Vaginal Discharge

What is vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge is a clear, white or off-white fluid that comes from your vagina. It’s made of cells and bacteria. Discharge helps keep your vagina clean and healthy. It also helps protect against infection. Vaginal discharge is natural and normal. Changes in its color, texture, smell or amount could mean something is wrong. If you’re unsure, it’s best to contact your healthcare provider.

What is normal vaginal discharge?

Normal vaginal discharge should be clear or white. It shouldn’t smell bad. Its thickness may change throughout your menstrual cycle.

Here’s what you should know about vaginal discharge:

• Texture: Vaginal discharge can be watery, sticky, gooey, thick or pasty. Vaginal discharge that’s chunky, foamy or happening with itching and color changes may be a sign of infection.
• Color: Vaginal discharge is healthy if it’s clear, milky white or off-white. Dark yellow, brown, green or grey discharge may mean there’s a problem.
• Smell: Vaginal discharge may have a mild odor. A fishy or foul smell to your discharge, especially with color or texture changes, may mean you may have a vaginal infection.
• Amount: Everyone makes different amounts. Certain factors like pregnancy, birth control pills and ovulation can affect how much discharge you have. Sudden changes in the amount of vaginal discharge can be a sign something is wrong.

Everyone with a vagina produces discharge. The amount you produce, how it smells and how it looks are unique to you. Everyone’s “normal” is a little different. When you know what’s normal for you, it’s easier to notice when something’s off.

What should I be worried about?

Contact your healthcare provider if you notice changes to what’s normal for you. This includes changes in the:

• Amount of vaginal discharge
• Color of the discharge
• Smell
• Texture or consistency of the discharge

You should contact a provider if you have irritation, itching or pain in or around your vagina.

What does the color of vaginal discharge mean?

The color of your vaginal discharge can mean there’s a problem:

• Yellow, grey or green: These colors may suggest a bacterial or sexually transmitted infection (STI).
• Brown or red: This is often related to your period or pregnancy. If you have brown or red-tinged discharge and it’s not your period, it may indicate a problem.
• Clear or white: This is normal. If white discharge is chunky or causes itching, it may be an infection.

Contact your healthcare provider if your vaginal discharge changes color or texture, or if you also have other symptoms like foul odor, itching or burning. It’s best to get an exam to check for infection.

What is the most common cause of discharge?

Vaginal discharge is normal, and anyone with a vagina will have it. It helps keep your vagina healthy. Your discharge can change throughout your menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or when you take certain medication or birth control. The best thing you can do is recognize what’s normal for you. This helps you spot when something seems off or different.

When discharge isn’t normal, the most common causes are yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis. Sexually transmitted infections can also cause changes to your vaginal discharge.

What infections cause it to change?

Some infections can cause changes to your discharge:

• Yeast infection: This happens when yeast grows out of control in your vagina. It produces a thick, white, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge. Your vagina may swell and be itchy, and sex may be painful.
• Trichomoniasis or “trich”: This is an STI you get through sex. It makes your vaginal discharge green, yellow or gray and bubbly or frothy.
• Bacterial vaginosis: This happens when there’s too much of certain bacteria in your vagina. Discharge can be white or gray and have a fishy smell.
• Gonorrhea and chlamydia: Some people with these infections have cloudy, yellow or green vaginal discharge.

What are causes of vaginal discharge that aren’t infection?

Vaginal discharge isn’t always caused by an infection. Other things that can cause discharge include:

• Ovulation: Your discharge may become extra slippery and wet.
• Hormonal changes: Things like your menstrual cycle, hormonal birth control, breastfeeding and menopause can cause changes to your discharge.
• Pregnancy: You produce more discharge because it helps protect you from infection.
• Rashes or irritation: Things like detergents, soaps, lubricants and condoms can irritate your vagina and change your discharge.

Is it normal to have discharge every day?

It’s normal to have some amount of discharge every day. You can’t prevent it because it’s your body’s way of keeping your vagina clean and healthy. If you’re worried about too much discharge, a panty liner can help absorb the fluid.

How does it change if you’re pregnant?

It’s normal to see more vaginal discharge during pregnancy. This happens to prevent infections from traveling up into your uterus. Increased levels of progesterone can also make you produce more discharge.

Why does it smell?

There could be several reasons for your vaginal discharge smells. If you notice an unpleasant or strong, fishy odor to your vaginal discharge, it could be a sign of an infection.

When is vaginal discharge a sign of an infection?

Your vaginal discharge might be a sign of an infection if it:

• Has a bad or fishy-smelling odor
• Is green, yellow or gray
• Looks like cottage cheese or pus
• Causes itching or swelling in or around your vagina
• Causes pelvic pain or pain when you pee

Should I douche to get rid of smelly discharge?

No. Douching can upset the natural balance of organisms in your body. Douching can also lead to infection. Vaginal discharge isn’t unclean or unhealthy. It’s a normal way for your body to remove fluid and old cells.

When should I see my healthcare provider about issues?

You should see your healthcare provider if:

• Your vaginal discharge changes color, gets thick and chunky, or smells bad
• You notice itching, burning, swelling or soreness around your vagina
• You have pelvic pain and cramping