Some days the discharge on your underwear feels different from usual. The color may look a little darker, or the amount may have increased, or the smell may bother you. But this is an awkward thing to ask anyone about, so many people end up searching online and only worrying more.
Today we will go step by step through how to tell ordinary discharge apart from changes worth paying attention to, and what is good to look at together when you see a doctor.
Is discharge supposed to happen?
Yes—discharge is a normal secretion in women of menstruating age. It is made by the vagina and cervix, keeps the inside of the vagina clean and moist, and also helps protect against infection.
Usual discharge is generally clear, whitish or creamy, and does not have a strong smell. It can be thin at times and sticky or thick at others; this is a natural variation that follows the menstrual cycle.
- Around ovulation, clear, slippery, stretchy discharge may increase.
- The amount may also rise a little before a period.
- It can also increase during pregnancy, when using hormonal medicines such as the pill, or with sexual activity.
The amount and appearance of discharge differ from person to person. So rather than comparing yourself with others, knowing what is usual for you is the best way to notice a change.
Which changes should I pay attention to?
If the color, smell, texture or amount has changed compared with what is usual for you, or if symptoms such as itching, stinging or pain have appeared with it, it is a good idea to have the cause checked. A common cause is vaginitis, but not every case of vaginitis is an infection passed on through sex.
The table below is meant to help you understand which possibilities are considered together at an appointment. The same appearance can have different causes, and two can overlap, so please do not use the table to diagnose yourself.
| If you notice this change | Possible examples |
|---|---|
| A fishy smell, greyish cloudy discharge | Bacterial vaginosis (an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina), among others |
| White discharge clumped like tofu or cottage cheese, with itching or swelling | Candida vaginitis (a yeast infection), among others |
| Yellow or green discharge, or discharge with bubbles | Sexually transmitted infections such as trichomoniasis |
| Cloudy discharge with pelvic pain or bleeding that is not a period | Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea |
| Brown or blood-tinged discharge when it is not your period | Anything from light bleeding around ovulation to other causes in the uterus or cervix |
| Changed discharge after menopause, together with dryness | Changes related to lower female hormones, among others |
Even ordinary discharge can have a slightly sour smell, and it can sometimes have a very pale yellow tint. Because the line is this blurry, it is hard to confirm the cause from color or smell alone, and a decision is made by looking at symptoms, the examination and any tests needed together.
What should I note down before my appointment?
Rather than “my discharge seems strange,” telling us what changed, since when and how helps a great deal in narrowing down the cause. Jot it down briefly in a note on your phone.
- What has changed? Note which of color, smell, texture (thin, clumped, bubbly) and amount is different from usual. Picturing how it looked on your underwear can make it easier to describe.
- Since when, and where in your cycle? Write down the day you first noticed it along with the start date of your last period. This helps us see whether it overlaps with your cycle, such as around ovulation or just before a period.
- Have any other symptoms appeared? Check whether you have had itching, stinging, swelling, pain when peeing, pain in the lower belly or pelvis, or bleeding that is not a period. If you have had pelvic pain, please also note when and how it hurt, as described in our article on period and pelvic pain.
- Has anything changed in your daily life recently? Think about any new wash products or underwear, antibiotics you have taken recently, your method of contraception, sex and whether you have a new partner, and the possibility of pregnancy. Anything that is hard to say can be discussed privately in the consultation room.
- Have you already tried any medicine? If you have used vaginal tablets, ointments or oral medicines, please tell us their names, how long you used them, and how your symptoms changed afterward.
What is best avoided before my appointment?
Washing out the inside of the vagina or using strongly scented products because the smell bothers you can actually upset the vagina’s balance and lead to irritation or infection. Discharge is the body’s own way of keeping the vagina clean, so washing more often does not solve the problem.
- Do not wash inside the vagina; gently wash only the outer skin with lukewarm water
- Do not use scented washes or gels, deodorants, or scented wet wipes
- Wear breathable clothing rather than tight clothes such as leggings
- Do not reuse leftover medicine from an earlier prescription without checking the cause
Symptoms that keep coming back do not always have the same cause. If they recur, it is a good idea to look at your previous tests and treatment together, as described in our guide to chronic vaginitis and itching.
When should I see a doctor?
If the color, smell or texture of your discharge has changed, or there is more than usual and the discomfort continues, do not put it off—see a doctor to have the cause checked. In particular, in the following cases:
- When there is itching, stinging or swelling as well
- When it hurts to pee, or your lower belly or pelvis hurts
- When you bleed between periods or after sex
- When blisters or sores appear on the vulva
- When your discharge changes during pregnancy