Vaginal
discharge is
normal and
varies during
your menstrual
cycle. Before
ovulation (the
release of the
egg), there is A
LOT of mucous
produced, up to
30X more than
after ovulation.
It is also more
watery and
elastic during
that phase of
your cycle. You
may want to wear
panty liners
during that
time.
The things to be
worried about
include if the
discharge has a
yellow or green
color, is clumpy
like cottage
cheese, or has a
bad odor. If
worried, see a
doctor.
Different Types
of Discharge
White:
Thick, white
discharge is
common at the
beginning and
end of your
cycle. Normal
white discharge
is not
accompanied by
itching. If
itching is
present, thick
white discharge
can indicate a
yeast infection.
Clear and
stretchy:
This is
"fertile" mucous
and means you
are ovulating.
Clear and
watery: This
occurs at
different times
of your cycle
and can be
particularly
heavy after
exercising.
Yellow or
Green: May
indicate an
infection,
especially if
thick or clumpy
like cottage
cheese or has a
foul odor.
Brown:
May happen right
after periods,
and is just
"cleaning out"
your vagina. Old
blood looks
brown.
Spotting
Blood/Brown
Discharge:
This may occur
when you are
ovulating/mid-cycle.
Sometimes early
in pregnancy you
may have
spotting or a
brownish
discharge at the
time your period
would normally
come. If you
have spotting at
the time of your
normal period
rather than your
usual amount of
flow, and you
have had sex
without using
birth control,
you should check
a pregnancy
test.
Back top
Is
this normal?
We receive
many questions
about vaginal
discharge
through our "Ask
the Expert"
section. Below
physician
assistant,
explains what is
normal and when
to see a health
care provider.
One of the
challenges to
answering
questions sent
into a health
care Web site is
making sure that
the person
asking the
question seeks
the advice and
care from her
doctor when
appropriate.
There is often
information
NOT given
that can really
change the
answer.
For instance:
- How old
are you
(really)?
- Are you
on
medications
or do you
take herbs
or vitamins?
- Do you
have pain or
itching?
- Are you
pregnant?
- Do you
have other
health
problems
(like
diabetes)?
An important
question is
sexual activity.
Sometimes it
isn't accurate
to simply say
yes or no.
Symptoms can
depend on the
number of sexual
partners, kind
of sexual
partners, birth
control, birth
control failure,
kind of sex you
are having and
if abuse is
involved. I
think you can
see, it can get
pretty
complicated to
get all the
information
needed to give
the best answer
possible.
With that said,
here is my best
answer to the
common question
of vaginal
discharge.
A
normal
vaginal
discharge
consists of
about a teaspoon
(4 ML) a day
that is white or
transparent,
thick to thin,
and odorless.
This is formed
by the
normal
bacteria and
fluids the
vaginal cells
put off. The
discharge can be
more noticeable
at different
times of the
month depending
on ovulation,
menstrual flow,
sexual activity
and birth
control.
It is
not
uncommon for
the normal
discharge to be
dark, brown or
discolored a day
or two following
the menstrual
period.
If you are
having
ANY
of the symptoms
below
SEE
YOUR HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER.
- Pain
- Itching
-
Discomfort
- Rash or
sores alone
or with a
vaginal
discharge
