Discharge is a sign of good vaginal health, and it's perfectly normal. But certain circumstances can cause you to have more of it than usual.
While this might be a sign of an infection, it could simply be down to hormones or your menstrual cycle. The important thing is to know how to differentiate between normal and abnormal vaginal discharge.
What's Considered Normal Vaginal Discharge
The vagina and cervix produce discharge, which is slightly acidic to help prevent infections.
It's a normal process, and your body relies on it to keep your vagina clean and your vulva moist. Throughout your menstrual cycle, the consistency changes, and so does the amount you produce.
Normal discharge:
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Is clear, white, or off-white in color
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Smells neutral or has a mild odor
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Feels wet, slippery, or mucus-like
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Appears thicker, creamy, or watery
Some individuals produce more discharge than others, depending on hormones, age, and reproductive system.
Additionally, it's quite normal for discharge to turn a pinkish color or appear brown just before or after your period.
What's Considered Abnormal Discharge?
If your discharge changes in color, consistency, and/or smell, this might be a sign of a vaginal infection, especially if you also experience vaginal itching or a burning sensation.
Frothy, yellow, or green discharge
If your vagina discharge color appears green or dark yellow, this is a clear sign of an infection.
However, a pale yellow color can be normal, especially if the consistency is typical and there's no smell.
Cottage cheese-like discharge
Not the most pleasant description, but it's accurate! A clumpy white discharge usually arrives with vaginal irritation and typically signals that you have a yeast infection.
Fishy or foul smell
Discharge with a bad or strong fishy smell is another clear sign of an infection.
Odorless vaginal discharge is normal, but it's absolutely fine for it to have a mild smell that isn't noticeably bad. However, if you have a fishy odor that's accompanied by other symptoms, then it's time to see a doctor.
8 Reasons Why You Might Have Excessive Discharge
There are plenty of reasons why your body might start producing more discharge than you're used to, so here are eight of the most common ones:
1. Arousal fluid
During sexual arousal, your glands produce fluid to lubricate the vagina in anticipation of intercourse.
Arousal fluid appears as a clear, watery discharge and feels slippery. Some mistake it for heavy discharge, but it's just there to make sexual intercourse easier and more pleasant.
2. Ovulation
During ovulation, the body's estrogen levels increase, and the vaginal discharge changes, too.
The amount of fluid increases and can resemble raw egg whites. It may also present as slippery discharge or feel watery.
Once ovulation wraps up, the amount of discharge decreases, sometimes to practically nothing.
3. Birth control pills
Hormonal birth control can result in excessive vaginal discharge that may appear heavier or more frequent.
If you experience spotting or bleeding outside of your period, the discharge could also appear pink or brown in color.
4. Pregnancy
It's also normal for pregnant women to have more vaginal discharge. Its job here is to protect the growing fetus from potential infections and keep the vagina healthy.
As the due date draws near, the discharge may turn pink or contain streaks of pink or red mucus. This typically means that the body is preparing itself for labor.
5. Yeast infection
All bodies carry the Candida albicans fungus. But sometimes, particularly in women, there's an overgrowth which causes a vaginal yeast infection.
When this happens, you will feel an intense itching or burning accompanied by discharge that looks like cottage cheese.
The good news is that it's easily treatable with over-the-counter medicines. Wearing breathable cotton underwear is a good prevention tactic, too.
6. Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
BV is a common bacterial infection where the microbes of the vagina are disturbed, and bad bacteria outweigh the good.
It typically occurs in sexually active individuals, though it can happen to anyone at any point.
The telltale signs are a gray or milky vaginal discharge color, along with a foul odor. You'll also notice that your vagina hurts, with an itching or burning sensation.
7. Vaginitis
Vaginitis occurs when the vagina and vulva become inflamed and swollen. This could be due to irritation, hormonal changes, or a side effect of an infection.
How it's treated depends on the root cause of the problem.
8. Sexually transmitted infections (STI)
If you're sexually active, then unusual discharge could be a sign that you have an STI.
Depending on the infection, this is what your discharge may look like:
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Chlamydia: Thin, milky, or cloudy
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Gonorrhea: Thick yellow or green, with a strong smell and pelvic pain
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Trichomoniasis: Excessive amounts; frothy or bubbly with a bad smell and yellow-green in color
How Much is Too Much?
While we don't expect anyone to measure the amount of discharge they produce, the general rule of thumb is that up to 4 ml per day is standard.
If you think you're producing more than that and none of the common causes above seem to apply, then it could point to the following:
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A vesicovaginal or rectovaginal fistula
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trichomonas STI
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a foreign object, like a tampon or condom, has been left inside your vagina
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Bacterial vaginosis
When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
If your discharge changes color, consistency, has a strong odor, or is accompanied by pain, it's important to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Doing so allows your doctor to catch and treat infections before they get out of hand.
If you're not sure, seek advice anyway. You're always better off having peace of mind than sitting around wondering.
How to Maintain Healthy Vaginal Discharge
A healthy discharge can be easily maintained by following these steps:
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Clean your vagina properly with water and mild soap. Choose unscented products and skincare for down there that won't irritate.
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Wear breathable cotton underwear and avoid overly tight clothing, especially in the crotch area.
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Support vaginal health by taking probiotics or supplements that maintain vaginal pH levels.
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After going to the toilet, wipe from front to back.
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Quickly change out of wet or damp clothing.
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Practice safe sex. Use condoms with sexual partners and have regular screens to catch any potential STIs early.
The Bottom Line on Vaginal Discharge
Hopefully, you now have a good understanding of what's considered normal vs. abnormal discharge.
Remember, a lot of discharge doesn't necessarily signal an issue, but if the color, appearance, or smell changes, then it's time to take action.
Meanwhile, maintaining good vaginal health is a great way to ensure your discharge stays as it should.
FAQs
Is it normal to have discharge daily?
Yes, it's perfectly normal to have daily discharge, and most women experience it. Your discharge may also increase when you ovulate, during arousal, if you take the contraceptive pill, or if you are pregnant.
What are the 7 types of discharge?
The common 7 types of discharge are as follows: clear and watery, thick and clumpy, yellow, green, grey, brown, or bloody.
What does unhealthy female discharge look like?
Unhealthy female discharge can appear gray, green, or yellow in color. It may also be frothy, appear pus-like, or have a cottage cheese-style consistency.
Unhealthy discharge may also have a strong fishy or unpleasant odor.
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