Overview
Vaginal discharge is a clear or white fluid that comes out of your vagina. It is responsible for cleaning, carrying out dead cells and bacteria, preventing infection, and housekeeping the female reproductive system. The white stuff that you see in your underwear occasionally or before your menstrual cycle starts is a natural experience for women.
Sometimes, the discharge can be discolored, have a foul smell, or be accompanied by itching or burning. This could indicate an underlying health condition such as an infection, STD, vaginosis, or cancer or simply be due to a period or pregnancy. Diagnosing the right cause of discolored vaginal discharge is essential to provide effective treatment.
This blog explores the colors and causes of vaginal discharge and how you can treat them.
What are the types of discharge?
Vaginal discharge is the fluid from the vagina that helps get rid of bacteria, cervical secretions, and dead vaginal skin cells. Additionally, it keeps your vagina well-lubricated. Here are different types of vaginal discharge.
Normal vaginal discharge
Normal vaginal discharge can vary in consistency, amount, and color throughout the month. A normal vaginal discharge looks like
- Color: Clear, slippery, or white.
- Consistency: can be thick and sticky or thin and watery.
- Odor: Mild or no odor.
- Quantity: Varies among women and at different times of the cycle.
Vaginal discharge before menstruation
Before the start or end of the period cycle, it is normal to experience vaginal discharge. It can be affected by light or heavy flow during the cycle. The discharge may be slightly yellow, pink, or red due to blood or brown spots because of clotting. Typically, it is thin and clear before ovulation and can become thicker and cloudier.
Vaginal discharge during pregnancy
Discharge is healthy and good during pregnancy. It makes it difficult for infections to travel from the vagina to the womb. The discharge may be more than normal due to the progesterone hormone produced to thicken the uterus lining during pregnancy.
The vaginal discharge can have pink streaks or be red-tinged towards the end of the pregnancy.
Abnormal vaginal discharge
An abnormal vaginal discharge could be a shade of cream, yellow, pink, and red. It can have varying consistency and amounts. An abnormal discharge can look like
- Color: Yellow, green, grey, or brown.
- Consistency: Frothy, chunky, or cottage cheese-like.
- Odor: Strong, fishy, or unpleasant smell.
- Symptoms: Accompanied by itching, burning, swelling, or irritation.
What does the color of your vaginal discharge mean?
Vaginal discharge can be affected by hormonal changes when you are ovulating, breastfeeding, pregnant, or sexually aroused. An infection or underlying health condition can lead to abnormal smell, color, and consistency.
Red to brown
Red or rusty-colored discharge is mainly due to menstruation. It can appear every 21-35 days and last 3-7 days.
Irregular menstrual cycle, implantation bleeding, and pregnancy can also cause vaginal discharge to appear red or brown. Bleeding outside of the regular menstrual cycle is a cause of concern and could indicate cervical cancer or human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Cream, cloudy, or white
While white discharge is normal, it could indicate infection if it has a cottage cheese-like consistency and a strong odor. Thick, smelly, white, or cloudy discharge accompanied by itching or burning are typically signs of a yeast infection.
Yellow to green
A slight yellow hue to discharge is not a cause of concern and could be due to a change in diet or dietary supplements.
Darker shades of yellow, green, or yellowish-green vaginal discharge are indications of bacterial or sexually transmitted infection.
Shades of pink
Pink shades of vaginal discharge are caused by mixing with blood. It is common in early pregnancy, implantation bleeding, the start of ovulation, or the menstrual cycle. Discharge may appear after sexual intercourse due to irritation and small tears in the vagina or cervix.
Gray
Gray discharge is abnormal and can be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis (BV) infection. The discharge is thin and accompanied by itching, irritation, foul fishy odor, and redness or swelling around the vulva and vaginal opening.
What infections cause vaginal discharge to change?
Infections are a common cause of discoloration and an unpleasant smell of vaginal discharge. Infections can be acquired due to tears in the vagina, systemic infections, or by having sex with an infected individual.
Yeast infection
Yeast infections are prevalent and caused by candida, a fungus. Symptoms of yeast infection include:
- Thick white cottage cheese-like discharge
- Vaginal itching
- Redness and vaginal irritation
- Sores or cuts on the vulva
- A burning sensation when urinating
You may also notice pink discharge with yeast infection due to vaginal irritation. White clumpy discharge after using metronidazole gel can also occur and suggest a yeast infection.
