By Medical Author: Divya Jacob
By Medical Reviewer: Pallavi Uttekar
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ. It produces its own microbial environment with the help of certain good bacteria. These bacteria, along with dead cells and cellular secretions, form vaginal discharge. If your discharge is one-half to one teaspoon (2 to 5 mL) every day with the following characteristics, it is considered normal.
Clear, white or off-white
Somewhat thin, sticky and elastic
Thick and gooey
Mostly odorless
Stains (sometimes even bleaches) the underwear
Vaginal discharge varies from woman to woman in color, smell, consistency and amount. Moreover, it may vary during the menstrual cycle. Some conditions where vaginal discharge may be prominent include:
Pregnancy
Ovulation
Breastfeeding
Sexual arousal
The week before the menstrual period
Use of birth control pills/patch/vaginal rings
Prolapsed uterus
What is the purpose of vaginal discharge?
Normal vaginal discharge has several purposes, including:
Clean and moisten the vagina
Help prevent and fight infections
Carry away dead cells and bacteria
What are the signs of abnormal vaginal discharge?
If you notice vaginal discharge with the following signs and symptoms, you should immediately consult a physician because it may indicate a problem.
Itching of the vulva, vaginal opening or labia
Redness, burning, soreness or swelling of the vulvar skin
Change in color of vaginal discharge such as grayish or greenish-yellow discharge
Change in texture such as foamy or looking like cottage cheese
Unpleasant odor
Bleeding or spotting that is not during the menstrual period
Pain with intercourse or urination
Abdominal or pelvic pain
What do types of vaginal discharge mean?
The chart below explains what a particular type of discharge might mean.
Type of discharge |
What it may mean |
Other symptoms |
Normal discharge |
||
Clear and watery |
Perfectly normal |
No accompanying symptoms |
Slight, white discharge |
Beginning or end of menstruation |
No accompanying symptoms |
Clear and stretchy |
Ovulation |
Mucous-like discharge |
Pinkish lochia |
Shedding of the uterine lining after childbirth |
No accompanying symptoms |
Abnormal discharge |
||
Bloody, brown or watery discharge |
Irregular menstrual cycles or, less often, cervical or endometrial cancer |
Abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain |
Cloudy or yellow |
Gonorrhea |
Bleeding between periods, fever, urinary incontinence and pelvic pain |
Frothy, yellow or greenish with an unpleasant odor |
Trichomoniasis |
Pain and itching while urinating |
Thick, white and cheesy |
Yeast infection |
Swelling and pain around the vulva, itching and painful sexual intercourse |
White, gray or yellow with fishy odor |
Bacterial vaginosis |
Itching or burning, redness and swelling of the vagina or vulva |
Heavy, foul-smelling discharge |
Pelvic inflammatory disease |
Pain during intercourse, abnormal uterine bleeding, cramping or painful menstruation |
Yellow |
Vaginal atrophy |
Dryness of the vagina, burning and itching of the vagina, pain during sex, vulvar itching, spotting or bleeding |
Thick, moist sticky, yellow to green produced abundantly |
Noninfectious vaginitis |
Itching or burning, redness and swelling of the vagina or vulva |
When to seek medical help
If you notice any irregularity in your vaginal discharge, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. Additionally, look out for the following symptoms:
Increased urination
Fever
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Abdominal pain
Pain during and after intercourse
Spotting between the periods
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