Right after menstruation, due to falling oestrogen and progesterone levels, it is natural for there to be no discharge or for it to be watery and without consistency.

As oestrogen levels rise in the follicular phase, cervical mucus becomes more consistent and may be creamy and whitish, similar to body lotion.

When oestrogen reaches its peak, the discharge becomes more elastic and slippery, resembling raw egg white. This is an indicator that ovulation is occurring.

After ovulation, the increase in progesterone causes the cervical mucus to decrease rapidly, becoming stickier or even absent.

Pinkish discharge indicates the presence of blood in the cervical mucus. It can occur before or after menstruation, after penetrative sex, or even during the fertile period. It can also mean the beginning of pregnancy, resulting from the fertilisation of the egg about three days after sexual intercourse. In Chinese medicine, pink discharge outside of menstruation should always be investigated.

Brown discharge, similar to coffee grounds, before or after menstruation may indicate hormonal imbalance, such as low progesterone. If it occurs outside of the menstrual period, it may be a sign of pelvic inflammation, fibroids or uterine polyps, and should be evaluated.

This type of discharge usually indicates the presence of a gynaecological infection, especially when accompanied by symptoms such as bad odour, burning or vaginal itching. The main causes include trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea or chlamydia, requiring medical evaluation.

Thick, white discharge, similar to cottage cheese, may be associated with other symptoms, such as itching, redness and a burning sensation in the vulva and vagina. It may also have a bad odour, depending on the cause. This type of discharge usually indicates vaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis (especially if there is a rotten fish smell) or colpitis, and medical investigation is essential.