Pink vaginal discharge gets its color from the presence of a small amount of blood. In many cases, this discharge is considered normal and can indicate that a woman is about to start her period or that she is ovulating. A small amount of pink vaginal discharge can also be a sign that a woman is pregnant. Large amounts of pink discharge are common after a woman has given birth and can continue for a week or more.
At the beginning of a woman’s period, the discharge may be pink because there is only a small amount of blood that is mixed with the normal whitish discharge that occurs between periods. Once menstruation becomes heavier, the color of the discharge will probably change to red because of the large amount of blood in it. A pink vaginal discharge can be a good indicator that the woman will begin her period within a day. As long as the period progresses normally, this pink discharge is considered completely normal.
It is also possible for a woman to have some pink vaginal discharge in between periods. Many women bleed when they ovulate, though the amount of blood is usually very slight. If this bright red blood moves quickly out of the body, it can mix with the whitish normal discharge, resulting in a pink color.
Women may also experience very light bleeding at the time of their first menstrual period after they have become pregnant. This bleeding is usually very light both in flow and in color. A woman who sees only light spotting at the time of her normal period should check to find out if she is pregnant.
Pink vaginal discharge is also common after a woman has given birth. After the baby and the afterbirth are expelled during labor, other tissue remains to be pushed out of the woman’s body. It is common for a woman to experience bleeding that is similar to a heavy period in the first few days after giving birth, followed by discharge that gradually lightens in color even though it remains relatively heavy. Pink vaginal discharge may be seen for between a few days and a little more than a week, gradually lightening to white as the last of the bloody uterine lining is expelled. A woman who continues to experience heavy bleeding or severe pain after childbirth should be seek medical attention.