As each woman is different, it may happen that she does not discover any early symptoms of her pregnancy or that, on the contrary, she immediately becomes aware of possible changes and discomforts that are associated with a pregnancy: lack of menstruation, dizziness, nausea, a lot of sleep … .
In addition, during the physical examination the gynecologist pays special attention to the so-called probability signs when there is suspicion of pregnancy . Among them, the increased irrigation, the modification of the collagen fibers of the uterine tissue and the change of tone of the cervix, vagina and vulva of women, which is known as Chadwick’s sign or also as a sign of Jacquemier.
Why the pigmentation of the intimate areas is altered
The internal genitalia, cervix and vagina, are pink colored organs similar to the mucosa of the mouth. The color of the vulva matches the woman’s skin color.
Both the vagina and the vulva are organs that receive an extensive blood supply from various arterial groups forming a true arterio-venous network.
During pregnancy, blood flow to and from the external genitalia increases causing venous congestion. Both the increased vascularity and venous congestion cause the vaginal mucosa and cervix to acquire a purplish color from approximately the sixth week of pregnancy.
It also causes darkening of the skin on the outer lips and the mons pubis.
Does not require treatment
Because this phenomenon is produced by a hormonal alteration, it is not always linked to a pregnancy. Simply, these parts of the body can be dyed during the days before menstruation.
It disappears by itself when it is associated with the rule, but also once the baby is born. The pigmentation of the area returns to its normal state without the need for any type of medication.
Who named the Chadwick sign
These pigmentation changes were first described in 1836 by the French physician Étienne Joseph Jacquemin. However, this gestational change takes its name from Dr. James Read Chadwick, who in 1886 wrote and published a series of cases describing the changes evidenced by Jacquemin.
Despite the fact that Jacquemin was the first to describe this alteration of the gestation, the name of Chadwick became popular to denominate it.
In summary: although the Chadwick sign is considered one of the main symptoms of a possible pregnancy, by itself it does not confirm it, so it must be linked to other signs that invite a test to confirm the good news, since Furthermore, this alteration usually appears between four and six weeks of gestation.
And, of course, you already know that you should not worry about the associated symptoms or such a rare name, since it does not involve risks and disappears after giving birth.
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