Vaginal discharge is fluid or mucus that keeps your vagina clean and moist, and protects it from infection.
Normal vaginal discharge is clear or white. It has a slight but not unpleasant smell.
For most women, discharge:
- becomes more obvious near ovulation, when it is clear, slippery and stretchy (similar to raw egg white) for 1 to 4 days
- becomes thicker and tacky after ovulation leading up to your period
- isn’t noticeable once menstruation begins
- is light after menstruation and then, as ovulation approaches, the amount increases again.
During pregnancy, vaginal discharge can increase in volume and be thicker and white-cream in colour.
If your discharge changes, eg, in smell, colour or texture, it might be a sign of an infection.
Unusual vaginal discharge is most commonly due to bacterial vaginosis.
| Possible cause | Symptoms |
| Bacterial vaginosis | Smells fishy |
| Thrush | Thick and white, like cottage cheese with itching skin, redness/irritation and pain with sex |
| Trichomoniasis | Green, yellow or frothy discharge with itching, skin irritation and pain or bleeding with sex |
| Chlamydia or gonorrhoea | Often no discharge but can have pelvic pain or bleeding |
| Genital herpes | Generally, no discharge but can get very painful blisters or sores |
See your healthcare provider if:
- your discharge changes colour, smell or texture
- you produce more discharge than usual
- you feel itchy or sore
- you bleed between periods or after sex
- you get pain when peeing or with sex
- you get pain in your lower belly (pelvic pain)
- you have redness, pain, or swelling around สนใจสมัคร? คลิกที่นี่เพื่อเริ่มต้น the vulva (the area of skin around the outside of your vagina)
- you’re feeling unwell with a fever.
Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa and sexual health clinics can also help with abnormal vaginal discharge
Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa and sexual health clinics have doctors and nurses who can treat problems with your genitals and urinary system.
Most clinics offer a walk-in service, where you don’t need an appointment, but you may need to wait for a while to be seen.