Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesCausesTreatmentComplicationsDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Causes
Treatment
Complications
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Healthy vaginal discharge is normal and natural. This fluid keeps the vagina clean and provides lubrication.Normal dischargeis clear, white, off-white, or pale yellow and has a characteristic scent. Healthy discharge ranges from clear to milky white, and amounts fluctuate with the menstrual cycle.
Discharge that is chunky, a color outside of the normal variations, or foul-smelling is abnormal and should be followed up with a healthcare provider.
This article reviews normal vaginal discharge, symptoms of abnormal discharge, possible causes,treatments, and when to notify your healthcare provider.
Kittisak Jirasittichai / EyeEm / Getty Images
Types of Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge is fluid made from glands in and around the vagina. It keeps the vagina clean and provides lubrication.
Healthy discharge does not smell bad and is clear, white, or pale yellow. During your period, it can be red because it’s mixed with blood. Toward the end of your period, it often turns brown as old blood is cleared out. Consistency and amount vary with your monthly cycle and differ for each person.
The following are abnormal variations:
What Do Different Colors of Discharge Mean During Pregnancy?
Why Is My Discharge Black? 7 Causes
Causes of Vaginal Discharge
Oftentimes vaginal discharge is normal, healthy, and common. However, certain types of discharge are abnormal and are cause for seeking medical care.
Causes of Normal, Healthy Variations
Variations in thickness, amount, and color naturally occur with hormone fluctuations, sexual arousal, and pregnancy. These variations are normal.
Aroundovulation—at about days 12–14 of your cycle—discharge becomes moreclear and stretchy. Sexual arousal causes an increase in discharge to allow for lubrication.During pregnancy, discharge often increases but is still white, milky, and thin.
What Are the Signs of Ovulation?
Causes of Abnormal Discharge
Some noninfectious causes include:
Common Causes of Abnormal Discharge
What Medications Can Cause Vaginal Discharge?
Hormonal contraception(birth control) andhormone therapycan disrupt discharge amounts.
Examples include:
Femara (letrozole) and Nolvadex (tamoxifen) inhibit estrogen to prevent or treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and may decrease amounts of vaginal discharge.
Osphena (ospemifene) treats vaginal dryness due to menopause, and a possible side effect isincreased vaginal discharge.
The following medications increase the risk for yeast infections:
How to Treat Vaginal Discharge
Abnormal discharge is treated based on the cause. Examples include:
Complications and Risk Factors Associated With Vaginal Discharge
Bacterial infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). When left untreated, PID increases your risk of chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancies.
Pregnant people with abnormal discharge are at risk of complications such as preterm delivery.
Early Diagnosis and Treatment Reduces RiskSeeking an early diagnosis and treatment helps reduce the risk of complications.
Early Diagnosis and Treatment Reduces Risk
Seeking an early diagnosis and treatment helps reduce the risk of complications.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Vaginal Discharge?
The following at-home test kits may help identify changes in discharge:
Carefully follow the directions on these tests to ensure you receive accurate results. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you have an infection, if the results are unclear, or if you have any questions. A provider may recommend or perform one of the following tests:
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider for the following changes in discharge:
In addition, see your healthcare provider for:
The Common Causes of Pelvic Pain in Women
Summary
All females experience vaginal discharge. It keeps the vagina clean and provides lubrication. Normal, healthy discharge is clear, white, off-white, or pale yellow and does not smell bad.
When the color changes to green, bright yellow, or gray, this usually indicates infection. Abnormal consistency is chunky, contains pus, is frothy, or is very watery. A foul odor typically means an infection.
Some medications such as antibiotics and chemotherapy increase the risk for yeast infections. Other medications, such as those that affect female reproductive hormones, can alter the amount of healthy discharge.
Abnormal discharge is diagnosed and treated based on the cause. Yeast infections are treated with antifungals, while bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics.
A Word From Verywell
Vaginal discharge is something all females experience, and keeping track of what is normal for you is important.
It may feel uncomfortable to discuss any changes with your healthcare provider. However, they are used to these conversations and want to help you feel better. They need to know your concerns because early diagnosis and treatment help decrease the risk of complications.
Learn MoreWhen to See a Healthcare Provider About Vaginal Discharge
Healthy vaginal discharge is normal. If you suspect you have a yeast infection, if you’ve had one before, and your symptoms are mild, your healthcare provider may suggest an OTC yeast infection cream. A more severe yeast infection, bacterial infection, or an STI requires medical attention.
