Is Clear or Jelly-Like Discharge a Sign of Pregnancy?

Last Updated on October 2, 2023

Whether you’re hoping you’re pregnant or not sure that you’re ready to take that step yet, noticing a clear or jelly-like discharge can make you wonder if you may be in the early stages of pregnancy. Whatever outcome you’re hoping for, it’s nice to know if that’s really what it means.

A clear or jelly-like discharge can be a pregnancy sign, but it can also signify many other things. For example, some women naturally have a watery or jelly-like discharge while ovulating. Other causes include stress, sexual excitement, changes in diet or medicine, or illness.

The article will further discuss both clear watery and clear jelly-like discharges and whether or not they are signs of pregnancy. It will also outline all the other potential causes of these types of discharge, and what to look out for.

Is Clear Watery Discharge a Sign of Pregnancy?

Clear, watery discharge usually isn’t a sign of pregnancy, though it could be, especially if you’ve recently missed one or more menstrual cycles. In most cases, though, clear, watery discharge simply indicates a healthy vagina. Though if it’s unusual for you, it could be a sign of something else. 

According to Healthline, most females who’ve gone through puberty but haven’t reached menopause discharge about half a teaspoon (1 to 4 milliliters) of clear, normal, usually watery (but sometimes thicker) discharge each day (source: Healthline). 

This amount may increase whenever you’re ovulating. It may also increase if you’ve been doing a lot of strenuous exercise. 

Furthermore, the amount of discharge may increase if you take birth control pills or become pregnant, which is why it can be an early sign of pregnancy. However, the watery discharge alone isn’t enough to ascertain whether or not you’re pregnant.

If you’ve missed at least one menstrual period and have watery discharge, watch out for other early symptoms of pregnancy, which include the following: 

• Fatigue, especially unexplained fatigue
• Increased urination
• Tender, painful, or swollen breasts
• Changes in the color of the areola
• Morning sickness
• Drastic changes in eating habits (i.e., craving foods you don’t like or being turned off by favorite foods)
• Bloating (source: University of Rochester Medical Center)

If you experience one or more of these early signs along with a clear, watery discharge, you may want to take a pregnancy test. If you’re suddenly constipated too, you may also want to check our article on whether constipation can be a pregnancy sign as well.

While this type of vaginal discharge is pretty typical and usually doesn’t indicate any problems, on rare occasions, it can. If you experience a foul odor, itchiness, burning, or pain along with the discharge, you could be suffering from an STD, STI, or another vaginal infection. 

Finally, it could be a sign that you’re entering into menopause or that you’re sexually aroused. 

Is Clear Jelly-Like Discharge a Sign of Early Pregnancy?

Thicker, jelly-like discharge can also be an early sign of pregnancy, but like a clear, watery discharge, it doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. This type of discharge can also occur because of infections or diseases, ovulation, or stress. 

If you’ve recently started a new diet or medicine, that could also be the culprit, as thick, mucusy discharge often indicates that your body’s pH balance is out of whack. Usually, diet and medication are the reasons for this, though illness can also play a role. 

However, the most obvious reason you’re passing a mucus-like discharge is simple ovulation. Nearly all women have this kind of vaginal discharge while they’re ovulating.

However, if you’ve been trying to get pregnant or have recently had unprotected sex and think you may be pregnant, keep an eye out for any of those other early pregnancy symptoms that I mentioned above. 

Additionally, while thick, jelly-like discharge is relatively normal – especially while you’re ovulating – it’s not as common as clear, watery discharge. It can also indicate some problems going on with your body. 

Continue to monitor the vaginal discharge, and contact your doctor immediately if it takes on a green, yellow, brown, and bloody appearance. (If it’s time for your menstrual cycle, brown and bloody jelly-like discharge is also standard, as is dark red or black.)

If you experience other problematic symptoms such as burning, itching, painful urination, fever, abdominal pain, etc., then the cause may be something more serious. In those cases, the most common problems are the following: 

• Yeast infection: A yeast infection is probably the most common cause of unhealthy discharge in women. It’s a fungal infection that causes vaginal discharge, itching, and burning. Certain women may be more prone to yeast infections if they have diabetes or problems with stress.
  
• Human papillomavirus (HPV): Although HPV can lead to genital warts or even cervical cancer, sometimes there are no symptoms whatsoever. At other times, you may experience mild symptoms, such as a mucusy discharge. A foul odor usually accompanies HPV.  
  
• Bacterial vaginosis: This bacterial infection is another relatively common and easy-to-treat cause of thick, jelly-like discharge. Like HPV, bacterial vaginosis usually produces a strong, unpleasant odor. 
  
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Gonnorhea and chlamydia can both cause thick, mucusy discharge, especially if they’re left untreated. 
  
• Trichomoniasis: This infection is usually spread by sexual contact, as well, but people can also get it by sharing washcloths, damp towels, razors, and swimsuits. Some people with the infection can be asymptomatic, but others may experience vaginal discharge and excruciating burning sensations (source: Healthline). 

No Period and Jelly-Like Discharge: What Does it Mean?

If your period is late or missing and you’re experiencing jelly-like discharge instead, it might be a good idea to take a pregnancy test or see your doctor. The missed period is a far more reliable pregnancy sign than the discharge, but experiencing them both together may mean you’re pregnant, and it would be a good idea to get checked out to make sure.

If you’re experiencing other symptoms, you might want to read our other articles that cover signs of pregnancy.

Wherever you are in your pregnancy journey – ready and excited or hoping that you’re not – hopefully, this article has helped put your mind at ease.

If you’ve been experiencing vaginal discharge, it could be a sign of early pregnancy – especially if coupled with other indicators – but it could just as easily be something else. 

This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy.