Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesOther SymptomsWhen to Get HelpPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Other Symptoms
When to Get Help
Prevention
Green discharge from the vagina is always abnormal and is typically a sign of an infection that requires medical attention. If your discharge is green, it can indicate a sexually transmitted infection (STI), a different kind of bacterial infection, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a forgotten tampon, or another concern.
Green discharge may occur along with changes in discharge thickness, consistency, and odor. These can help your healthcare provider diagnose the problem.Other symptoms of an infection can include abdominal or pelvic pain, itching, fever, and more.
Verywell / Julie Bang
Causes of Green Discharge
Sexually transmitted infectionsare the most common causes of green discharge from thevagina, but there are others.
Green discharge may result from:
What does healthy vaginal discharge look like?Healthy vaginal dischargeis typically clear, white, or off-white. It may be thin and sticky or thick and gooey.
What does healthy vaginal discharge look like?
Healthy vaginal dischargeis typically clear, white, or off-white. It may be thin and sticky or thick and gooey.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis can cause green discharge that may be:
Discharge can also be yellow or white.
Other symptoms of trichomoniasis include:
In the U.S. every year, an estimated 2 million people are diagnosed with this condition. Trichomoniasis is usually treated with antibiotics in pill form.
Can trichomoniasis go away?Trichomoniasis will not go away without antibiotics. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or years and can be passed on to sexual partners.
Can trichomoniasis go away?
Trichomoniasis will not go away without antibiotics. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or years and can be passed on to sexual partners.
Gonorrhea
A gonorrhea infection may cause a vaginal discharge that is:
Other symptoms may include:
Many people with gonorrhea don’t have any symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that sexually active women under the age of 25 get screened annually.
Gonorrhea is generally treated with an injection of an antibiotic calledceftriaxone.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia often has no symptoms. When it does cause symptoms, you may notice a vaginal discharge that is:
Other possible symptoms are:
Condom use can protect you against chlamydia.The condition is treated with antibiotics, generally in pill form.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Also called BV,bacterial vaginosisis an overgrowth of the wrong type of bacteria in the vagina. This changes the normal bacterial balance of bacteria within the vagina.
Researchers don’t know for sure what causes BV. However, it’s more common in people who are sexually active. It also increases your risk of contracting STIs.
BV can cause discharge that is:
Other symptoms include:
About 30% of people with female reproductive organs will have BV at some point in their lives. It’s most common between ages 15 and 44.
BV is most often treated with antibiotics in pill form.
What Is Vulvovaginitis?Also called vaginitis,vulvovaginitisis an infection or swelling in the vagina or the vulva (external genitalia). It’s an umbrella term that covers BV, trichomoniasis, and yeast infections.
What Is Vulvovaginitis?
Also called vaginitis,vulvovaginitisis an infection or swelling in the vagina or the vulva (external genitalia). It’s an umbrella term that covers BV, trichomoniasis, and yeast infections.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
PID may cause a discharge that is:
Not everyone has symptoms of PID. When symptoms are present, they can include:
Complications of PID can be serious, meaning treatment is especially important. Possible complications are:
PID is typically treated with antibiotics in pill form.
Foreign Objects in Vagina
If a foreign object (something that shouldn’t be there) is left in the vagina, your body may produce discharge in reaction to it. This problem is rare and more common in children and adolescents than in adults.
Common foreign objects include:
Other symptoms can include:
Cases of foreign object problems are sometimes tied to sexual abuse.Treatment involves:
Can discharge from a yeast infection look green?Yeast infections typically cause discharge that is white, clumpy, and odorless. If your discharge is green, it is likely related to a different infection or condition.
Can discharge from a yeast infection look green?
Yeast infections typically cause discharge that is white, clumpy, and odorless. If your discharge is green, it is likely related to a different infection or condition.
Other Symptoms Tied to Green Discharge
Several conditions that cause green discharge have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to figure out the cause on your own. A complete list of your symptoms can help your healthcare provider decide where to start the diagnostic process.
Genital or reproductive systems to report to your doctor include:
Other symptoms you should let your doctor know about include:
Can you treat greenish discharge at home?
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
You should also be aware of symptoms that may be an indication of an infection that requires treatment. See your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:
You should always see your healthcare practitioner under the following circumstances:
Unless symptoms are severe, you should be able to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. However, if they can’t get you in for a while or symptoms get worse, urgent care may be a good option.
If you have symptoms of an infection that are severe or worrisome, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Green Vaginal Discharge During PregnancyClear to white dischargeis normal in pregnancy and not a cause for concern. Green or brown discharge can be from an infection like thrush or bacterial vaginosis. See your healthcare provider if you develop green or brown discharge.
Green Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy
Clear to white dischargeis normal in pregnancy and not a cause for concern. Green or brown discharge can be from an infection like thrush or bacterial vaginosis. See your healthcare provider if you develop green or brown discharge.
Preventing Conditions Linked to Green Discharge
You can take steps to avoid the conditions that lead to abnormal vaginal discharge. These include:
Summary
Green discharge is always abnormal and warrants medical attention. It may be a sign of a bacterial STI, other bacterial infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, or a foreign body in the vagina.
Watch for other symptoms that may accompany green discharge, including a foul odor, painful urination, and signs of infection. These can help your healthcare provider reach a diagnosis.
19 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.
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