Yellow green discharge during pregnancy second trimester

Yellow cervical or vaginal discharge during pregnancy can be a sign of an infection, which may affect your pregnancy or unborn baby.

If you discover yellow discharge, your healthcare provider will want to perform a physical exam and also take a sample of your discharge and urine to be tested.

This article looks at what kind of discharge you may see during pregnancy, explore the possible causes, and let you know when you should see a healthcare provider.

Verywell / Katie Kerpel

Discharge You May See During Pregnancy

Cervical discharge isn't always a cause for concern. Abnormal discharge might be, though. Learning about the different types of discharge can help you determine whether to call a healthcare provider.

Normal pregnancy discharge: Called leukorrhea. Typically a thin, clear, or milky white fluid with a mild odor. Often increases throughout pregnancy.
Thin, watery yellow discharge: May be a sign of infection, including a sexually transmitted infection (STI), or amniotic fluid leak. May be mistaken for leaking urine.
Thick yellow discharge with vaginal itching/burning: Likely a vaginal yeast infection.
Foul-smelling yellow discharge with a foul odor: May be from an STI or yeast infection.

Yeast Infection

Vaginal yeast infections (vulvovaginal candidiasis or vaginal candidiasis) are pretty common in people with female reproductive organs. They're more common during pregnancy because of changing levels of hormones.

Your body naturally grows a certain amount of the yeast fungus. It's an important part of your gynecological ecosystem. When you have too much of it, it causes a yeast infection.

If you're taking broad-spectrum antibiotics for another ailment, you're at higher risk of yeast infections since antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria as well as harmful ones. That can throw your vaginal environment out of balance.

You're also at-risk for future yeast infections if you had them before.

What Are Symptoms of a Yeast Infection?

Yeast infection symptoms include:

Itching, redness, and swelling in the vagina and vulva
Discharge that looks like cottage cheese
A burning feeling when you urinate

How Can a Yeast Infection Affect My Pregnancy?

Although a yeast infection can cause discomfort, it doesn't pose a risk to your pregnancy. You can safely use an over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal cream or suppository, like Monistat, or a low dose of the anti-fungal pill called Diflucan (fluconazole) for an occasional yeast infection.

If you have recurring or treatment-resistant yeast infections while you're expecting, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that high-dose Diflucan (fluconazole) during the first trimester can put your baby at risk of birth defects. This is very rare.

A single 150 milligram (mg) dose of Diflucan is considered safe for your child.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection caused by the overgrowth of bacteria.

What Are the Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?

BV can be asymptomatic (not cause any symptoms). If you do have symptoms, they may include:

Itching
Thin, gray discharge
Unpleasant odor, especially after sex
Burning feeling when urinating

How Can BV Affect My Pregnancy?

BV can increase the risk of:

Premature rupture of membranes (commonly called your water breaking)
Preterm labor and delivery
Low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds)
Postpartum endometritis (irritation of the uterine lining after delivery)

Is Discharge During Pregnancy Common?

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is very common and can increase as the pregnancy progresses.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is an STI that can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It's a common infection, especially among young people ages 15–24.

Gonorrhea typically is treated with an injection of antibiotics. It's becoming harder to treat, though, because drug-resistant strains are on the rise.

Because of that, it's important to let your healthcare provider know if you still have symptoms a few days after treatment.

What are the Symptoms of Gonorrhea?

Symptoms can include some of the following:

Burning sensation while urinating
Vaginal discharge
Genital itching
Soreness
Bleeding
Painful bowel movements

How Can Gonorrhea Affect My Pregnancy?

You can pass gonorrhea to your baby during childbirth. The infection also increases the risk of:

Miscarriage (spontaneous loss of pregnancy)
Premature birth
Low birth weight
Premature rupture of membranes
Chorioamnionitis (a bacterial infection of the membrane that surrounds the baby and the amniotic fluid and affects both the mother and baby)

If the infection is passed during delivery and isn't treated, it could cause an eye infection in your newborn.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STI that primarily affects people ages 15–24. If left untreated, it can cause reproductive challenges, ectopic pregnancy (fertilized egg implanting and growing outside the womb), and infertility.

What Are the Symptoms of Chlamydia?

Symptoms of chlamydia include:

Burning sensation or itching when urinating
Bleeding after sex
An unpleasant vaginal odor
Rectal pain and bleeding

How Can Chlamydia Affect My Pregnancy?

Chlamydia during pregnancy can put you at risk of:

Preterm labor
Premature rupture of membranes,
A baby with low birth weight

Newborns who are exposed to chlamydia during delivery can develop eye and lung infections.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a vaginal infection caused by the sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.

What Are the Symptoms of Trichomoniasis?

Although most people report no symptoms from trichnomoniasis, you may have:

Itching
Irritation
Unusual odor
Vaginal discharge
Pain during urination or sex

How Can Trichomoniasis Affect My Pregnancy?

Trichomoniasis infection in pregnancy can increase the risk of:

Premature rupture of membranes
Preterm birth
Low birth weight infants

On rare occasions, a newborn girl can acquire the infection during delivery and may have vaginal discharge.

Summary

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is very common and can increase as the pregnancy progresses.

Some discharge is normal and healthy, but some types of discharge, including foul-smelling or yellow discharge can be a sign of infection.

Many infections are treatable during pregnancy. Untreated, they can cause health concerns for both you and your baby.

A Word From Verywell

If you have discharge during pregnancy that seems abnormal, other symptoms of infection, or a known exposure to an STI, see your healthcare provider. With safe treatments readily available, there's no reason to let something go untreated.

If it turns out to be nothing, at least your provider can give you peace of mind so you don't needlessly worry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to have yellow discharge during early pregnancy?
Yellow discharge isn't always a cause for concern, but it can be a sign of an infection. If discharge is coupled with an unpleasant odor or other symptoms like pain or itching, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
What color is discharge when pregnant?
Harmless, healthy discharge is usually white and has a mild odor. It can increase in volume during your pregnancy. Using a panty liner can protect your clothes.
Can yellow discharge mean miscarriage?
Yellow discharge can be a sign of infection. Infections, when left untreated, can put a pregnancy at risk of miscarriage.

What does yellowish green discharge mean while pregnant?

If the vaginal discharge is green or yellowish, strong-smelling, and/or accompanied by redness or itching, you may have a vaginal infection. One of the most common vaginal infections during pregnancy is candidiasis, also known as a yeast infection. Another cause of abnormal discharge could also be an STD.

Is yellow discharge normal in second trimester?

Normal discharge during pregnancy is clear or white, and usually a bit sticky; it should not have a noticeable odor. It's OK if your discharge looks a little yellow on your underwear or panty liner during pregnancy, too.

Can yellow discharge affect the baby?

Yellow cervical/vaginal discharge in pregnant women can signal infection, which can affect pregnancy.

Can greenish discharge cause miscarriage?

This kind of discharge is usually in a frothy texture and accompanied by a foul odor, so it's hard to ignore. Infections signalled by green or yellow discharge can cause miscarriage, premature labor, and other health problems, so they require immediate medical attention.