“In general, the golden rule is: vaginal discharge is normal
if the colour is clear, white or yellow, it is not smelly, and
is not associated with vulval discomfort or tummy pain”.1
Umbrella
What may the Vaginal Discharge Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Leukorrhea
- Vaginal Discharge
- Vaginal Infection
- Vaginal Inflammation
Definition
What is vaginal discharge?
DotS the definition of vaginal discharge may vary. In Vaginal Discharge Color: What’s Normal and What Isn’t – What Is Vaginal Discharge? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic’s definition is:
If you’ve ever heard someone say that “your vagina is a self-cleaning oven,” this is, in part, what that means. When your reproductive system is functioning properly, it naturally clears out the old stuff to make room for the new”.2
Normal
What is normal vaginal discharge?
In Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:
There are many fluids and secretions associated with the vulva that can affect the smell. For example, urine, sweat, menstrual blood, skin oils and vaginal and gland secretions”.3
In What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge the (Australian) Caredownthere elaborate on:
In Vaginal Discharge: Check If Your Vaginal Discharge Is Normal the (United Kingdom) NHS note:
- Does not have a strong or unpleasant smell
- Is clear or white
- Is thick and sticky
- Is slippery and wet”.5
Abnormal
What is abnormal vaginal discharge?
In Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell the JH explain:
Causes
What causes abnormal vaginal discharge?
In Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Causes the Mayo Clinic note:
Possible causes of unusual vaginal discharge linked to infections or inflammation include:
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Cervicitis
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Gonorrhea
- Forgotten, also called retained, tampon
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Trichomoniasis
- Vaginitis
- Yeast infection (vaginal)
Other causes
Other causes of unusual vaginal discharge include:
- Certain hygiene practices, such as douching or using scented sprays or soap
- Cervical cancer
- Pregnancy
- Vaginal atrophy, also called genitourinary syndrome of menopause
- Vaginal cancer
- Vaginal fistula
It’s rare for changes to vaginal discharge to be a sign of cancer”.7
Menopause
After menopause, how may vaginal discharge change?
Caredownthere note:

The JH explain:
In Is This Normal? Q. Are there other problems that can arise during menopause that can cause changes in discharge? the (United States) Harvard Health note:
In Vaginal Discharge: Essentials for Older Women: Vaginal Discharge the author notes:
Douching or Not
Should women douche?
No. In Douching: What Is Douching? the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov explain:
Douching is different from washing the outside of your vagina during a bath or shower. Rinsing the outside of your vagina with warm water will not harm your vagina. But, douching can lead to many different health problems.
Most doctors recommend that women do not douche”.12
Clean
How can vaginas be kept clean?
In Vaginal Discharge: Care and Treatment – How Do You Keep Your Vagina Clean and Smelling Good? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:
Other tips for keeping your vagina clean include:
- Avoid using perfumed soaps, gels, wipes or other feminine products.
- Don’t douche or wash inside your vagina.
- Avoid wearing tight underwear, leotards, bathing suits or sweaty clothes for long periods of time.
- Wipe your vagina from front to back. This prevents bacteria from your rectum from getting into your vagina”.13
Health Care Provider
What if I think I have abnormal vaginal discharge?
If you think you have abnormal vaginal discharge, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Caredownthere explain:
The JH note:
In Vaginal Discharge: Basics – When To See A Doctor the Mayo Clinic also note:
- Greenish, yellowish, thick or cheesy vaginal discharge
- Strong vaginal odor
- Itching, burning or irritation of your vagina or of the area of skin that surrounds the vagina and urethra, also called the vulva. You might notice a change in color to these tissues. They may be a shade of red, purple or brown depending on your skin color
- Bleeding or spotting outside of your period”.16
In Vaginal Discharge: Key Facts the author notes:
- “Any discharge that occurs after menopause requires prompt evaluation by a doctor”.17
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Vaginal Discharge?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Vaginal Discharge?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- A Color-Coded Guide To Vaginal Discharge [+ Video]
- Australian and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society: Patient Information About Vulval Diseases
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
- Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Basic Fact Sheet
- Brown Discharge: 4 Causes and What It Means
- Caredownthere.com.au
- Chlamydia
- Chlamydia
- Chlamydia Infections
- Chlamydia Infections In Women
- Chlamydia – CDC Basic Fact Sheet
- Douching
- FAQs: Vulvovaginal Health
- Feminine Odor Problems? What You Should Know About Douching
- Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
- International Society for Sexual Medicine: Public
- International Society for Sexual Medicine: Sexual Health Topics
- International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease
- International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease: Patient Handouts
- International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
- International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
- Is It Normal To Have Thick, White Vaginal Discharge?
