Pregnancy can bring along with it several complications and it’s extremely important to be regular with your check-ups and look for any signs of abnormalities. This is more so when it comes to vaginal discharge during pregnancy.
If you happen to see a green discharge while pregnant but no infection from your vagina, it’s still a cause of concern.
The green discharge could be due to a variety of reasons and could be the onset of infection even if it doesn’t seem so right away. Some of the common reasons for green vaginal mucus include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or trichomoniasis.
Let’s take a deeper look into each of these infections and how they can affect your body during pregnancy.
Green Discharge While Pregnant But No Infection From Vagina Could Indicate 3 Problems
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Chlamydia
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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that chlamydia is one of the most frequent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the US.
Back in Singapore, the Department of STI Control (DSC) shared data in January 2018 stating that chlamydia had the highest STI rates with 2,719 cases in 2018.
This was followed by gonorrhoea and syphilis as the second and third most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) respectively.
The DSC also shared that the STD rates were increasing between 10-19 year-olds in individuals in Singapore.
Symptoms Of Chlamydia
In the case of pregnant women, chlamydial infection can be diagnosed with the following symptoms:
- Abnormal and green vaginal discharge
- Unpleasant vaginal odour
- Burning or itching sensation
- Bleeding after sex
- Discomfort when urinating
If chlamydia is left untreated during pregnancy, it can lead to:
- Preterm delivery
- Low birth weight
- Newborn conjunctivitis
- Pneumonia
When do you test for chlamydia?
Ideally, your doctor will automatically test you for chlamydia if you fall under the following categories:
- Under 25 years of age
- Have a new sex partner
- Have multiple sex partners
- Your partner has an STI
The doctor will test you again in your third trimester for the sexually transmitted infection (STI). If you test positive for the infection, the doctors will ask you to retest after three weeks and three months after the completion of treatment.
Treatment
Most doctors will prescribe antibiotics like azithromycin or doxycycline to treat chlamydia. Do make sure to speak to your doctor before consuming any medicine.
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Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is another form of STI that’s mostly seen in young adults. Data shared by the DSC suggests that it was the second-most common STI in Singapore in 2018 with 2,051 cases reported, and was most common in the 10-19 year age group.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. With pregnant mums, it can be often mistaken for vaginal or bladder infection. Here are the symptoms of gonorrhoea to watch out for:
- Abnormal or green vaginal discharge
- Burning or itching
- Discomfort when urinating
- Unpleasant vaginal odour
- Vaginal bleeding between periods
If gonorrhoea is left untreated during pregnancy, it can lead the baby to have:
- Blood infections
- Blindness
- Joint infections
- Sore scalp
When do you test for gonorrhoea?
The doctor will ideally screen you for gonorrhoea during your first prenatal visit. They are likely to screen you again in your third trimester. Doctors are most likely to screen for gonorrhoea if:
- You are under 25 years of age
- Have had a previous STI case
- Have new or multiple sex partners
Treatment
Doctors will prescribe antibiotics including ceftriaxone and azithromycin to treat gonorrhoea. However, it can get difficult to treat the infection because of antimicrobial resistance in the bacteria.
Make sure to follow all your appointments and screenings with the doctor.
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Trichomoniasis
Another reason for green discharge while pregnant but no infection immediately could be trichomoniasis. It’s also referred to as trich.
The Trichomonas vaginalis parasite causes this infection with 3.7 million people infected in the US alone.
Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis does not come with obvious symptoms but it can appear as vaginal or bladder infection. Much like the other STIs on this list, symptoms of trichomoniasis include:
- Abnormal or green vaginal discharge
- Genital redness
- Unpleasant vaginal odour
- Burning or itching sensation
- Discomfort when urinating and sex
If left untreated, trichomoniasis during pregnancy can lead to:
- Preterm delivery
- A low birth weight delivery
- Transmission of infection to the baby
When do you test for trichomoniasis?
Doctors can confirm trichomoniasis by viewing a sample of your vaginal fluid under a microscope. There are faster tests available too like nucleic acid amplification and rapid antigen tests. Doctors will test an expecting mum for trichomoniasis if:
- They have multiple sex partners
- A history of trichomoniasis or other STIs
- No protection during intercourse
Treatment
Doctors will usually prescribe you antibiotics like tinidazole (Tindamax) or metronidazole (Flagyl). They will also test you again after the treatment. The CDC suggests that about 20 per cent of people are at risk of contracting the infection three months after completing their treatment.
Do remember, green discharge while pregnant but no infection should not be taken lightly. Speak to your doctor immediately about it, if you find any of the aforementioned symptoms. Not only do they put the expecting mum’s health at risk but can also affect the baby further complicating the pregnancy.
The correct diagnosis will help doctors treat the infection in time.
How To Prevent STIs During Pregnancy?
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In order to prevent STIs during pregnancy there are a few things you can try:
- Abstain from sex
- Have a long-term monogamous partner
- Test your partner beforehand
- Use protection
It is also advisable to speak to your doctor and get the correct diagnosis and treatment in order to have a healthy pregnancy.
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