Vaginal Discharge

“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:

“Vaginal discharge is fluid that comes from your vagina. It’s produced by your uterus, cervix or your vagina itself when they discard fluid and old cells.

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:

“It’s normal for your vulva and vagina to smell different at different times in your menstrual cycle and after menopause.

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 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”.4

In Vaginal Discharge: Check If Your Vaginal Discharge Is Normal the (United Kingdom) NHS note:

“Vaginal discharge is not usually anything to worry about if it:

  • 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:

“If the smell is unpleasant, yeasty or fishy smelling, this may be a sign of an infection. An unpleasant smell may also be due to a sexually transmitted infection (STI), a tampon that needs to be changed, or not wiping thoroughly after going to the toilet”.6

Causes

What causes abnormal vaginal discharge?

In Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Causes the Mayo Clinic note:

“Causes Related To Infection or Inflammation

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:


Vaginal Discharge“After the menopause the vaginal discharge gradually stops, but will return if the woman starts hormone replacement therapy”.8

The JH explain:

“After menopause, the smell may be different to when you were having periods because the bacteria in your vagina changes at this time”.9

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 menopause, the lack of estrogen often leads to thin, dry skin in the vulva and vagina and a vaginal environment that prevents “good” bacteria from flourishing. In such a situation, other bacteria can grow, sometimes resulting in increased or bothersome vaginal discharge that is not necessarily dangerous but can affect quality of life”.10

In Vaginal Discharge: Essentials for Older Women: Vaginal Discharge the author notes:

“After menopause, estrogen levels decrease markedly. As a result, the amount of normal discharge usually decreases. However, the decrease in estrogen causes the lining of the vagina to thin and become drier and fragile. The thin, dry vagina is more likely to become irritated, often resulting in an abnormal discharge from the vagina. This discharge may be watery and thin or thick and yellowish”.11

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:

“The word “douche” means to wash or soak. Douching is washing or cleaning out the inside of the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Most douches are sold in stores as prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The mixtures usually come in a bottle or bag. You squirt the douche upward through a tube or nozzle into your vagina. The water mixture then comes back out through your vagina.

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:

“Using mild soap and water to gently clean your vulvar area once daily should be enough to keep your vagina clean. Your vagina naturally keeps itself clean with the help of certain healthy bacteria. These bacteria keep your vagina acidic, which prevents microorganisms and fungus from growing out of control.

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:

“Your health professional is the best person to give you the right advice for your situation”.14

The JH note:

“If you are worried about the smell, or have symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation, soreness, painful sex or pain when you wee, see your doctor”.15

In Vaginal Discharge: Basics – When To See A Doctor the Mayo Clinic also note:

“Schedule a visit with your health care provider if you have:

  • 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:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Vaginal Discharge?

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. A Color-Coded Guide To Vaginal Discharge [+ Video]
  2. Australian and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society: Patient Information About Vulval Diseases
  3. Bacterial Vaginosis
  4. Bacterial Vaginosis
  5. Bacterial Vaginosis
  6. Bacterial Vaginosis
  7. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
  8. Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Basic Fact Sheet
  9. Brown Discharge: 4 Causes and What It Means
  10. Caredownthere.com.au
  11. Chlamydia
  12. Chlamydia
  13. Chlamydia Infections
  14. Chlamydia Infections In Women
  15. Chlamydia – CDC Basic Fact Sheet
  16. Douching
  17. FAQs: Vulvovaginal Health
  18. Feminine Odor Problems? What You Should Know About Douching
  19. Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
  20. International Society for Sexual Medicine: Public
  21. International Society for Sexual Medicine: Sexual Health Topics
  22. International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease
  23. International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease: Patient Handouts
  24. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
  25. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  26. Is It Normal To Have Thick, White Vaginal Discharge?
  27. Is This Normal?
  28. Medical Advice
  29. Medical Advice: Bacterial Vaginosis
  30. Medical Advice: Chronic Thrush (also Known as Candida)
  31. Menopause and Sexuality
  32. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  33. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  34. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  35. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
  36. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
  37. Sexual Health – Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy
  38. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  39. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
  40. Sexually Transmitted Infections, All You Need To Know – Podcast
  41. The Vulva: Irritation, Diagnosis & Treatment – Booklet
  42. Thrush In Men and Women
  43. Trichomoniasis
  44. Trichomoniasis
  45. Trichomoniasis
  46. Trichomoniasis – CDC Basic Fact Sheet
  47. Vagina: What’s Normal, What’s Not?
  48. Vaginal & Vulval Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help
  49. Vaginal Candidiasis
  50. Vaginal Discharge
  51. Vaginal Discharge
  52. Vaginal Discharge Color: What’s Normal and What Isn’t
  53. Vaginal Discharge [+ Video]
  54. Vaginal Discharge [Multiply Languages]
  55. Vaginal Discharge: When To See A Doctor
  56. Vaginal Dryness
  57. Vaginal Dryness
  58. Vaginal Itching and Discharge – Adult and Adolescent
  59. Vaginal Yeast Infection
  60. Vaginal Yeast Infection
  61. Vaginal Yeast Infections
  62. Vaginitis
  63. Vaginitis
  64. Vaginitis [Multiply Languages]
  65. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  66. Vulva Irritation
  67. Vulva and Vagina
  68. Vulva and Vagina: What’s Normal? Smell
  69. Vulva, Vagina, Ovaries & Uterus
  70. Vulval Care Advice
  71. Vulvovaginal Thrush
  72. Vulvovaginitis – Overview
  73. What Is Vaginal Steaming and Is It Safe?
  74. What’s Normal: Discharge
  75. Yeast Infection (Vagina)

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Causes. 25 April 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-discharge/basics/causes/sym-20050825 Accessed: 11 November 2023
  8. What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. What’s Normal: Discharge – Abnormal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 11 November 2023
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
Topic Last Updated: 11 November 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 11 November 2023

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