“Orgasms can be enhanced due to the increase in vascularity and nerve supply," says Dr. If you're feeling extra sensitive done there during sex, you can thank the increased blood flow and veins for that. "This tissue can be a little more delicate and thus you can see spotting when you have sex or a vaginal exam by your doctor." Of course, if you notice significant bleeding or are unsure whether you're experiencing normal spotting, it's always best to double-check with your doctor. “Sometimes the internal portion of your cervical canal turns outward a little bit-this is called ectropion,” says Dr. If you notice some bleeding during penetration, that's normal too. Showing up as clear, brown, or a little bloody, the mucus plug which serves as another protective barrier for your baby may be discharged as your cervix widens to prepare for delivery. "The mucus plug is cervical mucus it tends to be a little thicker than typical pregnancy discharge, " says Dr. Keeping an eye on the consistency can also signal whether you'll be going into labor soon. You may start to see some varicose veins appear on the vulva. “Not only do your arteries stretch, but your veins stretch too,” says Dr. There’s another not-so-glamourous way that this increased blood flow affects your vagina. Shepherd, and some women experience an odor as a result. You may notice that your discharge has a stronger, unpleasant scent unlike normal discharge, which usually has a faint smell or none at all.
You'll notice a new odorĪnother result of that pH change? Some new smells. “Due to the change in pH, bacteria and fungus can grow more in these environments," says Jessica Shepherd, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn and spokesperson for Paragard. A “normal" vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.5, and if your level goes over 7 you may start to experience itchiness. "The walls get more relaxed and the opening to the vagina gets a little larger to prepare for delivery." Your vagina may feel more itchyĪnother change you'll encounter is a shift in your vaginal pH levels. How does this happen exactly? “The tissue surrounding the vagina gets looser and softer, resulting in the vagina getting a little longer," says Priya Rajan, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. While swelling and soreness may not come as too big a surprise, the added length might. “This makes sense since you want to feed the uterus, which feeds the fetus”.but it also means that your vaginal area ends up feeling engorged. On top of that, your pelvic blood flow increases by a ton-the uterine artery ends up pumping about a pint a minute, says Dr. “So you’re going to feel something substantially different.” “The uterus, which starts out the size of a fist, grows to become the size of a watermelon,” she says. Minkin, who notes that swelling and pressure are two of the most common symptoms. In your third trimester, you can expect even more changes, says Dr. Minkin says many women notice their areolae change color too. Your vulva isn’t the only place you might notice this change-Dr. “Estrogen levels go up significantly during pregnancy, and it has an effect of darkening skin,” says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine.
#Itchy swollen vag lips during pregnancy skin#
While your nether-regions will likely seem pretty normal during the first trimester, you may notice the skin on your vulva start to change color in the second trimester. Here's what to expect, down there, when you're expecting. So you can expect a few vaginal changes during pregnancy.įrom changing color to literally getting longer, we spoke to the experts on the changes to your vagina (the inner canal) and vulva (the outer part you can see) that can take place when you're pregnant. When you get pregnant, your vagina has nine short months to prepare for your little bundle of joy to arrive.