Metallic Smelling Discharge Pregnancy

Metallic Smelling Discharge Pregnancy

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Here's how to cope with leukorrhea, the harmless vaginal discharge that you'll have instead of your period for these nine months of pregnancy.
What to Expect When You're Expecting , 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff. WhatToExpect.com , 14 Early Pregnancy Symptoms , July 2019. WhatToExpect.com , Spotting or Bleeding During Pregnancy , April 2021. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Vulvovaginal Health , June 2020. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Vaginitis , July 2021. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Bleeding During Pregnancy , May 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaginal Candidiasis , October 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bacterial Vaginosis - CDC Fact Sheet , January 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chlamydia - CDC Fact Sheet , January 2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gonorrhea - CDC Fact Sheet , January 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Trichomoniasis - CDC Fact Sheet , July 221.
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Vaginal discharge is certainly nothing new. But if you’re trying to conceive or think you could be pregnant, you might be wondering whether changes in vaginal discharge are an early sign you’re expecting.
Known as leukorrhea, an increase in vaginal discharge can be an early sign of pregnancy — although some changes in vaginal discharge can be attributed to other things too.
Leukorrhea is the medicalese term for the thin, milky white and mild-smelling (sometimes odorless) vaginal discharge that many women first experience in early pregnancy.
The amount will likely increase as your pregnancy progresses. Leukorrhea is similar to the vaginal discharge you might experience between periods, only heavier.
When you’re expecting, an increase in estrogen levels causes increased blood flow to the pelvic area. More blood flow stimulates the body's mucous membranes, leading to an increase in vaginal discharge in early pregnancy and beyond.
And it has an important purpose: Pregnancy discharge removes dead cells from the vagina, protects the birth canal from infection and maintains a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina.
Thin, white vaginal discharge is normal and healthy throughout your entire pregnancy. However it could be a sign of an infection if it's lumpy or thick, especially if it's accompanied by other symptoms (like itching or a fishy odor).
You may also notice your vaginal discharge is brown or pink . In early pregnancy, that could be a sign of implantation bleeding. Later on, vaginal spotting during pregnancy (not heavy bleeding) is also most often normal, especially if it appears after sex or a pelvic exam.
But if you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to check in with your doctor.
Early pregnancy discharge is vaginal discharge that comes early in pregnancy. It's completely normal, since early pregnancy is typically when you'll first notice leukorrhea.
You may have an infection (like a pregnancy-induced yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis), possibly linked to a change in the balance of yeast and bacteria in the vagina. Your doctor can prescribe a treatment, such as antifungal medication or antibiotics, to restore the proper balance down there and clear up your symptoms.
Abnormal vaginal discharge may also be a sign of sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis, all of which require rapid diagnosis and treatment of you and your partner.
You'll also want to get in touch with your clinician if you notice excessive watery discharge (a possible sign of leaking amniotic fluid ).
But while pregnancy discharge can make a mess of your underwear, rest assured that it’s most often perfectly normal and has the noble duty of protecting you and your baby. And if it is something more, a visit to your doctor will get you the answers and treatment you need.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting . What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy .
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The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy . © 2022 Everyday Health, Inc

Why Do You Get a Metallic Taste in Your Mouth During Pregnancy?

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Soon after you get that positive pregnancy test , you may not be surprised by impending nausea and exhaustion, but a metallic taste in your mouth is one pregnancy symptom you might not expect. Changes in your sense of taste, called dysgeusia, are very common in pregnancy with 93% of women experiencing some sort of taste change. 1

Along with a metallic taste, you also may experience other taste changes. According to Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG , who is board-certified in both obstetrics/gynecology as well as maternal-fetal medicine and serves as director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, pregnant patients often complain that their mouth tastes foul, rancid, salty, or burnt, she says.

For the most part, dysgeusia is a harmless side effect of all the changes your body goes through when you are expecting. It will usually pass after the first trimester and there are a few things you can do to help you get through it. Here's what you need to know.

If you do experience dysgeusia, you can blame it on your hormones. Along with rising estrogen, increasing levels of the hormones progesterone, prolactin, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may also play a role, says Dr. Gaither.

"A rapid increase in estrogen at the beginning of pregnancy is thought to be the [primary] cause," explains Jill Purdie, MD, OB/GYN of North Women's Specialists in Atlanta, GA.

