Jelly-like discharge, but no period: What does it mean?

From white and creamy to clear and sticky, it’s common to wonder what all the different varieties of vaginal discharge mean. To back up for a second, vaginal discharge is an umbrella term for fluids that come out of your vagina and your cervix (the tube-like muscle that connects your uterus to your vagina). This discharge keeps you clean and healthy and protects you against infections, while also providing lubrication to the vaginal tissue and preventing irritation. This discharge can also change during your cycle due to your hormones (more on that below).

It’s normal to notice around 0.5 to 1 tsp (2.5 to 5 ml) of vaginal discharge in your underwear every day. But certain changes in your vaginal discharge can also signal when something is up and may need attention from a health care professional. 

So what does it mean if you have jelly-like discharge, especially around the time your period is due? Let’s talk about it with the help of Dr. Sara Twogood, obstetrician and gynecologist, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, California, US.

Key takeaways

• Your body produces vaginal discharge as your hormone levels change throughout your menstrual cycle. You might notice a jelly-like discharge around the time of ovulation or at different points in your cycle.  
• Other factors that can cause changes to your vaginal discharge include sexual arousal and hormonal birth control.
• Pregnancy can also cause mucusy, jelly-like vaginal discharge, but this wouldn’t necessarily show up as early as the first missed period. If you think you could be pregnant and your period hasn’t shown, it’s best to take a pregnancy test.
• If the jelly-like discharge you’re noticing smells bad, is an unusual color (e.g., green), and/or is accompanied by any other symptoms like itchiness or sores, give your doctor a call. 
• By tracking your vaginal discharge in Flo, you can better understand your body’s patterns and know what’s typical for you at different points in your cycle.

Why do I have jelly-like discharge instead of my period? 

Before we jump into the ins and outs of jelly-like discharge, it can be helpful to understand what we mean when we say “cycle.” Often the term menstrual cycle is used interchangeably with the term period to describe the point in the month when you bleed. However, your cycle is so much more. 
 

Your cycle can be split into two phases: the follicular phase and the luteal phase. Between these two phases is ovulation, the point in your cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg to be potentially fertilized by a sperm. 

Ovulation, your period, and the different phases of your cycle are all driven by the rise and fall of your sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen plays an important role in supporting you as you have your period and potentially prepare for pregnancy and can impact the way your discharge looks and feels.

Dr. Twogood explains that if you notice jelly-like discharge just before your period is due, then it could be chalked up to a simple shift in your hormone levels. 

“Estrogen and progesterone drop really quickly right before the period starts,” Dr. Twogood explains, “which is what causes the endometrium [lining of your uterus] to actually shed.” This is what makes up your period blood. She continues, “Since discharge is related to our hormones, that drop likely creates different discharge than the kind you were seeing at other points in your cycle.” It may feel noticeably heavier.

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or not, it can be easy to overthink a change in your discharge because “some information out there leads people to think that it can tell you whether you’re pregnant,” Dr. Twogood explains. “But [so early on], that’s not really true.” 

If you think you could be pregnant, and you’re noticing any early signs of pregnancy, you should take a pregnancy test. You might be curious when the best time to do this is. For the most accurate result, it’s best to wait until at least the first day of your late period. Why? Well, at-home pregnancy tests look for the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. HCG starts low and increases during the first few weeks of pregnancy. If you test too soon (i.e., before a late period), you might not get an accurate result. Find out more about how pregnancy tests work (and the best time to take them).

What causes jelly-like discharge? 

Pregnancy 

So we know what we just said. But like so many things related to your cycle, changes in your discharge can be a little nuanced. 

Dr. Twogood explains, “There is a thicker, slimmer cervical mucus [discharge] in pregnancy that fills the cervical canal to prevent infections.” This might look jelly-like in your underwear. This cervical mucus plays a really important role in pregnancy as it creates what’s called the mucus plug, essentially sealing off the uterus, where the baby is developing, and acting as a protective barrier from infections. 

However, “It’s unlikely that this forms as early as the first missed period,” she says. Some people may notice changes to cervical mucus in the first few weeks of pregnancy. It’s unlikely to happen before other clearer indicators such as missing a period.

Ovulation 

As we already mentioned, ovulation is the event each cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg into your fallopian tube. This process is triggered by a fluctuation in your hormones. This means that the way your discharge looks might change too. Some people say theirs tends to become clear, slippery, and stretchy. This serves a function as it can make it easier for a sperm to swim up your vagina and meet your egg. 

Ovulation discharge is often likened to raw egg whites, but yours might look more like a clear jelly, too. And there are a few other ovulation symptoms you can look out for.

“A lot of people feel ‘different’ around ovulation, because of the shifting hormones,” explains Dr. Twogood. Some people feel light cramping or spotting around this time. “But a lot of people don’t have any symptoms,” she says. 

Sexual arousal 

When you feel turned on, your vagina will often lubricate itself with a clear, wet, slippery fluid. This is in anticipation of sex, to reduce friction and make things more comfortable. 

The amount of “arousal fluid” you might see (and how it looks) can vary depending on how aroused you are. “I wouldn’t describe it as jelly-like in the way ovulation and pregnancy discharge can be,” Dr. Twogood clarifies, “but it does share that element of slipperiness.” 

Birth control

If you’re on hormonal birth control such as the pill, you might notice heavier or more frequent discharge. However, not everyone is the same. “The bottom line is that hormonal birth control can certainly be responsible for changes in your vaginal discharge,” Dr. Twogood explains. “And exactly what those changes are will vary depending on what type of contraception you’re on and how your body responds to the hormones.”

If you have any questions about birth control side effects or you’re worried about changes to your discharge, it’s always best to speak to your doctor.

How cycle tracking can help you understand your discharge

As you can see, when it comes to discharge, there’s no one-size-fits-all. It can be different for everyone, and Dr. Twogood points out that it can depend on a range of factors. These include:

• Where you are in your cycle
• Your age
• Any birth control or medication you’re taking

“That’s why it’s important to understand your baseline and then keep an eye out for red flags or changes to that baseline that feel unusual,” she says.

By tracking your discharge in Flo, you can better understand what’s typical for you at different times in your cycle. “Try to track your discharge patterns,” Dr. Twogood advises, “and if there’s a discharge you’re worried about, log when and how long it’s lasted. Note any other symptoms that are worrisome like pelvic pain, irritation, or inflammation.” Then you can take that information to a health care professional for a checkup.

What’s more, if you’re trying to conceive, a cycle-tracking app like Flo is super handy for helping you get a better handle on what ovulation discharge looks like and what’s normal for you. You can also discuss all things discharge with other supportive folks in Flo’s anonymous chat forum, Secret Chats.

When to see a doctor

Jelly-like discharge can be totally typical and generally isn’t anything to worry about. However, a change in the way your discharge looks, feels, or smells could be a sign of an infection. 

Some of the telltale signs that something isn’t quite right include discharge that is green or yellow, clumpy, frothy, or that comes with a fishy or foul vaginal odor. It may also be accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms such as pain, itching, or irritation. So if you’re noticing any of this, be sure to seek medical advice from a health care professional as soon as you can.

If the jelly-like discharge you’re seeing is clear or whitish, mild odored, and not accompanied by any other symptoms, it’s likely A-OK. As always, your doctor is on hand to help, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them with any concerns or questions.