When you go through puberty, vaginal discharge is one of the changes you go through that can be a bit of a shock. However, not only is vaginal discharge perfectly normal, it’s also vital for your sexual health. Normal vaginal discharge has several purposes, including cleaning and lubricating your vagina, and helping to guard your wellbeing against infections. Throughout your menstrual cycle, it’s common for the colour, texture and amount of your vaginal fluids to vary. However, some changes in your discharge may indicate a problem with your wellness.
But before we get onto the bad changes in vaginal discharge, first we need to clarify exactly what’s normal and abnormal, so you will be able to recognise changes as and when they occur. As we’ve already covered, normal vaginal fluids can vary somewhat in texture and colour. You might find your discharge is thin, sticky and elastic, or it may be fairly thick and gooey. Healthy vaginal fluids will either be clear, white or off-white in colour. If this sounds familiar, then you are perfectly healthy down there. However, it’s important to keep an eye out for changes in your vaginal fluids, as these may indicate a problem.
- If you’re concerned about your vaginal fluids, ask yourself the following questions:
- Has there been a change in odour (especially an unpleasant odour)?
- Has there been change in colour? Does it look greenish, greyish, or anything looking like pus?
- Has there been a change in texture, such as becoming more foamy or looking like cottage cheese?
- Are you experiencing any itching, burning, swelling, or redness in your vagina?
- Has there been any unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting that is not a menstrual period?
There are many factors that can cause such changes in your vaginal fluids. If you have a vaginal infection, such as bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis (yeast infection) or trichomoniasis, this can change the colour and texture of your discharge, and is one of the more common reasons why women are affected by this. Abnormal vaginal discharge can also occur due to certain infections that spread by having sex, such as gonorrhoea. Some infections are transmitted sexually or non-sexually, such as bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection. As the causes of abnormal vaginal discharge can look very similar, let’s look at the above infections in a little more detail so you know which differences to look for:
1. Yeast infections: These tend not to have a strong smell, but may cause severe itching and burning in your vagina. In terms of your discharge, a yeast infection may cause the texture to become very white and thick, resembling cottage cheese.
2. Bacterial vaginosis (BV): Unlike yeast infections, BV may cause your discharge to have an unpleasant, fishy odour, and your fluids may be thin and greyish in colour.
3. Trichomoniasis: This is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause your discharge to become frothy and a yellow-green colour. Trichomoniasis also often causes vaginal itching and pain during urination, and may also develop a strong smell.
If you think you may have a problem or notice any changes in your vaginal discharge, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, or go to a health clinic. This is important for any girl to do, but especially if you have had sex. Many STIs cause changes in vaginal discharge, and so if you’ve had unprotected sex or sexual contact in which the condom broke or wasn’t properly used, you may be at risk. You should tell your doctor if there’s a chance you may be at risk to an STI.