Gonorrhea
Yellow and green discharge can be caused by gonorrhea, also known as “the clap,” This STD may cause yellow and cloudy discharge or result in a white discharge.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a prevalent STI. Many people can be symptomless, while others experience yellow-green discharge without odor, green discharge with odor, yellow mucus discharge, or even white discharge.
Trichomoniasis
Green thick vaginal discharge or bright green vaginal discharge can be an indication of an STD known as trichomoniasis. The majority of the women infected with trichomoniasis don’t experience any symptoms. For those who portray symptoms, the vaginal discharge has the following characteristics:
- Thin and foamy discharge
- green vaginal discharge
- slimy yellow discharge
- Foul-smelling discharge
A dark yellow discharge, neon green vaginal discharge, or light green discharge without odor or itching can indicate trichomoniasis as well. If you are unsure of exposure, it is best to get tested for STDs.
Bacterial vaginosis
BV, or bacterial vaginosis, commonly causes grey vaginal discharge. The discharge may be whitish and usually has a fishy odor. BV can also present with itching and a burning sensation in the vagina.
According to a 2020 study, the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge is infections, and BV is responsible for 50% of these cases.
Human papilomavirus (HPV) infections
HPV infections can sometimes cause thin, watery, and bloody vaginal discharge. It may or may not be foul-smelling. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV and are transmitted through sexual activity. Anyone can get cervical cancer, but it is more prevalent in women under the age of 45.
Vaginal discharge treatment
Vaginal discharge treatment depends on the underlying cause. They are primarily treated with care and prescription medication. Possible treatment options include
Prescription medication
Medications are prescribed for infections and inflammation causing abnormal vaginal discharge. Consult your doctor before taking any new drugs.
- Antibiotics such as clarithromycin, clindamycin, and amoxicillin are prescribed for bacterial infections and STDs.
- Antifungals such as flucytosine and itraconazole are prescribed for fungal and yeast infections.
- Antiviral drugs acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir are typically prescribed for viral STIs and infections.
- Metronidazole is commonly prescribed for bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis.
- Topical treatments are also prescribed to ease inflammation and irritation.
Therapeutic interventions
Some therapeutic interventions involve
- Hormonal therapy, popularly estrogen therapy, is given to balance hormones.
- Chemo, immuno, and radiation therapy for cervical cancer
Care for the vagina
Dr. Jessica Reid, assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University, obstetrician-gynecologist in Portland, Oregon, shares,
“Unless you have symptoms of infection or other problems, you don’t need to do anything besides basic hygiene.”
Here are some tips for vaginal care to prevent infections and abnormal vaginal discharge
- Clean the vagina with warm water and gentle products
- Avoid using perfumed and fragranced soaps directly on the vagina
- Stay away from douching
- Wipe from front to back to prevent infections from getting into the vagina
- Wear breathable, cotton, and loose clothing
When to Consult a Doctor
Are you concerned about your discharge? What does it mean when your discharge is pink? How do you stop brown discharge after a period? If you require answers to these questions or are looking for a vaginal discharge color guide, chat with one of our online doctors at Your Doctors Online to learn more!
FAQs about vaginal discharge color
STDs present as a foul-smelling discharge or a different color. It can be white, green, yellow, or a different color than normal.
If you have noticed any changes to color, consistency, or odor in your discharge, talk to a doctor.
If you have continuous discharge daily, it is advisable to see a doctor. Although, a teaspoon of discharge a day is considered normal.
More than 4ml discharge accompanied by other symptoms like itching and odor might indicate an underlying health condition or an infection.
Brown vaginal discharge after taking metronidazole can occur due to several reasons. It might be caused by the shedding of old endometrial tissue, leading to the presence of old blood, which appears brown when it exits the body. The medication can also cause minor vaginal irritation or changes in the vaginal flora, resulting in slight bleeding or spotting. Additionally, if metronidazole was prescribed for a bacterial infection, the brown discharge could signify that the body is expelling the remaining discharge as the infection clears. Hormonal changes, particularly in those using hormonal contraceptives, can also contribute to this occurrence. If the discharge persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like pain, foul odour, or itching, it is important to consult a healthcare professional.
Healthy vaginal discharge has a natural odour stemming from the combination of cells and microorganisms it contains, along with sweat from nearby groin glands. The smell can vary throughout the month due to hormonal changes. Unless the odour is unusually strong or unpleasant, it’s typically not a concern. Wash the area with warm water and change your underwear daily to minimize odour.