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A certain amount of vaginal discharge is completely normal. The amount, consistency, and type of discharge you experience will vary during your menstrual cycle.
If the colour, consistency or smell of your discharge seems unusual, and/or is accompanied by vaginal itching, burning, or pain with urination, you may have an infection.
Some of the typical signs of infection include:
Symptoms of thrush (a common fungal infection) include thin and watery, or thick and white discharge (sometimes compared to cottage cheese). Other symptoms include intense itchiness and pain around the vagina. The discharge from thrush does not have a strong smell.
Thrush can be treated simply with antifungal cream, pills, or both, which are sold at pharmacies.
If you notice abnormal discharge together with symptoms of pain in the pelvis or on urination, painful sex, or bleeding between periods, it is important to see your doctor. These can be signs of STIs such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, or of a serious infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries, known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can also be a complication of an untreated STI.
Blisters in the genital area are a sign of genital herpes virus infection (HSV), and it is advised that you see a doctor as soon as possible to get tested and discuss options for treatment.
If you notice an unusually strong or foul-smelling discharge, and you have been attending to the basics of personal hygiene, this could be a sign of either of two types of infection.
The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) include white or greyish-coloured discharge, together with a strong fishy smell, which may be more intense after sexual intercourse. BV occurs when the natural bacteria (flora) of your vagina becomes imbalanced. BV does not usually cause itching or irritation.
BV is extremely common and isn’t sexually transmitted, although in some cases having a new sexual partner may trigger a bacterial vaginal imbalance. It is easily treated with antibiotics, which can be prescribed by a doctor.
If you experience large quantities of frothy, yellow, or green discharge, together with a strong fishy odour, you may have trichomoniasis, which is a common STI caused by a tiny parasite. Other symptoms of trichomoniasis include pain, swelling and itching in the vagina or vulva and pain with urination.
Abnormal vaginal discharge is usually a sign of infection, or something that has disrupted the natural balance of flora in your vagina. Douching or washing the vagina can disrupt this balance. You may also have a sexually transmitted infection, or an overgrowth of yeast.
Some of the most common causes of abnormal vaginal discharge include:
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