Hi my name is Julia Dawson, I’m going to try to cover absolutely everything I know about vaginal discharge. What would be considered a normal vaginal discharge and which types of discharge should you be more concerned about. All women will have some type of vaginal discharge and for a lot of women this discharge may change color and consistency at various times during each month. A women’s vagina is naturally acidic on the pH scale and this helps to prevent infections, the acidic vagina is maintained by the good bacteria contained with in it. This good bacteria is known as lactobacillus Acidophilus. The vagina keeps itself nice and clean and healthy by secreting unwanted fluids and bad bacteria. There may even be an associated smell with the discharge and all of these things may be completely normal. So lets start there, what is a normal vaginal discharge?
Normal Vaginal Discharge
OK so first of all we have established that vaginal discharge is quite normal and will vary in consistency and have slight color changes throughout your menstrual cycle. Before you ovulate the vagina will produce a lot of mucous this mucous can be watery or slightly elastic or stretchy. A normal vaginal discharge would be about a teaspoon full each day containing bacteria and unwanted fluids. So a vaginal discharge that is white, clear, watery or stretchy would be considered quite normal. There are a few things that could affect the type of discharge experienced and they include, sexual arousal, diet, stress, pregnancy and medication prescribed or otherwise. What I would say is that any discharge that is accompanied by a vaginal odor or any sort or vaginal itch or irritation would be considered abnormal and should be investigated further. Carry on reading below for more explanation.
White Vaginal Discharge
A thick white vaginal discharge will be present at the beginning and at the end of the menstrual cycle and this is a perfectly normal vaginal discharge. It will sometimes appear cloudy and could be yellowish when dried on clothing. If the white discharge becomes thicker than normal and takes on a ‘cottage cheese’ like appearance this could indicate a yeast infection. There would likely be some vaginal itching as well if a yeast infection was present. The yeast infection is caused by the yeast fungus which actually is present in every women’s vagina but in small amounts. It’s when this yeast fungus grows too much that a yeast infection can develop. There is no need to panic a yeast infection is easily treated with oral medication and tablets or cream that be inserted directly in to the vagina.
Clear Vaginal Discharge
As I mention earlier a clear vaginal discharge is quite normal and will normally be one of two types. Either a clear watery discharge would occur at any time during your cycle and could be more apparent after any sort of physical activity. Or a clear and stretchy vaginal discharge, which occurs during ovulation at the most fertile stage. I think most women would associate a clear vaginal discharge with no odor as their Norma discharge.
Brown Vaginal Discharge
A brown vaginal discharge is basically old blood and may appear as a discharge after menstruating as the vagina goes through a cleaning out process. Again brown vaginal discharge is nothing to worry about and can be a normal part of the menstrual cycle. Although you would expect a normal period to be bright red fresh blood if you are late with your period the discharge could be brown. Or if during your last cycle the entire uterine lining fail to secrete then again you could experience a brown vaginal discharge. What I would say is that its important to keep an eye on your discharge and make a note of any changes from the norm. There are a few instances when a brown vaginal discharge may be cause for concern and these include the menopause, PID or pelvic Inflammatory Disease, cervical cancer, or sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea or Chlamydia. So if you are worried at all that the brown vaginal discharge you are experiencing is something out of the ordinary then get your self booked in for a check up.
Yellow Vaginal Discharge
A yellow vaginal discharge would usually indicate some sort of problem. Sometimes when your normal discharge dries it could have a yellowish color but a bright yellow discharge or a thick yellow discharge would definitely indicate some sort of infection or bacterial imbalance with in the vagina. So a yellow vaginal discharge could indicate a sexually transmitted disease such as Gonorrhoea, PID pelvic Inflammatory Disease, bacterial vaginosis, Trichomoniasis, Chlamydia or even cancer. A yellow discharge will normally come along with a nasty fishy or musty odor and may be itching or irritation. My advice here is to get checked out as soon as possible with your doctor.
Green Vaginal Discharge
The most common form of green vaginal discharge is from the sexually transmitted disease Trichomoniasis.This will also have a fishy or musty odor often the discharge is more of a yellowish green as apposed to a pure green color. As with any of the infections a trip to the doctor is essential. They will take a sample of your discharge and ask you a series of questions that will lead them to a quick diagnosis and the best cause of treatment.
Below is a quick glance guide to vaginal discharge
vaginal discharge
So I have covered quite a bit of information about vaginal discharge. If you are worried at all about anything to do with your discharge then go along and see your doctor. if you wish to just chat and get friendly advice then feel free to contact me via the contact form on this website.
Do not worry about vaginal discharge.
Julia Dawson