Learn MoreA Color Guide to Vaginal Discharge
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.Sim M, Logan S, Goh L.Vaginal discharge: Evaluation and management in primary care.Singapore Med J. 2020;61(6):297-301. doi:10.11622/smedj.2020088.Rao V, Mahmood T.Vaginal discharge. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2020;30(1);11-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.10.004.Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2021;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700.Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal discharge: What’s normal, what’s not.Osphena.Menopause symptoms rubbing you the wrong way: Ask your healthcare provider for Osphena.Jensen J, Hein L, Lundgren B, Bestle M, et.al.Procalcitonin and survival study group. Invasive candida infections and the harm from antibacterial drugs in critically ill patients: Data from a randomized, controlled trial to determine the role of ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and cefuroxime. Crit Care Med. 2015;43(3):594-602. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000746.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.American Cancer Society.How hormone therapy and chemo affect the sex life of females with cancer.Curry A, Williams T, Penny M.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention. Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364. PMID: 31524362.Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch A, Shah S.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi: 10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187.Shen C, Yang C, Chen H, Chen W, Chang T, Cheng C.Clinical evaluation of a self-testing kit for vaginal infection diagnosis.J Healthc Eng. 2021;2021:4948954. doi:10.1155/2021/4948954.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.Sim M, Logan S, Goh L.Vaginal discharge: Evaluation and management in primary care.Singapore Med J. 2020;61(6):297-301. doi:10.11622/smedj.2020088.Rao V, Mahmood T.Vaginal discharge. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2020;30(1);11-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.10.004.Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2021;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700.Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal discharge: What’s normal, what’s not.Osphena.Menopause symptoms rubbing you the wrong way: Ask your healthcare provider for Osphena.Jensen J, Hein L, Lundgren B, Bestle M, et.al.Procalcitonin and survival study group. Invasive candida infections and the harm from antibacterial drugs in critically ill patients: Data from a randomized, controlled trial to determine the role of ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and cefuroxime. Crit Care Med. 2015;43(3):594-602. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000746.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.American Cancer Society.How hormone therapy and chemo affect the sex life of females with cancer.Curry A, Williams T, Penny M.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention. Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364. PMID: 31524362.Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch A, Shah S.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi: 10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187.Shen C, Yang C, Chen H, Chen W, Chang T, Cheng C.Clinical evaluation of a self-testing kit for vaginal infection diagnosis.J Healthc Eng. 2021;2021:4948954. doi:10.1155/2021/4948954.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.Sim M, Logan S, Goh L.Vaginal discharge: Evaluation and management in primary care.Singapore Med J. 2020;61(6):297-301. doi:10.11622/smedj.2020088.Rao V, Mahmood T.Vaginal discharge. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2020;30(1);11-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.10.004.Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2021;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700.Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal discharge: What’s normal, what’s not.Osphena.Menopause symptoms rubbing you the wrong way: Ask your healthcare provider for Osphena.Jensen J, Hein L, Lundgren B, Bestle M, et.al.Procalcitonin and survival study group. Invasive candida infections and the harm from antibacterial drugs in critically ill patients: Data from a randomized, controlled trial to determine the role of ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and cefuroxime. Crit Care Med. 2015;43(3):594-602. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000746.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.American Cancer Society.How hormone therapy and chemo affect the sex life of females with cancer.Curry A, Williams T, Penny M.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention. Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364. PMID: 31524362.Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch A, Shah S.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi: 10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187.Shen C, Yang C, Chen H, Chen W, Chang T, Cheng C.Clinical evaluation of a self-testing kit for vaginal infection diagnosis.J Healthc Eng. 2021;2021:4948954. doi:10.1155/2021/4948954.
Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.
Sim M, Logan S, Goh L.Vaginal discharge: Evaluation and management in primary care.Singapore Med J. 2020;61(6):297-301. doi:10.11622/smedj.2020088.
Rao V, Mahmood T.Vaginal discharge. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2020;30(1);11-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.10.004.
Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N.Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar.Cureus. 2021;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700.
Nemours TeensHealth.Vaginal discharge: What’s normal, what’s not.
Osphena.Menopause symptoms rubbing you the wrong way: Ask your healthcare provider for Osphena.
Jensen J, Hein L, Lundgren B, Bestle M, et.al.Procalcitonin and survival study group. Invasive candida infections and the harm from antibacterial drugs in critically ill patients: Data from a randomized, controlled trial to determine the role of ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and cefuroxime. Crit Care Med. 2015;43(3):594-602. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000746.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.
American Cancer Society.How hormone therapy and chemo affect the sex life of females with cancer.
Curry A, Williams T, Penny M.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention. Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364. PMID: 31524362.
Khaskheli M, Baloch S, Baloch A, Shah S.Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308. doi: 10.12669/pjms.37.5.4187.
Shen C, Yang C, Chen H, Chen W, Chang T, Cheng C.Clinical evaluation of a self-testing kit for vaginal infection diagnosis.J Healthc Eng. 2021;2021:4948954. doi:10.1155/2021/4948954.
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