Vaginal Discharge: Normal And Abnormal Types - Reasons Why Discharge Changes Colour and Smells

Vaginal discharge: Discharge is normal. What’s not normal is when it changes colour, increases in quantity, or turns smelly. How can you tell when vaginal discharge is not as it should be? As pointed out above, colour, quantity and possibly smell are sure signs that indicate abnormality. If you experience any of these symptoms you’re not likely to die from them, so not to panic. Symptoms as such are usually a result of infection, but there could be an even simpler explanation such like poor hygiene for instance being another cause. Either way both are common matters that are easily treatable, that is, if the unusual discharge is caused by improper cleansing of the vagina, and, the infection is a known one.

If infection has been determined as a sexually transmitted disease, it’s still curable, but likely to take longer to clear up than your common yeast infection. Length of time to treat an STD will depend on which STD it is and the stage it’s at. Infection of this sort left too long without treatment will worsen, so now, that one visit to a GUM clinic becomes one of many visits before you get the all clear.

Vaginal discharge serves a purpose – a sort of maintenance function in the female reproductive system if you like. Fluid created by glands inside the vagina and cervix flows out taking dead cells and bacteria with it. While bacteria and other is dealt with in this way, the vagina stays clean and protected from infection to a degree.

What does normal vaginal discharge look like? It’s usually an odourless milky whitish fluid, but it can appear a pale yellow too.

Not every woman’s discharge is the same; it varies from woman to woman. The normal colour can range from clear to a milky whitish, depending on the time in your menstrual cycle. When ovulating, breastfeeding, or sexually aroused, discharge can be plentiful and with slight changes, so allow for this before you go pulling your hair out with worry.

You know your own body, so if things turn different to what you are familiar with (colour, smell, or consistency) get it checked out. But before you go jumping the gun because you have an itchy vagina, or have vaginal burning, look towards hygiene first. Poor hygiene is popular for causing smell and for you to scratch. Bad hygiene doesn’t imply you are a dirty person – you can wash your vagina as many times in a day as you like (although not needed), but if not cleaned properly it can lead to odd things happening, even forming. For example: vaginal pimples, boils, or full on acne.

Causes of abnormal discharge

If normal bacteria inside the vagina which “all” women have become unsettled for whatever reason, it messes with normality thus causing abnormality.

Known causes which upset that balance:

Particular medications/drugs such like antibiotic or steroids can do this.

Bacterial Vaginosis: BV is a bacterial infection common in pregnant women or those who have multiple sexual partners, and is also the infection linked with a fishy smell.

Contraceptive pills

Cervical cancer

Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea

Diabetes

Scented soaps

Pelvic infection after surgery

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Trichomoniasis – Trich is a parasitic infection usually caused by having unprotected sex

Vaginal atrophy, which is thinning and drying out of the vaginal walls during the change of life (menopause.)

Vaginitis

Yeast infections

Types of abnormal discharge and possible causes

Bloody or brown discharge– Likely cause – Irregular menstrual cycles, or less common, cervical or endometrial cancer – Other Symptoms – Vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain.

Cloudy or yellow discharge– Likely cause – Gonorrhoea – Other Symptoms – Bleeding between monthly periods, painful when urinating.

Foamy, yellow or greenish discharge with a bad odour– Likely cause – Trichomoniasis – Other Symptoms – Pain when urinating with itch.

Pink discharge– Likely cause – Shedding of the uterine lining after childbirth (lochia.)

Thick, white, cheesy discharge– Likely cause – Yeast Infection – Other Symptoms – Inflammation, pain around the vulva, itching, and painful sex.

White, grey, or yellow discharge with fishy smell– Likely cause – Bacterial Vaginosis – Other symptoms – Itchiness, burning, redness and inflammation of the vagina or vulva. If you have reason to be concerned speak with your “doctor.” Going off advice from someone who means well may not be a healthy move.