Perimenopause Watery Discharge: What Is it & How to Manage

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Navya Mysore and updated on June 18, 2024

Perimenopause is a transitional time. With perimenopause and menopause, your body will go through many changes, and the symptoms can make you feel like you’re on a hormonal rollercoaster ride.

One of the changes you might notice is shifts in your vaginal discharge. You may see a decrease in vaginal discharge (resulting in dryness) or changes in the color or consistency of discharge. Many of these changes are not cause for concern. Some are worth a trip to your doctor.

In this article, we’ll dig into what perimenopause is, why it impacts vaginal discharge, and the different kinds of discharge you may experience during perimenopause.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause refers to the transitional phase leading up to menopause. Perimenopause typically happens to women in their 40s but can begin as early as the mid-30s or as late as early 50s.

During perimenopause, the ovaries produce less estrogen, which can cause changes in the menstrual cycle, such as irregular periods. Some women also experience other symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, and difficulty sleeping.

Perimenopause At a Hormonal Level

During perimenopause, the ovaries produce less estrogen, driving a lot of the symptoms women experience during perimenopause. 

As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause, the menstrual cycle may become irregular, and periods may become heavier or lighter. Fluctuating levels of estrogen can also cause other symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.

Progesterone also starts to decline during perimenopause. This can contribute to mood changes, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. 

What Is Healthy Vaginal Discharge?

Vaginal discharge is fluid that is produced by glands inside a woman’s vagina and cervix. Normal vaginal discharge is considered normal and healthy. It helps keep the vagina healthy by maintaining a healthy pH balance.

The quantity and consistency of vaginal discharge a woman experiences can vary over her life and even within her monthly menstrual cycle. Changes can depend on factors such as age, hormonal changes, the stage of their menstrual cycle, sexual activity, and pregnancy. Vaginal discharge can also change or increase because of infections.

While there can be a range in ‘healthy’ discharge, vaginal discharge is usually clear, white/egg-white and may have a slightly slippery or sticky texture. It may also have a mild odor that is not unpleasant.

How Perimenopause May Change Your Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal Atrophy

Vaginal atrophy (aka atrophic vaginitis) is a condition where the tissues of the vaginal walls become thinner, drier, and less elastic. It may happen to women during perimenopause/menopause or after surgical removal of the ovaries. 

Symptoms of vaginal atrophy include vaginal dryness, itching, or burning. Some women may also experience an increased frequency or urgency to pee. Vaginal atrophy can put you at risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs) which can cause discomfort while urinating.

Watery Vaginal Discharge

During perimenopause, women may experience changes in their vaginal discharge due to hormonal fluctuations. Some women may notice that their vaginal discharge becomes watery, thinner, or more transparent. Watery discharge is due to changes in the vagina’s acidity or pH level following a decline in estrogen levels.

As a result of the vaginal walls becoming less acidic and harmful bacteria can grow more easily. This may lead to vaginal infections, so it's important to monitor your vaginal discharge and pay particular attention if the discharge is foul-smelling or accompanied by itching or irritation.

Less Vaginal Discharge / Vaginal Dryness

During perimenopause, many women experience vaginal dryness or decreased vaginal lubrication, which is caused by a decline in estrogen levels. Estrogen is the hormone responsible for maintaining the health and elasticity of vaginal tissues, as well as regulating the production of natural lubrication.

As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause, the tissues in the vaginal area may become thinner, less elastic, and less lubricated. This can lead to discomfort, irritation, and pain during sexual intercourse, as well as an increased risk of vaginal infections.

To manage vaginal dryness during perimenopause, you can try to use over-the-counter lubricants to help alleviate discomfort.

Discharge or Light Bladder Leaks?

Some women experience light bladder leaks during perimenopause due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. If you are not aware of urine leakage, you may confuse moistness from urine leaking with vaginal discharge. The giveaway will usually be the ammonia-like smell of urine (normal vaginal discharge should not have a strong or bad smell.)

Leakproof Underwear Can Help!

If you’re experiencing watery discharge or light bladder leaks, you might try leakproof underwear. You may think leakproof underwear is just for periods—not the case! Indeed, they can absorb blood, sweat, or urine. Whether you’re experiencing hot flashes, light bladder leaks, irregular periods, or watery vaginal discharge, leakproof underwear can help! Shop the Knix collection here!

Vaginal Discharge Concerns: When to See Your Doctor

While healthy vaginal discharge is a normal bodily function, there are times when it can serve as a signal of something not quite right. So always pay attention to changes in your vaginal discharge and talk to your doctor about any changes. 

