What’s your vaginal discharge telling you?

For many of us, vaginal discharge is a rather routine phenomenon which occasionally leaves an unremarkable crust in our panties. Chances are, you don’t give too much thought to its color, consistency, or frequency.

But did you know that by taking a more systematic approach to observing your vaginal discharge, it’s possible to determine what phase of your menstrual cycle you’re in, as well as be alerted to potential health issues?

You heard it here first: sexual and reproductive empowerment are in you, literally.

First of all, what exactly is vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge is any non-menstrual fluid that leaves your vagina. It comes from glands inside your vagina and cervix. These glands produce small amounts of fluid AKA vaginal secretions. This fluid flows out of your vagina every day, cleansing it of old cells that once lined its walls but are no longer needed. This is a 100% natural process—think of it as your body’s hyper intelligent way of keeping your vagina healthy and clean.

All vaginal discharge is made up of a little bit of the following:

- Mucus secretions produced by the cervical glands and Bartholin’s glands (two pea sized glands located to the left and right of the opening of the vagina)

- Mucus secreted by the sebaceous and sweat glands of your vulvar vestibule

- Dead cells from the vaginal epithelium (inner lining of the vagina) and cervix

- Large colonies of bacteria, including beneficial “good" bacteria that maintain a healthy, acidic vaginal pH and prevent pathogens from taking over

What is ‘normal’ vaginal discharge?

Healthy vaginal discharge doesn't always look the same from person to person, but it is usually odorless or has a subtle, though not unpleasant scent. Color-wise, it is usually white, off-white, or transparent. Consistency-wise, it can range from thick and sticky to slippery and stretchy.

While some people have discharge daily, others experience it less often. Certain factors like pregnancy, using birth control pills or ovulation can affect how much vaginal discharge you have. 

It’s also worth noting that when you’re sexually aroused, your regular white discharge may become more noticeable because it can thicken and increase as it mixes with your arousal fluid. As long as penetration isn’t painful, this type of discharge is totally normal. While discharge, often called cervical fluid or cervical mucus, changes throughout your cycle to prevent or facilitate the passage of sperm (intelligent design!), arousal fluid is created within your vagina as part of your sexual response cycle.

When your vaginal discharge isn’t quite normal

As with all bodily matters, any sudden changes—outside of the normal changes associated with your cycle—may indicate an issue of some kind. Sudden changes in your amount of vaginal discharge, for instance, could mean something is wrong, as can the presence of itching or irritation. The color and/or texture of your discharge may also indicate an imbalance of healthy bacteria in your vagina, which can be a sign of infection.

But how can you tell when your vaginal discharge might be waving a red flag? Well, for starters, it helps to understand some of the most common types of discharge.

Types of vaginal discharge

Consistency:

Egg-white discharge

Clear/white and stretchy discharge akin to ‘egg whites’ is considered a strong indication of ovulation—and the high levels of estrogen that usher it in. It also happens to be ideal for helping sperm along as they swim toward your egg. The longer you can stretch your discharge between your fingertips, the closer you are to ovulating. At first, it can be confusing to notice the subtle variations in your cervical mucus, but any committed student becomes a pro with time.

Creamy discharge

Before and/or after the egg-white discharge associated with ovulation, a creamier sort of white discharge may make an appearance. If you’re trying to get pregnant, or avoid pregnancy, paying attention to which type of cervical mucus is present can help you understand where you are in your cycle.

Sticky discharge

Thick, white, sticky or pasty vaginal discharge frequently shows up a few days before or after your period, and is the result of elevated levels of progesterone. Seeing this kind of discharge around the right time of month can be an indication that your period is right around the corner.

Color:

Clear or white 

As we’ve established, normal vaginal discharge is clear, white or, sometimes, off-white. If your vaginal discharge is white, but seems thicker than usual, lumpy, or causes itching, you may be dealing with a yeast infection.

Yellow, grey or green 

Any discharge that’s yellow, grey or greenish—with or without an unpleasant or ‘fishy’ odor—can be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Brown or red 

If you have brown or reddish discharge and it’s not your period starting, it may indicate a problem. Brown or red discharge is sometimes related to irregular menstruation or pregnancy-associated implantation bleeding.

While ultimately, only you know what's normal for your body, if you have vaginal discharge that doesn’t seem right (with or without other symptoms like irritation, itching, burning, or pain), it’s worth talking to a healthcare professional. And if you’re experiencing any sudden changes related to the volume, colour, smell, or texture of your vaginal discharge, it’s important to see a health care provider, stat.

If you’d like to become better acquainted with your discharge and learn its subtle messaging, consider tracking your cervical mucus from month to month. Collecting data on yourself in this way can, over time, prove an invaluable source of info on when you are and aren’t fertile, as well as on your overall sexual and reproductive health.