Discharge. What is it? Why do we have it?

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Discharge What is it? Why do we have it?

No one ever talks about discharge, right? So, I will…

I’m surprised at how many women don’t and have never discussed this subject.  I mean, it’s not something you want to talk about over dinner, but I wish I knew more about it from a medical perspective when I was younger, so I knew not to be embarrassed or uncomfortable about talking about it.

Vaginal discharge is a fact of life, as women, we all have it, and we may not even think twice about it, but what is discharge, how can you tell what is normal, and what may be an indication of a problem?

Why do we have discharge?

Discharge serves a purpose: It keeps the vagina clean, it acts as a lubricant for sexual intercourse, and it acts as a protective shield to keep infections away. Normal vaginal discharge is slightly acidic which is good, because germs don’t like it.  Vaginal discharge has an important function in the female reproductive system.  The fluid made by glands inside the vagina and cervix carries away dead cells and bacteria.  This keeps the vagina clean and helps prevent infection.

Discharge is usually clear or creamy in color. Sometimes there might be a slight yellow tint to it.  We don’t really see it usually unless we see it on our underwear. 

During our premenopausal years, a small amount of vaginal discharge is usually present throughout the month. The quantity is different in every woman and it changes during the stages of pregnancy and during the different phases of your menstrual cycle.

What are the colors of discharge?

There are different looks to discharge in the vagina at different stages throughout a woman’s life cycle. When is discharge healthy and when is it not?  Here is a chart to give you a visual perspective.

Most of the time discharge is perfectly normal. There can be a slight odor, and its color can range from clear to a milky whiteish color, depending on the time in your menstrual cycle. There will be more discharge when you are ovulating, breastfeeding, or sexually aroused.  It may smell different when you’re pregnant or you’ve been letting your personal hygiene decline.

None of those changes is cause for alarm. However, if the color, smell, or consistency seems quite different than usual, especially if you also have vaginal itching or burning, you could be dealing with an infection or other condition.

Usually, a normal color discharge is either clear or white. If the color of your discharge looks gray, yellow-green, pink, or red, these colors could indicate a problem. Also, there might be a problem if white discharge is accompanied by thick lumpy discharge.

Vaginitis is a broad term that includes yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and others.  I will be discussing yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis here.

Yeast Infections

I haven’t had a yeast infection in years, but when I was younger… boy did I have a lot! I remember it itched so bad that I felt like Ballou from Jungle book against a tree, except I was on the side of a chair and I wasn’t itching my back!  Yeast infection symptoms include itching and thick white lumpy discharge (like cottage cheese).  It causes soreness, irritation and burning. Typically, there is no odor.

What causes yeast infections? Basically, too much yeast in the vagina.  Some common causes of yeast infections are:

  1. Antibiotics – This is the most common reason.  Antibiotics kill some of the good bacteria, which allows yeast to overgrow.
  2. Increased estrogen – Pregnant women and high dose estrogen birth control pills contribute to this.
  3. Immunodeficiency – due to corticosteroid medication, cancer treatment and HIV infections.
  4. Diabetes – Yeast is nourished by excess glucose.
  5. Cancer treatments – caused by different medications
  6. Sexual activity – yeast can be transferred between sexual partners.

Some things you can do to decrease your risk factors:

  1. Wear cotton underwear
  2. Change tampons frequently
  3. Don’t douche.  (Our vagina is a self-cleaning oven)
  4. Wipe from front to back
  5. Don’t use scented feminine hygiene products
  6. Use lubricant during sex to help prevent irritation
  7. Avoid hot baths or Jacuzzi’s

Again, there are different looks to your discharge, and they all have a different tale to tell. Thick white discharge is common at the beginning and at the end of your cycle. Normal white discharge is not accompanied by itching.  If itching or thick white discharge is present, it can indicate a yeast infection.

There are many treatments available that can cure a yeast infection, including over the counter creams like Monistat, or prescription pills like Diflucan.  

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Symptoms may include itching and /or burning in or around the outside of the vagina. It may be thin and milky, white or grayish, with a mild to strong fishy odor, especially after sex.

It usually occurs when there is a change in the vaginal pH and your vagina has more harmful bacteria than good bacteria. Sex with a new partner, or multiple partners may increase your risk of BV.

Treatments include prescription cream, gel or pills. The most common medication for BV is antibiotics and can only be prescribed from a health care professional.

  1. Use safe hygiene practices
  2. Probiotics – I use a probiotic that was recommended by my doctor
  3. A few alternative remedies include:
    1. Apple cider vinegar
    2. Garlic
    3. Boric Acid
    4. Tea tree oil

Some homeopathic ways to prevent BV are:

I have not used any of these alternative remedies, so before trying any of these, talk to your doctor.  If you do have BV, I think that an antibiotic is the best way to go.

What does mucus look like?

Remember the movie Ghostbusters? Do you remember when they get slimed? Healthy cervical mucus kind of looks like slime.

Clear and stretchy mucus is the fertile mucous and means you are ovulating. 

Clear and watery mucus occurs at different times of your cycle and can be particularly heavy after exercising.

Yellow or green mucus may indicate an infection, especially if it is thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a bad odor.

Brown mucus may happen right after your period, and its basically just cleaning out your vagina.  Old blood tends to have a brown color.

If you are pregnant, sometimes in the beginning your can have a brownish discharge at the time your period would normally come.

Menopause and discharge

I tell you all about discharge in our earlier years, to prepare you for what happens during menopause.   After menopause, estrogen levels decrease substantially.  As a result, the amount of normal discharge usually decreases. This discharge may be watery and thin and yellowish. 

As your body experiences longer, shorter or even skipped periods, changes to vaginal discharge may follow.  You may also experience vaginal dryness (atrophic vaginitis) as menopause advances.

So again, before perimenopause your discharge may be clear, white, sticky, mucus like, watery, or mild (but not foul) in odor. Then, during perimenopause, your discharge may take on a brownish tint. It may also be thin and watery or thick and clumpy.  These changes usually aren’t cause for concern because during perimenopause your estrogen levels become more erratic and decrease. Estrogen will rise and fall at random as your body begins its transition into menopause.

Eventually, your estrogen levels will settle into a steady decline.  This decrease in estrogen has a direct impact on vaginal discharge production.  The closer you get to menopause, the less discharge your body will produce.

If your discharge has any of these symptoms:  unusually sticky, yellow, green, or gray, or if its frothy, foamy, bloody, itchy, burning, tender, or foul smelling, you should see your doctor immediately. In addition, if you have pelvic or abdominal pain, or pain during sex or urination you should also see your healthcare professional to rule out infection, or something worse.

My experience

I’m 56 and I am still going through menopause.  I just recently had another period this month, so that puts me at 4 periods in the last year. I still have estrogen and am at perimenopausal levels for estrogen, however, I do not have any progesterone left in my body, so I supplement with some over the counter progesterone cream. (NOW natural progesterone liposomal skin cream with lavender from Amazon). I use one pump a day rubbed in either on my legs, arms abdomen, chest, and rotate daily the area in which I put it on.

Last month I had a lot of clear, stretchy cervical mucous before I started my period.  I was a little surprised at first, because I thought I was done ovulating, however, a woman my age who is still having periods does ovulate occasionally, but not regularly.   Because I am not in full blown menopause, there is a slight chance I could get pregnant.  I might still ovulate at times, but because I probably have no eggs left, or better yet, at 56 my eggs are too tired to create a pregnancy, I think I’m safe.

I hope you enjoyed!

Be kind,

Diana