When you experience pink vaginal discharge, it is because of a mixing of blood with mucus from the cervix. Many women have experienced it and wonder what it is caused by. You may need to seek medical advice for this problem if it does not go away on its own. Learn more about pink discharge after a period will help you understand what to do about it. 

Is Pink Discharge After Period Normal?

Though any amount of vaginal discharge can cause a woman to worry and believe that it is an indication of reproductive system condition or a complication of pregnancy. But, in fact, it's nothing to worry about.

You usually secrete about 2-3 grams of mucus per day from the vagina. If the mucus is mixed with bright red blood, the result can be pink vaginal discharge. This is more likely to happen during sexual excitement, when the body normally secretes more mucus in anticipation of sex.

Pink Discharge After Period, Why?  

1.   One Week Before Missed Period--Pregnancy

If the egg was fertilized by the sperm, you will get some pink discharge about one week before the missed period. This is actually called implantation bleeding and occasionally happens as the embryo implants inside the uterus. It is one of the earliest indicators of pregnancy. If you experience this type of spotting after ovulation, you should take a home pregnancy test about a week after the spotting or see your doctor about a blood test for pregnancy.

2.   About 14 Days after Day One of Period--Ovulation

You can have pink discharge at the time of ovulation. When the egg is released by the ovary at the time of ovulation, the cyst holding the egg ruptures and the egg travels down the fallopian tubes. There can be a cramping sensation when this happens and there can be slight bleeding coming from the follicle cyst. This type of spotting or pink discharge usually lasts for about 1-2 days.

3.    Birth Control Pills

You can often get pink discharge as a result of taking birth control pills. The pills are usually made to be similar to the natural hormones, estrogen and progesterone, inside the body. Birth control pills alter the hormonal balance in the reproductive system, which leads to occasional spotting or pink discharge after period. If you accidentally skip a pill, you can suffer from a pink discharge, too.

4.    Hormonal Problems

Pink discharge after period can be related to a female hormone imbalance. It can be the result of a sudden change in climate, increased stress, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and extreme physical activity when you have polycystic ovaries, hyperplasia of the inner uterine lining, a low thyroid condition, and other hormonal imbalances of the endocrine system or reproductive syndrome.

5.    Fragile Blood Vessels

The inside of the uterus can consist of blood vessels that are very fragile and located near the inside of the cervix. When you are aroused sexually or have intercourse, the contractions of the pelvis you get during sex can break these fragile blood vessels leading to some type of pink vaginal discharge.

6.    Infections

You can get pink pelvis discharge after period or at any time during the cycle if you have a reproductive tract infection. The infection results in inflammation of the reproductive tract and sometime can lead to bleeding. The main infections you may experience include the following:

• Vagina douching
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Intercourse
• Sexually transmitted diseases

7.    Diseases

These diseases can result in pink discharge after period:

• Cervical erosion. There can be a pink discharge at any time in the menstrual cycle after you have sex or undertake any extensive physical activity when you have erosions of the cervix. These erosions can bleed and can only be identified by having a colposcopy evaluation.
• Cancer. Pink discharge that does not hurt and that is not related to the period could be a sign of some reproductive cancer. Endometrial cancer and cervical cancer can both result in pink discharge, especially in women in perimenopause or menopause and are about age of 45 or older. You should see your gynecologist if you are experiencing this type of pink discharge.
• Diseases of certain organs. You can have vaginal bleeding unrelated to problems with hormonal imbalances. Things like blood clotting problems, vesicovaginal fistulas, diabetes, hematopoietic disorders, liver disease, and kidney disease can result in abnormal vaginal bleeding. In order to take care of this type of bleeding, you should see your doctor about getting a referral to a specialist.
• Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus spreads to areas outside of the uterus, leading to bleeding at different times of the cycle.
• Adenomyosis occurs when the endometrial lining of the uterus burrows into the muscular layer of the uterine wall.
• Myomas of the inner part of the uterus are benign tumors that can cause irregular bleeding, including a pink discharge after period during the middle of the cycle.

What to Do Next?

There can be pink discharge following a period if you are sick while the period was happening. This is not dangerous and you needn’t worry. You should be concerned, however, if the discharge happens over many cycles, or if it is associated with a bad odor or pain. See a doctor if this occurs.

He or she will likely ask you when the discharge occurs, if it has a bad odor, the color of the vaginal discharge, and your medical history, in order to see what the problem might be caused from. They will also ask if you have any burning, pelvic pain, or itching. These can mean you are suffering from STD. During the physical examination, the doctor will take a sampling of the discharge and will do a pap smear.

The treatment depends on what is causing the pink discharge. If it is from a bacterial infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or creams. A yeast infection will be managed with an anti-fungal cream, gel, or suppository. Each type of STD has its own type of treatment. The doctor may find that nothing is wrong and will allay your fears or do some more testing.