What is Discharge?

When a girl enters adolescence, their body starts to undergo many hormonal changes, and many of them! You may be wondering, “What is discharge, really?” Vaginal discharge is how a woman’s body releases cells and fluid from the uterus, cervix, and vagina. The presence of discharge typically begins as early as a few months before a girl’s first period. In menstruating women, vaginal discharge is a constant presence that sticks around until after menopause. Vaginal discharge can change in appearance and consistency and varies from each woman during their lifetime because of the following factors:

  • Hormones
  • Menstruation
  • Infections
  • Pregnancy

Generally, healthy vaginal discharge is clear or white with consistency changing depending on your menstrual cycle, has a slight odor but nothing strong in smell, and can leave a tint on your underwear. Vaginal discharge may become thicker during ovulation or the time when your body releases an egg from your ovary, indicating that time of peak fertility. It is normal for discharge to increase with sexual arousal as well. Exercise, using birth control pills, and emotional stress may also result in discharge. If you are pregnant, your body may produce more discharge than usual, and with age and menopause, when estrogen levels shift, and you are no longer ovulating, your body may produce little to no discharge. The latter can lead to vaginal dryness in perimenopausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal women. 

When is Discharge a Concern?

Young Woman Patient With a Senior Gynecologist During the Consultation in the Office

In the event that your discharge seems abnormal from its usual smell, color, or consistency, or you are experiencing irregular symptoms in the vaginal or lower abdominal area, you should reach out to your doctor. These irregularities may include symptoms such as vaginal pain, itching, burning, or swelling, all of which should be relayed to your doctor as well. Here are some things to look out for:

  • Change in consistency and color
  • Green, gray, or yellow vaginal mucus
  • Cramping with discharge
  • Abdominal pain yellow discharge
  • Stomach pain and white discharge, resembling cottage cheese 
  • Frothy or foamy consistency in your discharge
  • Brown or blood-stained discharge that is not your period
  • Discharge with strong odor such as yeast or fishiness 

Unusual vaginal discharge can point to a health condition that your physician should evaluate and treat, such as an infection or a sexually transmitted disease. A change in vaginal discharge can also be caused by a foreign object being stuck in the vagina, such as toilet paper, which is often the cause for vaginal discharge in children before puberty. Douching, or the internal cleaning of the vagina with water or other products, is another cause of abnormal discharge. Douching is not recommended by medical professionals, as it can interfere with the vaginal flora or balance and cause an imbalance, linking it to infections, STDs, and fertility problems. Here are some health conditions that may cause abnormal discharge:

  • Yeast Infection
  • Vaginitis
  • Bacterial Vaginosis
  • Trichomoniasis
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • PID, or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus
  • Cervical Cancer 

In the vagina, the presence of yeast is normal, but in certain situations, there can be an overgrowth of yeast that causes infection. Infections like bacterial vaginosis are similar in that there can be an overgrowth of pre-existing bacteria in the vagina when the pH is disturbed or bacteria is transmitted. The following factors may increase the occurrence of yeast infections in women:

  • Birth Control Pills
  • Stress
  • Pregnancy
  • Antibiotics
  • Diabetes 

Cramping with discharge, abdominal pain, yellow discharge, stomach pain, and white discharge, or yellow vaginal mucus combined with irritation or pain should be reported to your doctor right away. Abnormal discharge is not indicative of a single infection or condition. Seek medical help if you are experiencing fever, fatigue, increased urination, pain in the abdomen, or unexplained weight loss. The general rule of thumb is if things seem off, it is always safer to run it by your doctor and receive an evaluation to avoid health problems or complications in the long run. 

Treating Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

What is discharge if not a helpful visual tool to monitor our vaginal health! If you see that something is off, evaluation and proper treatment are crucial to maintaining your vaginal health, especially since abnormal discharge can point to a variety of different health conditions, including infections. Because of this, there are tests your doctor can perform to confirm and properly treat their initial diagnosis, including:

  • Physical Examination
  • pH Tests
  • Samples Reviewed in a Lab
  • STI and STD Testing
  • Pap Smears
  • Ultrasound

A yeast infection can be easily resolved with an antifungal medicine prescribed by your doctor in pill or cream form. Conditions like bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis require antibiotic medicines, same as STDs. Believe it or not, it is possible to have more than one infection at once, so evaluation and testing are the safest bet for getting your vaginal health back to normal. Remember, symptoms such as cramping with discharge, abdominal pain, yellow discharge, stomach pain, white discharge, green, gray, or yellow vaginal mucus, and more are red flags that your doctor should report and treat. Seek medical help if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Feeling fatigued or weak with abnormal discharge 
  • Green, gray, or yellow discharge
  • A fever accompanying abnormal discharge
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Consistent pain lasting more than two hours
  • Visible signs of infection on the labia or in the vaginal area
  • Lower abdominal pain that is intermittent
  • Pain during or right after intercourse 
  • Vaginal pain
  • Painful rash
  • Sores or blisters in the vaginal area​
  • Blood tinged discharge that is not your period

Tips for Keeping your Vagina Healthy 

Physician in White Medical Uniform Touching Female Patient Arm Showing Empathy and Care.

  • While bathing, only clean the outside of your vagina with unscented soap and water.
  • Avoid all scented products, including scented tampons, body wash, or other products.
  • Avoid douching and douching products in the vaginal area
  • Avoid wearing tight, synthetic clothing or restrictive garments.
  • Opt for underwear and clothing made of natural fibers that breathe easily, especially in high humidity or heat, to counter and avoid vaginal irritation.
  • Change out of wet clothing, especially after exercise, or wet bathing suits right away.
  • Visit your OB/GYN at least once a year for an annual exam and testing to maintain vaginal health.
  • Report any irregular vaginal discharge or other abnormal symptoms to your doctor promptly for proper diagnosis and treatment so your condition does not worsen or cause complications to your long-term health.

Overview 

Overall, vaginal discharge is typically a normal and regular occurrence in people with vaginas. Sometimes, certain kinds of discharge can indicate an infection or another health condition. Discharge that is abnormal can be off in odor, consistency, or color. Contact your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment if you notice that your vaginal discharge feels, appears, or smells off.  At University Park OBGYN, we offer gynecological services to help you keep your vaginal health in check. Visit our website and give us a call today to schedule your annual exam

We look forward to having you in our care.