worry about: hormone levels are at their peak at this time, and progesterone takes over from estrogen. During this period, the discharge is quite dry and the mucus is brittle.

During menstruation, the uterine lining breaks down to expel the unfertilized egg. Cervical mucus is often mistaken for menstrual bleeding, making it difficult to distinguish between the two during those few days.

Cervical mucus after menstruation, during the pre-ovulatory phase

Right after your period, cervical mucus is less abundant. If you can still observe it with a keen eye, it will likely still be brittle, pasty, and present in small quantities. The pre-ovulatory period is sometimes called the "dry period."

Vaginal discharge during the ovulatory phase

During the ovulatory phase, estrogen levels skyrocket. Cervical mucus becomes more flexible, but still pasty, resembling yogurt (it's unappetizing, we know).

This is a sign that you are entering your fertile window : the closer you get to ovulation, the more slippery and "liquid" the cervical mucus becomes. Generally, it is during the pre-ovulatory period that discharge is heaviest : your underwear is damp, or even completely wet, which we love.

The day of ovulation: Time for cervical mucus to shine! It's at its peak, sometimes referred to as a " mucus peak ." It's more liquid than ever and has a consistency similar to oil or water.

If you notice a small streak of blood when you wipe that day, it's nothing to worry about; a new hormonal shift is taking place. The estrogen that triggered ovulation is gradually being replaced by progesterone—it's quite a spectacle.

Cervical mucus before menstruation

After ovulation, cervical mucus gradually dries up. The closer you get to your period, the thicker and more difficult the mucus becomes to stretch.

The culprit ? Progesterone . This hormone is produced by the corpus luteum, which contained the egg before its release. Cervical mucus therefore becomes depleted of estrogen because it no longer needs to escort sperm to the egg. It takes a short break until the next cycle.

Some women experience heavier bleeding the day before their period : no need to worry, it's a sign that it's coming.

As you've probably gathered, vaginal discharge shouldn't alarm you. If you notice cervical mucus in your underwear, it simply means your hormones are at work and your menstrual cycle is running its course. While it's not the most pleasant experience, it's actually a sign of good health.

A closer look at symptothermal methods to understand your vaginal discharge

Have you ever heard of symptothermal charting ? It's a super effective and completely natural technique, based on observation, that allows you to know exactly where you are in your cycle. In practice, its The reliability rate is 98.2%.

This approach is often recommended in 3 cases:

• If you're planning to have a baby, the symptothermal method is a great way to reliably identify your fertile window . During these 3 or 4 days, you have a higher chance of getting pregnant!

• If you don't want to use hormonal contraception or if you don't tolerate a copper IUD well, the symptothermal method can help you know when to be extra vigilant. However, be aware that it's often recommended in addition to another contraceptive method, such as condoms. This method isn't 100% reliable and therefore doesn't replace other forms of contraception.

• If you want to better understand how your body works and the orchestration of your cycles , symptothermal methods are perfect!

So how does it work in practice? This technique is based on the observation of 3 elements:

1. Your body temperature : it is recorded daily and a curve is drawn each month.

2. The appearance of your cervical mucus : color, thickness and elasticity.

3. The positioning of your cervix changes throughout the menstrual cycle.

During the luteal phase (after ovulation), your body temperature rises by 0.3° to 0.5°C . If you don't track your temperature daily, you can easily miss this subtle change. The day before your period, the temperature curve drops again : BAM, you know it's coming!

Regarding the cervix , its position changes throughout the cycle. Just before menstruation, it is rather low (easy to feel), closed and dry, unless you are pregnant of course .

The symptothermal method is remarkably effective for predicting the different phases of your cycle, but only on one condition: consistency. You absolutely must record your temperature every day , observe your cervical mucus, and distinguish the position of your cervix during each phase. It will take a few cycles to experiment and become completely proficient. It's a fantastic opportunity to better understand your body and discover your anatomy, so give it a try!

Note : Symptothermal methods only work if you are not taking any hormonal contraceptives and do not suffer from a gynecological condition such as PCOS or endometriosis that disrupts your cycles.

Vaginal discharge: when should you consult a doctor?

Vaginal discharge is normal : it acts a bit like a compass for your menstrual cycle and hormones. However, it shouldn't cause tightness or pain, even before your period when it's driest.

We therefore strongly encourage you to check if:

• your discharge is a strange color (greyish or greenish),

• Your discharge is very smelly.

• Their texture is grainy or foamy,

• You experience a sensation of discomfort or burning,

• Abnormal bleeding is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever or gynecological pain.

Odorous or colored vaginal discharge is often a sign of a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. These are usually easy to treat, but still require a short course of treatment. If you have any doubts, don't delay and make an appointment with a trusted doctor.

You now have all the information you need to properly analyze discharge before your period and prepare for the big day. Throughout the month, your body sends you a whole host of signals that help you understand where you are and how it's feeling. Learn to recognize and analyze them: it's the key to taking back control of your health .