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:

  • Vaginal Discharge
  • Vaginal Infection
  • Vaginal Inflammation

Definition

What is vaginal discharge?

DotS the definition of vaginal discharge may vary. The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Vaginal discharge is a combination of fluid and cells continuously shed through your vagina”.2

Normal

What is normal vaginal discharge?

In Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Secretions or Discharge the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“All women have vaginal discharge or secretions which help keep the vagina and vulva moist and remove bacteria and dead cells. Normal secretions vary throughout the menstrual cycle, from thin and slippery during ovulation to thick and white just before your period. It is common for discharge to be discoloured red or brown a day or two before or after as the period starts and finishes.

After menopause the vaginal skin thins and discharge may alter.

Some vulval and vaginal secretions change in colour and consistency with an infection”.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 Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Definition the Mayo Clinic note:

“Abnormal vaginal discharge — for instance, fluid with an unusual odor or appearance or discharge that occurs along with itching or pain — may be a sign that something’s wrong”.6

Cause

What causes abnormal vaginal discharge?

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

“Most causes of abnormal vaginal discharge — such as yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis or menopause symptoms — are relatively harmless, but they can be uncomfortable”.7

Caredownthere explain:

“We can’t go into all the possible causes for abnormal discharge, but we want to reassure you that there are lots of harmless causes, not just sexually-transmitted infections and cancer”.8

Menopause

After menopause, how may vaginal discharge change?

Caredownthere explain:

Vaginal Discharge

“After the menopause the vaginal discharge gradually stops, but will return if the woman starts hormone replacement therapy”.9

The JH also note:

“After menopause, odour may change as the bacteria in the vagina also changes. The odour will be different compared to when you were still having periods”.10

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 note:

“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”.11

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”.12

The JH note:

“If you are worried about the odour of your vulva and vagina, and/or have symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation, soreness, painful sex or painful urination, see your doctor”.13

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

“Schedule a doctor’s visit if you have:

  • Greenish, yellowish, thick or cheesy vaginal discharge
  • Strong vaginal odor
  • Redness, itching, burning or irritation of your vagina or the area of skin that surrounds the vagina and urethra (vulva)
  • Bleeding or spotting unrelated to your period”.14

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics 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

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.

  1. Bacterial Vaginosis
  2. Bacterial Vaginosis
  3. Bacterial Vaginosis
  4. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
  5. Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Fact Sheet
  6. Caredownthere.com.au
  7. Chlamydia
  8. Chlamydia
  9. Chlamydia Infections
  10. Chlamydia Infections In Women
  11. Chlamydia – CDC Fact Sheet
  12. Douching
  13. Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
  14. How To Decode Your Vaginal Discharge: What’s Normal — and How To Treat What’s Not
  15. International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease: Resource Library – For Patients
  16. Is This Normal?
  17. Medical Advice
  18. Medical Advice: Bacterial Vaginosis
  19. Medical Advice: Chronic Thrush (also Known as Candida)
  20. Menopause and Sexuality
  21. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  22. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  23. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  24. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
  25. Vulvodynia Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
  26. Sexual Health – Keeping Your Vagina Clean and Healthy
  27. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  28. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
  29. Sexually Transmitted Infections, All You Need To Know – Podcast
  30. The Vulva & Vagina – Fact Sheet
  31. The Vulva: Irritation, Diagnosis & Treatment – Booklet
  32. Thrush In Men and Women
  33. Trichomoniasis
  34. Trichomoniasis
  35. Trichomoniasis
  36. Trichomoniasis – CDC Fact Sheet
  37. Vagina: What’s Normal, What’s Not?
  38. Vaginal & Vulval Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help
  39. Vaginal Discharge
  40. Vaginal Discharge
  41. Vaginal Discharge
  42. Vaginal Discharge: When To See A Doctor
  43. Vaginal Itching and Discharge – Adult and Adolescent
  44. Vaginal Yeast Infection
  45. Vaginal Yeast Infections
  46. Vaginitis
  47. Vaginitis
  48. Video Series-2019: Talking To Your Clinician About Sexual Health Concerns
  49. Video Series-2020 – How To Talk To Your Primary Care Clinician About Your Overall Health
  50. Video Series-2021 – Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
  51. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation
  52. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Management & Treatment [+Video]
  53. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Odour
  54. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: What Is the Vulva? [+ Diagram]
  55. Vulva and Vaginal Health: Getting the Right Advice
  56. Vulva, Vagina, Ovaries & Uterus
  57. Vulvovaginal Health
  58. Vulvovaginal Symptoms After Menopause
  59. Vulvovaginitis – Overview
  60. What’s Normal: Discharge
  61. Women’s Wellness: Causes of Vaginal Discharge
  62. Women’s Wellness: Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Health Problems

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: 09 September 2021
  2. Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Definition. 22 June 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-discharge/basics/definition/sym-20050825 Accessed: 09 September 2021
  3. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Secretions or Discharge. Last Updated: 06 August 2021 | Last Reviewed: 09 April 2021. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/vulva-vaginal-irritation Accessed: 09 September 2021
  4. What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 09 September 2021
  5. Vaginal Discharge: Check If Your Discharge Is Normal. Page Last Reviewed: 17 January 2018. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-discharge/#normal-vaginal-discharge Accessed: 09 September 2021
  6. Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Definition. 22 June 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-discharge/basics/definition/sym-20050825 Accessed: 09 September 2021
  7. Vaginal Discharge: Basics – Causes. 22 June 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-discharge/basics/causes/sym-20050825 Accessed: 09 September 2021
  8. What’s Normal: Discharge – Abnormal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 09 September 2021
  9. What’s Normal: Discharge – Normal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 09 September 2021
  10. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Odour. Last Updated: 06 August 2021 | Last Reviewed: 09 April 2021. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/vulva-vaginal-irritation Accessed: 09 September 2021
  11. Douching: What Is Douching? Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching Accessed: 09 September 2021
  12. What’s Normal: Discharge – Abnormal Discharge. Caredownthere https://www.caredownthere.com.au/_pages/normal_discharge.html Accessed: 09 September 2021
  13. Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Odour. Last Updated: 06 August 2021 | Last Reviewed: 09 April 2021. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/vulva-vaginal-irritation Accessed: 09 September 2021
  14. Vaginal Discharge: Basics – When To See A Doctor. 22 June 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-discharge/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050825 Accessed: 09 September 2021

Topic Last Updated: 09 September 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 September 2021
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