- Is This Normal?
- Medical Advice
- Medical Advice: Bacterial Vaginosis
- Medical Advice: Chronic Thrush (also Known as Candida)
- Menopause and Sexuality
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
- Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
- Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
- Sexual Health – Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Sexually Transmitted Infections, All You Need To Know – Podcast
- The Vulva: Irritation, Diagnosis & Treatment – Booklet
- Thrush In Men and Women
- Trichomoniasis
- Trichomoniasis
- Trichomoniasis
- Trichomoniasis – CDC Basic Fact Sheet
- Vagina: What’s Normal, What’s Not?
- Vaginal & Vulval Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help
- Vaginal Candidiasis
- Vaginal Discharge
- Vaginal Discharge
- Vaginal Discharge Color: What’s Normal and What Isn’t
- Vaginal Discharge [+ Video]
- Vaginal Discharge [Multiply Languages]
- Vaginal Discharge: When To See A Doctor
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Itching and Discharge – Adult and Adolescent
- Vaginal Yeast Infection
- Vaginal Yeast Infection
- Vaginal Yeast Infections
- Vaginitis
- Vaginitis
- Vaginitis [Multiply Languages]
- Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
- Vulva Irritation
- Vulva and Vagina
- Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell
- Vulva, Vagina, Ovaries & Uterus
- Vulval Care Advice
- Vulvovaginal Thrush
- Vulvovaginitis – Overview
- What Is Vaginal Steaming and Is It Safe?
- What’s Normal: Discharge
- Yeast Infection (Vagina)
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vaginal Discharge Color: What’s Normal and What Isn’t – What Is Vaginal Discharge? 29 July 2022. Cleveland Clinic https://health.clevelandclinic.org/vaginal-discharge-mean/ Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell. Last Updated: 05 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina/vulva-and-vagina#whats-normal Accessed: 11 November 2023
- What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vaginal Discharge: Check If Your Discharge Is Normal. Page Last Reviewed: 25 January 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-discharge/#normal-vaginal-discharge Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell. Last Updated: 05 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina/vulva-and-vagina#whats-normal Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Causes. 25 April 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-discharge/basics/causes/sym-20050825 Accessed: 11 November 2023
- What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell. Last Updated: 05 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina/vulva-and-vagina#whats-normal Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Is This Normal? Q. Are there other problems that can arise during menopause that can cause changes in discharge? 19 April 2021. Harvard Health https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/is-this-normal Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Barad, D. H. Vaginal Discharge: Essentials for Older Women: Vaginal Discharge. Reviewed/Revised May 2022 | Modified September 2022 https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/symptoms-of-gynecologic-disorders/vaginal-discharge Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Douching: What Is Douching? Page Last Updated: 29 December 2022. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vaginal Discharge: Care and Treatment – How Do You Keep Your Vagina Clean and Smelling Good? Last Reviewed: 22 July 2022. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/4719-vaginal-discharge Accessed: 11 November 2023
- What’s Normal: Discharge – Abnormal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell. Last Updated: 05 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina/vulva-and-vagina#whats-normal Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Vaginal Discharge: Basics – When To See A Doctor. 25 April 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-discharge/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050825 Accessed: 11 November 2023
- Barad, D. H. Vaginal Discharge: Key Facts. Reviewed/Revised May 2022 | Modified September 2022 https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/symptoms-of-gynecologic-disorders/vaginal-discharge Accessed: 11 November 2023