A changing sense of smell also may be behind pregnancy's unpleasant taste changes and food aversions. 2 The theory is that Mother Nature equips expecting parents with a super-charged nose so they can avoid any potential toxins that might harm them or their developing fetus. Even conditions unrelated to pregnancy also be behind a metal taste in your mouth.

"Individuals can have taste changes if they have other medical conditions like diabetes or dry mouth as well as taking certain medications, having gingivitis, or having certain dental appliances or fillings," notes Dr. Gaither.

[What's more], taste buds have receptors for hormones that rise in pregnancy, causing taste changes, food aversions, or even morning sickness.

Initially, some scientists have suggested that low levels of zinc during pregnancy might be related to the taste of metal, but researchers no longer believe this to be the case. 3 Zinc deficiency generally occurs later in pregnancy, while dysgeusia mostly occurs in the first trimester when zinc levels are normal.

Every pregnant person experiences dysgeusia differently. It also might differ from pregnancy to pregnancy in the same person.

For instance, Ian Sells, a father of two, says that his wife experienced a metallic taste during her second pregnancy but not her first. Meanwhile, Maria Pia Cinelli says that she never tasted metal while pregnant, but she did find that her formerly favorite foods tasted repulsive.

And, Angelina Meilani, a mother of twins, only had a metallic taste when she ate something. Sells's wife, on the other hand, experienced it all the time.

Even certain foods can trigger a metallic taste. In fact, one study found that 65% of women said that their dysgeusia was related to how they perceived sour-tasting foods. 1

The taste of metal usually resolves at the end of the first trimester when hormone levels stabilize, says Dr. Purdie. Other times, it may continue throughout pregnancy. In one study, pregnant mothers reported that their dysgeusia was more extreme during the first trimester. 1

Meilani says that her dysgeusia was most noticeable around 9 to 12 weeks gestation and that it tapered off at the beginning of the second trimester. She also notes that her dysgeusia seemed to start when her morning sickness was at its worst and ended around the same time.

Meanwhile, Sells remembers that his wife experienced a metallic taste during the first trimester only. And, Cinelli indicates that her aversions lasted throughout her entire pregnancy, along with persistent nausea.

Dysgeusia is extremely common in pregnancy with almost all expecting parents reporting at least some change in taste. 4 Plus, according to Dr. Purdie, it is usually not a cause for concern.

However, if the metallic taste continues outside of pregnancy and is accompanied by other new or bothersome symptoms, such as dry mouth or pain, you should consult your physician.

To be on the safe side, tell your doctor if you experience a metallic taste while you are pregnant, says Dr. Gaither. This way, your physician can determine if it's related to pregnancy or another medical condition.

Although dysgeusia is harmless in most cases, it can be bothersome. To get rid of the taste of metal or at least lessen it, Dr. Purdie suggests drinking citrus juices or lemonade, changing your prenatal vitamin , chewing gum, or sucking on mints.

She also advises those suffering from bothersome dysgeusia to use a toothpaste that contains baking soda and to scrape their tongue after brushing their teeth. Sells remembers that having something to eat helped relieve his wife's dysgeusia, especially ice chips, sugar-free mints, or crackers. Meilani, on the other hand, says that she experienced the metal taste when she did eat something, and it didn't seem to matter what it was.

You may have to experiment with different things to see what works for you. Keeping notes of when you experience dysgeusia including what you are doing or eating, can also help you determine a pattern.

Keep in mind that dysgeusia is not the only pregnancy symptom that affects your senses. The cocktail of hormones that floods your system to help you sustain and grow a new human life can leave you tasting, smelling, and even hearing differently. 5

For instance, increased fluid retention may impair the sense of hearing. And cravings , the strong desire to eat certain foods, are thought to be propelled by increased nutritional needs. 6

Regardless of the changes you experience during pregnancy, rest assured that they are mostly temporary and often resolve midway through your pregnancy, or at least by its end.

If you are pregnant and have a metallic taste in your mouth, you may be surprised the first time you notice it. But rest assured that even though dysgeusia can be bothersome and annoying, it is usually nothing to worry about.

Still, it's important to let your doctor know what you're experiencing. This way, they can assure you that it is related to the increased hormones surging through your body and not the result of a more serious condition.

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Kuga M, Ikeda M, Suzuki K, Takeuchi S. Changes in gustatory sense during pregnancy . Acta Oto-Laryngologica . 2002;122(4):146-153.
Cameron EL. Pregnancy and olfaction : a review. Front Psychol . 2014;5
Kuga M, Ikeda M, Suzuki K, Takeuchi S. Changes in gustatory sense during pregnancy . Acta Oto-Laryngologica . 2002;122(4):146-153.
Kuga M, Ikeda M, Suzuki K, Takeuchi S. Changes in gustatory sense during pregnancy . Acta Oto-Laryngologica . 2002;122(4):146-153.
Kwatra D, Kumar S, Singh GB, Biswas R, Upadhyay P. Can pregnancy lead to changes in hearing threshold ? Ear Nose Throat J . 2021;100(3_suppl):277S-280S.
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What causes vaginal odor during pregnancy?
The physiologic vaginal discharge during pregnancy is known as leukorrhea. This is a thin, white discharge that feels wet. While you may feel like the odor slightly changes, it should not smell foul, and it should not itch or cause pain. Leukorrhea is caused by increased pregnancy hormones and blood flow to your reproductive organs.
It’s critical to see your medical provider if you think you may have BV, as it has been associated with certain pregnancy complications such as preterm labor, low baby birth weight , premature rupture of membranes, and uterine infection after delivery.
Your vagina cleans itself. It’s lined by a variety of glands that lubricate and cleanse the area. There is no need to force any bath product or water into your vagina (4) .
If you’re going to wear panty liners, try to use all-cotton liners or at least liners that aren’t scented. The extra scent might irritate your skin and doesn’t really help the odor.
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Caitlin Goodwin MSN, RN, CNM is a Certified Nurse-Midwife, clinical instructor and educator. She has ten years of nursing experience and enjoys blogging about family travel and autism in her free time.
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Have you recently noticed a funky smell “down there?” Wondering if it’s pregnancy-related and if it’s normal or not?
Your body goes through some crazy changes during pregnancy, some of which you would never have guessed. You knew your vagina was going to have to stretch to push out a baby, but you probably didn’t know you’d acquire a whole new aroma down there.
In this article, we will talk all about vaginal odor during pregnancy, what causes it, when you should see your doctor, and how to eliminate the smell.
Even though it can be unpleasant and embarrassing, vaginal odor is actually quite normal during pregnancy. Around 65 percent of women report they have experienced vaginal odor throughout their pregnancies. Vaginal odor can even be one of the first symptoms of pregnancy .
If the aroma started after you conceived, it is most likely pregnancy-related. Your odor can range from faint to very strong and is usually nothing to worry about.
But remember that every pregnancy is different. You may experience vaginal odor throughout this entire pregnancy and then have none with the next. The odor may also be more apparent during certain trimesters.
There are various reasons why you may be experiencing vaginal odor during pregnancy.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes:
While vaginal odor is often completely normal during pregnancy because of hormones, increased blood volume, or diet, sometimes it can be a sign of an infection or virus.
It’s best to contact your healthcare provider if you have a pungent vaginal odor that lasts for an extended period or if it’s coupled with any of the following:
Your doctor will examine a sample of your vaginal fluid and cervical secretions to see if you have an infection.
I know you may feel quite embarrassed by this newfound smell, but don’t worry, there is no need to be. Midwives and OBs have pretty much seen it all.
If you have a yeast infection, your provider will most likely prescribe or recommend an over-the-counter antifungal cream. If your vagina or vaginal discharge has a particular “fishy” smell to it, it’s likely you have bacterial vaginosis and will be put on a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection.
If all your tests come back negative for yeast infections, bacterial infections, and STDs, your changing hormones are probably responsible for the odor. It will most likely go away once your baby is born.
Until then, remember that less is more when it comes to cleaning yourself.
In the meantime, you can try some of these techniques to help eliminate the smell:
Your new vaginal aroma may be unpleasant and embarrassing, but remember that you are not alone, mama. Vaginal odor is actually quite common during pregnancy and is often just due to hormones. It will probably vanish after your baby is born.
However, the odor can sometimes be a sign of an infection, so be sure to watch out for any “fishy” scent, burning, irritation, or redness. Otherwise, practicing proper hygiene, using cotton undies and pantyliners, avoiding douching and scented soaps, and changing your diet will help reduce the funk.
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