Having some amount of vaginal discharge is normal, especially if you are of childbearing age. Vaginal discharge is a combination of fluid and cells that are continuously shed through your vagina. The function of vaginal discharge is to clean and protect the vagina. The color and consistency of vaginal discharge vary from whitish and sticky to clear and watery between your menstrual periods, roughly corresponding to the stage of your reproductive cycle. It's also normal to have some vaginal discharge during pregnancy.
Glands in the cervix produce a clear mucus. These secretions may turn white or yellow when exposed to the air. These are normal variations. However, if your vaginal discharge has an unusual odor and appearance, or is accompanied by itching or pain, it may be a sign that something's wrong.
The amount of mucus produced by the cervical glands varies throughout the menstrual cycle. This is normal and depends on the amount of estrogen circulating in your body. It is also normal for the walls of the vagina to release some secretions. The amount depends on hormone levels in the body.
Vaginal discharge that suddenly differs in color, odor, or consistency, or significantly increases or decreases in amount, may indicate an underlying problem like an infection.
When a vaginal discharge acquires a strange color or a bad smell, it is a sign that the normal balance of vaginal fauna has been disrupted. Green, yellow, and brownish discharges are generally a sign of ill health, as are strong smelling discharges, or discharges which clump with a classic cottage cheese-like appearance. If a strange discharge is accompanied by itching or burning around the vaginal area, it usually means that a woman has an infection.
Although most causes of abnormal vaginal discharge, including yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis and menopausal symptoms, are relatively harmless, they can be extremely uncomfortable. An abnormal vaginal discharge may also accompany certain sexually transmitted infections, some of which can spread to the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Rarely, far advanced cervical cancer could produce a brownish or blood-tinged vaginal discharge.
One of the common causes for an abnormal vaginal discharge is a yeast infection, caused by colonization with candida yeast. Women can also develop bacterial vaginosis, an infection associated with bacterial colonization in the vagina. Both of these conditions can happen to women of all ages, including women who are not sexually active, and some women appear to be more prone than others. Sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis can also cause abnormal vaginal discharges.
Other causes of vaginal discharge include:
Bacterial vaginosis
Cervical cancer
Cervicitis
Chlamydia
Genital warts
Gonorrhea
HPV infection
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Rectovaginal fistula
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Trichomoniasis
Vaginal atrophy
Vaginal cancer
Vaginitis
Vesicovaginal fistula
Yeast infection (vaginal)
The following situations can increase the amount of normal vaginal discharge:
Emotional stress
Ovulation (the production and release of an egg from your ovary in the middle of your menstrual cycle)
Pregnancy
Sexual intercourse
Abnormal vaginal discharge may be due to:
Atrophic vaginitis (seen in women who have gone through menopause and have low estrogen levels)
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) -- Bacteria that normally live in the vagina overgrow, causing a grey discharge and fishy odor that worsen after intercourse. BV is usually not sexually transmitted.
Cervical or vaginal cancer (rarely a cause of excess discharge)
Chlamydia
Desquamative vaginitis and lichen planus
Forgotten tampon or foreign body
Gonorrhea
Other infections and sexually transmitted diseases
Trichomoniasis
Vaginal yeast infection
Changes that may signal a problem include an increase in the amount of discharge, a change in the color or smell of the discharge, and irritation, itchiness or burning in or around your vagina. This is called vaginitis. A discharge that's stained with blood when you're not having your period could also be a sign of a problem. If you have any of these signs, you should talk to your doctor.
You should also be on the lookout for symptoms of yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, 3 infections that can cause changes in your vaginal discharge.
Signs of yeast infections
White, cottage cheese-like discharge
Swelling and pain around the vulva
Intense itching
Painful intercourse
Signs of bacterial vaginosis
A white, gray or yellowish vaginal discharge
A fishy odor that is strongest after intercourse or after washing with soap
Itching or burning
Slight redness and swelling of the vagina or vulva
Signs of trichomoniasis
A watery, yellowish or greenish bubbly discharge
An unpleasant odor
Pain and itching when urinating
Most apparent after your period
Call your doctor right away if:
You have greenish, yellowish, thick or cheesy vaginal discharge.
You have strong vaginal odor.
You have redness, itching, burning or irritation of your vagina or vulva.
You have bleeding or spotting unrelated to your period.
Your discharge is associated with fever or pain in your pelvis or abdomen.
You have been exposed to gonorrhea, chlamydia, or other sexually transmitted disease.
You have increased thirst or appetite, unexplained weight loss, increased urinary frequency, or fatigue -- these may be signs of diabetes.
Also call if:
A child who has not reached puberty has vaginal discharge.
You think that your discharge may be related to a medication.
You are concerned that you may have a sexually transmitted disease or you are unsure of possible exposure.
Your symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 week despite home care measures.
You have blisters or other lesions on your vagina or vulva (exterior genitalia).
You have burning with urination or other urinary symptoms -- you may have a urinary tract infection.
To help prevent and treat vaginal discharge:
Try an over-the-counter antifungal cream for a suspected yeast infection.
Use a cold compress, such as a washcloth or ice pack, to relieve vaginal itching, swelling and discomfort.
Abstain from intercourse.
Keep your genital area clean and dry.
Do not douche. While many women feel cleaner if they douche, it may actually worsen vaginal discharge because it removes healthy bacteria lining the vagina that are there to protect you from infection. It can also lead to infection in the uterus and fallopian tubes, and is never recommended.
Use an over-the-counter yeast infection treatment cream or vaginal suppository, IF you know that you have a yeast infection.
Eat yogurt with live cultures or take Lactobacillus acidophilus tablets when you are on antibiotics to avoid a yeast infection.
Avoid using hygiene sprays, fragrances, or powders in the genital area.
Avoid wearing extremely tight-fitting pants or shorts, which may cause irritation.
Wear cotton underwear. Avoid underwear made of silk or nylon, because these materials are not very absorbent and restrict air flow. This can increase sweating in the genital area, which can cause irritation.
Use pads and not tampons.
Keep your blood sugar levels under good control if you have diabetes.
See your doctor if your symptoms don't go away after a week.
If the discharge is caused by a sexually transmitted disease, the person(s) you have had sexual relations with must be treated as well, even if they have no symptoms. Failure to accept treatment can cause the infection to keep coming back and may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility.