Vaginal discharge

Definition

Vaginal discharge refers to secretions from the vagina. Such discharge can vary in:

• Consistency (thick, pasty, thin)
• Color (clear, cloudy)
• Smell (normal, odorless, bad odor)

Alternative Names

Considerations

Having some amount of vaginal discharge is normal, especially if you are of childbearing age. Glands in the cervix produce a clear mucus. These secretions may turn white or yellow when exposed to the air. These are normal variations.

The amount of mucus produced by the cervical glands varies throughout the menstrual cycle. This is normal and depends on the amount of estrogen circulating in your body.

Vaginal discharge that suddenly differs in color, odor, or consistency, or significantly increases or decreases in amount, may indicate an underlying problem like an infection.

Causes

The following situations can increase the amount of normal vaginal discharge:

• Emotional stress
• Ovulation (the production and release of an egg from your ovary in the middle of your menstrual cycle)
• Sexual excitement

These conditions can lead to abnormal vaginal discharge:

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) -- Bacteria that normally live in the vagina overgrow, causing a grey discharge and fishy odor that worsen after sexual intercourse. BV is not sexually transmitted.
• Cervical or vaginal cancer (rarely a cause of excess discharge)
• Chlamydia
• Forgotten tampon or foreign body
• Gonorrhea
• Other infections and sexually transmitted diseases
• Trichomonas
• Vaginal yeast infection

References

Anderson M, Karasz A, Friedland S. Are vaginal symptoms ever normal? A review of the literature. MedGenMed. 2004; 6(4): 49.

Melville C, Nandwani R, Bigrigg A, McMahon AD. A comparative study of clinical management strategies for vaginal discharge in family planning and genitourinary medicine settings. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2005; 31(1): 26-30.

French L, Horton J, Matousek M. Abnormal vaginal discharge: what does and does not work in treating underlying causes. J Fam Pract. 2004; 53(11): 890-894.