Have you ever avoided intimacy with your partner because you felt something wasn't right with your vaginal discharge? Or perhaps avoided wearing a bikini in fear of the odor from your vagina? As a woman, I have had to worry about my vaginal discharge, I have had to ask myself questions like: does it smell right? Is this color normal? And I know I am not alone because all women go through a series of changes in different phases of life. We all know how insecure we feel when we don't understand the changes happening in our bodies especially when it comes to our sexual life. And we all want our bodies to be “normal”, or at least somewhat close to it.
Today, we can change that as we learn more about our vaginal discharge and what it could mean. Remember, knowing what your normal vaginal discharge looks like will help you distinguish from more worrisome abnormalities that you might want to discuss with your doctor.
What is considered to be normal or abnormal discharge?
Let's get one thing clear: It is absolutely normal to have vaginal secretions. It's a biological process that helps clean out the dead cells of the vagina while also keeping the vagina lubricated. But sometimes, these secretions can become abnormal due to various reasons. Normal vaginal discharge is generally white or clear in color, it has no odor, it is scanty and not accompanied by vaginal redness or itching.
Abnormal vaginal discharge tends to be yellowish, gray, or milky in color. It can be frothy or like cottage cheese and stick to the walls of the vagina. These abnormal secretions are accompanied by vaginal itching, redness, and a fish-like smell.
Is it normal to have discharge after my period?
Having vaginal discharge after your period is normal. Because during menstruation, the lining of the uterine wall sheds out as blood, the first 1 to 2 days after your period might be characterized by a slightly brownish discharge. Some women within these 2 days experience “dry days” meaning they do not produce any discharge and their vagina tends to feel dry. Even so, after the dry days, many begin to produce sticky yellowish or white discharge. This is very normal and should be expected.
Everything you've ever wanted to know about discharge (from an MD)
Women start having vaginal discharge as early as puberty. Vaginal discharge helps you identify your fertile period. It helps you recognize when you are having health issues and helps you determine which part of your menstrual cycle you are in.
Vaginal discharge is generally acidic in nature. It contains protective bacteria like Lactobacilli. Things to look out for include color, odor, quantity, and consistency as these can change in the presence of a vaginal infection.
What does the color of your discharge mean?
The color of your vaginal discharge can vary and mean different things.
A white or clear thin stringy odorless discharge indicates good vaginal health. Nothing to worry about here.
A malodorous gray, yellowish or greenish discharge that is abundant and sticky, on the other hand, can mean a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and other undesirable conditions. Thus it's worth reiterating that the color of your vaginal discharge is worth paying attention to because it can indicate when something is wrong and you should seek treatment.
A color-coded guide to vaginal discharge
Having a color guide can help you figure out what your vaginal discharge could mean. The colors range from white to cream, yellow to green, red to brown, pink, and gray.
RED: mainly as a result of the menstrual cycle. The first few days immediately after menstruation can produce a red discharge and as time passes the discharge becomes clearer. (5)
WHITE: White odorless thin discharge is a sign of a healthy vagina. But, if this white discharge becomes sticky, resembling cottage cheese with a bad smell, then yeast infection is the culprit.(5)
YELLOW-GREEN: abundant clumpy dark yellowish/greenish discharge with a foul odor is indicative of an STI or bacterial infection. Example: gonorrhea (5)
PINK: Pink is suggestive of the presence of some quantity of blood in the discharge. Generally occurs during spotting or early stages of pregnancy or after intercourse.
GRAY: A gray discharge with a fishy smell is most likely a bacterial vaginosis.(1)
CLEAR: Clear discharge can be seen in various biological processes such as pregnancy, ovulation or during sexual arousal.
White discharge after my period: what does it mean?
Egg White discharge is very normal as long as it doesn't look like cottage cheese or smell bad. Remember a white odorless thin discharge means your vagina is healthy and well lubricated. A white discharge can also mean that you are fertile.
A few days before ovulation, a woman will produce a very clear and abundant discharge. The discharge resembles raw egg white and can easily be stretched between two fingers. She experiences wetness during this period and this is known as her wet days. At this point, she is ready to ovulate which means that she is fertile (9).
Different types of white vaginal discharge
Vaginal discharge can vary in color, especially during the menstrual cycle. That said, vaginal discharge is mostly clear white or slightly yellow.
A clear white thin stringy scanty non-foul-smelling discharge means your vagina is doing perfectly fine.
White vaginal discharge can also mean different things:
- Stretchy egg white consistency type of vaginal discharge tells you that you are ready to ovulate.(9)
- Thick cloudy white and sticky discharge tells you ovulation is over. This secretion makes it difficult for sperm cells to reach the uterus.
- Thick whitish cheesy discharge accompanied by itching and a burning sensation tells you that there is likely a yeast infection.
