Vaginal Discharge

Different Types of Discharge

• White — Thick, white discharge is common at the beginning and end of your cycle. Normal white discharge is not accompanied by itching. If itching is present, thick white discharge may indicate a yeast infection.
• Clear and stretchy — This is “fertile” mucous and means you’re ovulating.
• Clear and watery — This occurs at different times of your cycle and can be particularly heavy after exercising.
• Yellow or green — May indicate an infection, especially if it’s thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a foul odor.
• Brown — May happen right after periods as your body is “cleaning out” your vagina. Old blood looks brown.
• Spotting blood — This may occur mid-cycle or when ovulating. Sometimes early in pregnancy you may have spotting or a brownish discharge at the time your period would normally come.

If you have spotting rather than your usual flow when the normal time for your period arrives and you’ve had sex without using birth control, take a pregnancy test.

Is This Normal?

How do you know what’s normal and when to see a healthcare provider regarding vaginal discharge?

A doctor can give you a better answer than a simple web search by gathering additional information, such as:

• How old are you?
• Are you taking any medications? Do you take herbs or vitamins?
• Do you have pain or itching?
• Are you pregnant?
• Do you have any other health problems, such as diabetes?

Vaginal discharge symptoms also can depend on the number and kind of sexual partners you’ve had, what kind of birth control you use (or don’t use), the kind of sex you’re having and if abuse is involved.

If you have any of the following symptoms, see your healthcare provider:

• Discharge is yellow or green, clumpy or has a bad odor.
• Pain.
• Itching.
• Discomfort.
• Rash or sores alone or with a vaginal discharge.

Last reviewed: October 2019