If you’re pregnant for the first time, you might feel a little
worried. After all, pushing a baby through your lady bits kind of seems
like squeezing a bowling ball through the eye of a needle.
But
don’t worry — women have been doing this for literally thousands of
years, and pregnancy will get your vagina delivery-ready by your due
date. But what you may not realize is that to get there, there are many
changes in store down below.
Those changes start earlier — a lot earlier, in fact.
So
we’d like to introduce you to your changing anatomy and tell you what
else you might expect over the next 9 months. This is your vagina on
pregnancy:
1. Your vagina might turn a Smurfy shade of blue
When
you think of a certain body part turning blue, you generally don’t
think of a vagina — but that’s exactly what can happen when you’re newly
pregnant.
Known as Chadwick’s sign, it’s caused by
increased blood flow down below. Unless you’re literally looking for it,
you may not even know that it’s happened since it doesn’t cause any
discomfort. Regardless, the blue or purple hue should disappear shortly
after you give birth.
This change of color in the
vagina, labia, and cervix can occur as early as four weeks, making it
one of the first indications that you could be pregnant.
2. Your vagina might become an orgasmic wonderland
During
pregnancy, your body’s blood volume can increase by as much as 50
percentTrusted Source, and some of that extra blood heads downtown,
making your nether regions swollen and extra sensitive.
Add
higher-than-normal levels of oxytocin, estrogen, and progesterone to
the equation and that just might translate into heightened arousal and
bigger and better orgasms, as well as increased desireTrusted Source.
This
can happen in the first and second trimesters, so remember to
communicate any changes to your partner! Because on the flip side, this
blood rush could lead to sensitivity and discomfort.
3. Your vagina might sprout varicose veins
It’s
not uncommon to develop these telltale bulging, purple blood vessels on
your legs during pregnancy because of the added pressure and weight of
your belly. But believe it or not, they can appear on your privatest of
private parts as well.
According to one recent study,
around 18 to 22 percentTrusted Source of pregnant women will develop
this medical condition, usually in the second or third trimester. While
not everyone will experience discomfort or even know they have this
problem, some people will feel swelling, pressure, or pain.
The good news is that most vulvar varicosities will disappear a few weeks after childbirth.
4. Your vagina’s pH levels change
Translation:
You’re likely going to smell and taste different — so heads up when
your significant other is down under. That taste may be more “metallic
or salty,” according to The Journal of Perinatal EducationTrusted
Source.
A change or increase in odor — while likely
occurring because of your fluctuating hormones — may also seem more
pungent to you because your olfactory senses are also heightened during
pregnancy.
Still, if the smell seems overpowering or
foul, or comes with burning or itching, you could have an infection and
should definitely talk to your doctor.
5. Your vagina might feel like it’s being stabbed
And
chances are no one told you this can happen. So when you’re actually
experiencing it, you might end up calling your doctor in a panic because
you legit think you’re dying.
But generally speaking, it’s nothing to worry about and is a pregnancy side effect known as “lightning crotch.” (Yep, really.)
It’s
caused by the baby pressing on certain nerves or because of cervical
changes, and it often occurs in the third trimester when you’ve been
sitting or lying in the same spot for a while and then get up.
Do what it takes to get yourself comfortable, if you feel this happening.
6. Your vagina is more vulnerable to infection
First
up: yeast infections. This proliferates during pregnancyTrusted Source,
thanks to increased estrogen levels and changes to your vagina’s pH
levels.
Topical antifungals are preferred as a first
line of defense, especially in light of a recent studyTrusted Source
that linked the common oral medication fluconazole (Diflucan) to a
possible increased likelihood of miscarriage.
You may want to look into alternative remedies and lifestyle changes before trying any oral medication.
The
other problem you might be facing throughout your pregnancy? Urinary
tract infections (UTIs) — which aren’t only uncomfortable but also
achieve the amazing feat of making you feel like you have to pee even
more than you already do.
While a pregnant person’s
odds of developing a UTI is only slightly higher than when not pregnant,
the risk of having it progress to a kidney infection rises by a
whopping 40 percentTrusted Source.
That, in turn, may lead to an increased risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
7. Your vagina will produce more discharge
Stock
up on panty liners. Shortly after conception and often before you even
realize you’re pregnant, your private parts go into hormonal overdrive,
producing more discharge to keep your cervix protected and to help
prevent infections.
The technical term for this
discharge is leukorrhea, and it should be relatively thin in
consistency, have a milky color, and smell mild — similar to your normal
discharge, only heavier, more frequent, and stickier.
If,
however, it takes on a yellow or green color, looks thick, or smells
foul, you may have an infection and need antibiotics. Later in
pregnancy, you may also lose the gooey mucus plug on your cervix, which
indicates that labor is coming.
8. Your vagina might get super itchy
Even
if you like giving cutesy nicknames to your private parts, Itchy and
Scratchy probably isn’t what you had in mind. Unfortunately, itchiness
down there is a common pregnancy symptom that can happen at any time.
The cause? The increased discharge and pH changes mentioned above, which could irritate sensitive skin, or a yeast infection.
Talk
to your doctor if this annoyance doesn’t go away or is accompanied by
other troubling symptoms, such as abnormal discharge, ulcers, or a
burning sensation.
9. Your vagina’s flora may get funky
Share
on PinterestYep, your vagina is loaded with bacteria, which sounds
unwanted but is actually completely normal. Starting in your first
trimester of pregnancy, though, that bacterial environment can unWhy
does that matter as long as it doesn’t cause an infection? Because,
according to multiple studies
Trusted Source, people
who are pregnant with lower vaginal levels of Lactobacillus have a
greater likelihoodTrusted Source of delivering early.
Someday,
measuring vaginal bacteria will help determine whether the individual
is at risk for preterm labor, but for now, more research is still
needed.
10. Your vagina might not change in the key area it needs to
Where,
exactly? The perineum, the area between your vagina and anus that often
remains tight and, as a result, tears during childbirth.
The
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that between
53 and 79 percent of those going through labor experience some sort of
vaginal tearing, while other medical professionals put that number
closer to 90 percent for first-time moms.
And
according to one 2014 studyTrusted Source, those who experience a severe
tear during their first birth are 5 times more likely to experience
another in subsequent births.
But there’s a potential
solution: Massaging the area, especially in the last month of
pregnancy, can cut down on your risk of experiencing this painful
problem.
So now you know
These
vaginal changes may seem strange, but most of them are completely
normal. Try to relax a little and remember that these pregnancy symptoms
often reverse after you give birth.
Still, if any of
these symptoms are getting in the way of your day to day (or do end up
permanent), don’t hesitate to mention it to your doctor. They’ll be able
to recommend treatments or alternatives.
After all,
once you’re welcoming your gorgeous newborn into the world, there will
be plenty of other life changes to keep your mind busy.