- Whitish gray discharge with a fishy odor means you most likely have bacterial vaginosis.(3)
What is yellow vaginal discharge?
Vaginal discharge is a result of changes in estrogen levels. Estrogen stimulates the cervix to produce mucus which in turn keeps the vagina lubricated and healthy. Normal vaginal discharge is clear/ white without a foul smell. When this normal secretion dries up on the panties, however, it becomes slightly yellow. But don't fret! This slight yellowish color is completely normal.
Meanwhile, yellowish, abundant, and foul-smelling discharge is worth talking to your doctor about, since it may indicate you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as trichomoniasis and gonorrhea (4, 7).
Luckily there are a lot of ways to quickly test yourself for said infections, even from the comfort of home. If you're experiencing unwanted symptoms, read more about the best at-home STI testing kits, which we've reviewed extensively.
Why do older women have yellow vaginal discharges?
Perimenopause is a transitional period that leads to menopause. It usually begins in your 40s. During this phase, estrogen levels begin to fluctuate until they reach a steady decline. As estrogen levels decrease, vaginal discharge reduces, and vaginal dryness and thinning increase.(6) This can cause a change in the color of the vaginal discharge ranging from yellow to brown. In other cases, due to the thinning and dryness that accompanies menopause, women in this phase tend to be more susceptible to vaginal infection. So in this case, if you have a yellow discharge presenting with a foul odor, itching, or painful urination, you need to see a doctor.(2)
Curious about how to get treatments for menopause online? We recently compared Gennev vs Rory – two of the top platforms that can prescribe treatments for vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and many more menopause symptoms.
Is yellow vaginal discharge a concern?
Normal white vaginal discharge, when dried turns yellow. Hormonal imbalance characterized by decreased levels of estrogen can also cause a change in the color of your vaginal discharge. In both cases, it is absolutely normal with no cause for alarm. If you begin to have abundant, yellow, sticky, and foul-smelling discharge with symptoms like itching, redness of the vaginal wall, painful urination, or pain during sexual intercourse, then it is time for you to see your doctor as this could mean an STI. (7)
When should you see a doctor about yellow discharge?
You should see a healthcare provider if your yellow vaginal discharge is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Fishy or very bad odor
- Pelvic pain
- Vaginal itching
- Pain during urination
- Bleeding between periods
- Redness and swelling of the vulva
- Abundant secretion.
- Pain during sexual intercourse
For any women looking to speak with a doctor virtually about their discharge or vaginal health more generally, check out telemedicine platforms like:
What should I do if I have atypical vaginal discharge?
In the presence of an atypical vaginal discharge like the ones mentioned above, you should do the following:
1. Identify other symptoms that you might have as well, this information will help your doctor treat you adequately.
2. See a doctor – in person or virtually! – and complete any recommended tests.
3. Take your medication as prescribed. The medication can vary from oral tablets to vaginal gel or ovules depending on what infection you have.
4. Avoid sexual intercourse while treating the infection.
5. Maintain good hygiene methods and avoid douches, vaginal sprays, tight underwear, scented soaps, and bubble baths.
What are the main causes for abnormal discharge?
The main causes of abnormal discharge can both be infectious and noninfectious. Infectious causes are bacterial in nature, such as trichomonas, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia. Other times they are fungal in nature such as Candida albicans.
Noninfectious causes can be a result of foreign objects such as retained tampons, irritants such as vaginal perfume or deodorants, Trauma, and atrophic vaginitis in menopausal women due to vaginal thinning and dryness.(6)
What's the best course of treatment for abnormal discharge?
For treatment of any abnormal vaginal discharge, it is imperative for you to see your doctor. It might be worth taking an at-home test to screen for STIs, but otherwise avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication. Treatment will always depend on the cause of the infection.
The treatment options vary from oral tablets to vaginal gel and ovules. For a yeast infection, treatment can be either vaginal gel or ovules. The most commonly used medication is clotrimazole. In the case of bacterial vaginosis, treatment is usually with metronidazole tablets or vaginal gel. Trichomoniasis is treated orally with metronidazole tablets.
Other general treatment methods can be placing ice packs in the genital area to manage swelling and pain. Wash your vagina with warm water, avoid using douches, scented soaps, or vaginal perfumes. Loratadine, which is an antihistamine, can reduce itching.
And to help avoid atypical discharge in the future, it's smart to proactively cleanse with a vaginal health kit from brands like rePhresh and Queen V, as well as practice safe sex, and monitoring your discharge regularly.
Summarizing Abnormal vs Normal Discharge
Knowing that the changes in your vaginal discharge during your menstrual cycle are normal vs abnormal is a huge relief. After reading this article, we hope you're now capable of identifying when your discharge is a-okay (i.e. par for the course) vs a sign you should contact a medical professional STAT.
Separate, but somewhat related, for women suffering from debilitating cramps, check out how to manage menstrual pain at home.