Vaginal discharge

Reviewed by Dr Phillip Owen, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist

What is vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge is the result of secretions produced from small glands in the lining of the vagina and the cervix.

All women have a little discharge starting a year or two before puberty and ending after the menopause. How much discharge a woman notices changes from time to time and it will change quite a lot between periods.

How much discharge is normal?

The amount of discharge varies from woman to woman. Different women probably also have different opinions of what is normal. But if it always involves using panty shields, or changing protection or underwear several times a day, then it is probably heavier than normal and a doctor should be consulted.

The amount of discharge is often influenced by hormonal changes in the woman's body. The week before a period, being pregnant or using the oral contraceptive pill are all typically associated with an increase in vaginal discharge.

What colour is normal discharge?

A normal, physiological, discharge is usually clear, creamy or very slightly yellow.

It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the following changes are noticed as they may indicate that the discharge is caused by infection (vaginitis).

If there is suddenly a greater amount of discharge.

If the discharge changes colour from yellow-whitish to brownish, reddish or greenish.

If it becomes smelly.

What can the doctor do?

The doctor will take samples of the discharge in order to detect infection. The samples will be looked at under a microscope and will be sent to the laboratory for further investigation.

If a woman is concerned about vaginal discharge or vaginitis, especially if there is a possibility that it may be a sexually transmitted disease, then she should seek advice from her GP, family planning clinic, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic or gynaecologist.

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