If you experience any of the following in particular, it’s worth a conversation with your healthcare provider:

• Vaginal discharge accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, burning, or pain
• Unusual bleeding or spotting between periods, or after sex
• Pain or discomfort during sex
• Thick, white, or cottage cheese-like discharge may indicate a yeast infection
• Pelvic pain or discomfort
• Signs of a possible sexually transmitted infection (STI), like yellow/green discharge, sores or blisters around the genital area

Your doctor can perform a physical exam, collect a sample of your discharge for laboratory testing, and recommend appropriate treatment based on your symptoms.

Other Symptoms of Perimenopause

Fluctuating hormones can cause both physical and mood changes. There’s quite a range of menopausal symptoms, and their severity and duration can vary wildly from person to person. Here are some of the more common menopause symptoms.

Missed or Irregular Periods

During perimenopause, you may notice changes in your menstrual cycle. Some of these changes can be extreme opposites of each other, from lighter periods to heavier periods. This is caused by the extreme fluctuations in your hormone levels. 

Hot Flashes / Night Sweats

Hot flashes are characterized by a sudden feeling of warmth or heat that spreads throughout the body, often accompanied by sweating, rapid heartbeat, and flushing of the skin.

Night sweats are episodes of excessive sweating during the night that can drench the bedding and clothing, leading to discomfort while sleeping and interrupted sleep.

… And So Many Other Symptoms

There is a long list of other menopausal symptoms. Not all perimenopausal women experience these symptoms, and the intensity for every woman can be different. 

Nausea: Fluctuating estrogen levels can result in nausea.

Weight gain: Sudden changes in weight or digestion can also point to perimenopause. If your diet, nutrition, and exercise levels are fairly stable and you find yourself experiencing weight gain, that may be a symptom of perimenopause. 

Vaginal dryness: Vaginal atrophy occurs in some women after menopause. The body produces less estrogen during perimenopause and menopause, which can lead to the thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls. 

Changes in sexual desire or satisfaction: Some women report changes in sexual desire and arousal due to fluctuating hormones.

Insomnia and sleep troubles: Apart from night sweats, general sleep can become unpredictable during perimenopause and menopause. Some can experience insomnia, and some can experience interrupted sleep.

Mood swings & anxiety: Any fluctuation in hormones can have an effect on your mood. Many report feeling more anxious or having sudden flashes of anger.

Bone loss: With declining estrogen levels, your bone density may decrease as you start to lose bone more quickly than you replace it. For some, this can lead to osteopenia and osteoporosis—a disease that causes fragile bones in women.

Bladder problems: Low estrogen levels may also make you more vulnerable to urinary infections. Loss of tissue strength may contribute to urinary incontinence.

Memory problems or difficulty concentrating: Memory problems or difficulty concentrating are common symptoms caused by hormonal changes. Other factors like stress, sleep disturbances, and mental health conditions can contribute to these symptoms. 

Joint and muscle pain: Estrogen plays an important role in maintaining joint health. As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause, women may experience a loss of joint cartilage, leading to joint pain.

Headaches or migraines: The exact cause of headaches during menopause is not fully understood, but hormonal changes are believed to play a role. As levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate during menopause, some women may experience an increase in headaches. Other factors, such as stress, lack of sleep, and hot flashes, can also trigger headaches during menopause. 

Changes in skin and hair, such as dryness or thinning: Estrogen plays a key role in maintaining skin and hair health. It promotes collagen production, which helps keep skin elastic and firm, and also helps maintain healthy hair follicles. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, collagen production decreases, and hair follicles may become less active, leading to thinner hair/skin and less elastic skin.

If you're experiencing symptoms that are interfering with your daily life, talk to your healthcare provider about your options for managing them. 

Take Our Perimenopause Quiz

The symptoms of perimenopause are numerous. But they can also be easily confused with other things going on in our bodies. Perimenopausal women may also wonder:

• Am I just stressed (work, world events, family life, etc.)
• Am I just run down?
• Maybe I’m coming down with the flu/cold/COVID?
• Maybe my body is just a little out of whack?
• Have I let my healthy habits slide a bit?
• Perhaps I’m just PMS-ing!
• Am I pregnant?

This means it can be difficult to say decisively if one is experiencing perimenopause or something else. And the situation can be even more confusing if you’re typically prone to an irregular menstrual cycle. It might be hard to spot the differences.

To help you navigate these uncertainties, we’ve devised a little quiz. Check it out here…

—

We hope you found this post informative—but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.