Discharge Down There: See What’s Normal & What’s Not

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Mark Wealth

Vaginal discharge is that regular fluid secretion from certain vaginal and cervical glands that helps cleanse and moisten the vagina. Women must pay particular attention to its quantity, colour, texture, among other characteristics, to tell a normal discharge from one that portends a problem.

Find a simple guide to doing this below.

Varying Normal Levels

It’s important to note that the quantity and frequency of vaginal discharge varies among women, so, you owe it to yourself to track and note what’s normal for you. This will enable you spot an unusual change and find out why it occurred.

Note however that not all changes in your usual flow are negative. For instance, an increase may occur when you are ovulating, breastfeeding or sexually turned on.

Normal Colours

Vaginal discharge is usually clear/transparent, white or off-white.

Normal Texture

Normal vaginal fluids should be thin, sticky and elastic or thick and gooey (like glue).

Scent or Smell?

Normal discharge does not have foul or unpleasant smell/odour. However, the smell may change if you’re pregnant, so, don’t sweat over nothing.

READ ALSO: How To Wash Your Vagina

Now, find red alerts you should never ignore:

Shades Of Thin Greyish-white

When the discharge colour is greyish-white and the texture is thin and watery, accompanied by a foul fishy smell, you may have a case of Bacterial Vaginosis, an infection that requires immediate attention.

Greenish-yellow Yucky

Frothy yellow or greenish yellow discharge fluids especially accompanied by a strong odour may signal another bad news infection called Trichomonas. Go see a doctor!

Gono What?

Gonorrhea, an STD may not produce these symptoms early but if you observe that your vaginal discharge is yellowish in colour and there is vaginal redness and swelling as well as pain during intercourse, run to your doctor – you may have been infected with gonorrhoea.

The Too-Late Symptom

Chlamydia is an STI that is often called ‘the silent disease’ because the symptoms don’t show early or never show at all. However, increased vaginal discharge which is often yellowish and smelly, accompanied by pain when urinating could be late symptoms that you’ve got unwanted guests in your private quarters.

Say Cheese

If the fluid being discharged is thick (like cottage cheese), white and odourless, we may be looking at a yeast infection clinically known as Candidiasis.

Finally, abnormal vaginal discharge can be caused by different reasons including STDs, STIs, cervical cancer, birth control pills, scented soaps, bubble baths, lotions, among others. You should always be alert in order to promptly detect changes, find out why they occurred, if they portend any danger and what to do.

Here’s to your health!