Welcome to Koyo’s series of trusted healthcare articles. If you need more personalised advice, you can chat with a Koyo doctor today.
Written by: Favour Francis | Reviewed by: Dr Ortega Ogomigo
Introduction
You’re getting ready for work one morning when you notice a stain on your underwear. Maybe it’s white today. A few days ago, it looked clear and stretchy. Last month, it had a slight yellow tint. Now you’re wondering if it’s all normal.
Many women in Nigeria worry when they notice changes in their vaginal discharge, especially because there’s a lot of conflicting advice online. Some people may even tell you that any discharge is a sign that something is wrong or that you need to use special soaps or herbal remedies to “cleanse” yourself. But that’s not the case.
Vaginal discharge is a normal part of how your body keeps your vagina healthy. It helps remove dead cells and bacteria, keeps the vagina clean, and maintains the right balance of healthy bacteria. In fact, most women will have some discharge almost every day, and it’s normal for it to change throughout the month.
Depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, your discharge may be clear, white, creamy, or stretchy like raw egg white. These changes are usually nothing to worry about. However, if your discharge suddenly changes colour, develops a strong or unpleasant smell, or comes with itching, burning, pelvic pain, or discomfort, it could be a sign of an infection or another health condition that needs medical attention.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What causes vaginal discharge to change
- Types of vaginal discharge and what they mean
- How to protect vaginal health
Why Does Vaginal Discharge Change?
Vaginal discharge isn’t meant to stay the same every day. In fact, changes in its colour, texture, and amount are often a normal response to what’s happening in your body.
Your hormones play a big role in these changes. As hormone levels rise and fall throughout your menstrual cycle and at different stages of life, your discharge changes too. This is why you might notice more discharge some days, very little on others, or a change from clear and stretchy to creamy or white.
Understanding what causes these changes can help you tell the difference between what’s normal and what might need a doctor’s attention.
Your Menstrual Cycle
One of the biggest reasons your discharge changes is your menstrual cycle.
- Around ovulation:
About halfway through your cycle, you may notice your discharge becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy, similar to raw egg white. This is completely normal. It’s your body’s way of making it easier for sperm to travel if you’re trying to conceive.
- Before your period:
As your next period approaches, your discharge often becomes thicker or white. Some women also notice a slight increase or decrease in the amount. These changes are usually caused by normal hormone shifts.
- After your period:
Once your period ends, you may have very little discharge for a day or two before it gradually increases again. Some women may also notice a small amount of brown discharge, which is often just old blood leaving the body.
Pregnancy
Many women notice an increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy. This discharge is usually thin, milky white, or clear and is known as leukorrhea. It’s a normal change that helps protect the uterus from infections.
However, if the discharge becomes green, grey, has a strong unpleasant smell, or is accompanied by itching, pain, or bleeding, it’s important to speak with a doctor.
Sexual Arousal
Feeling sexually aroused can also increase vaginal discharge. During arousal, the body produces extra lubrication to reduce friction and make sex more comfortable. This discharge is usually clear and disappears after a while.
Birth Control
Hormonal birth control methods, such as birth control pills, injections, implants, or hormonal IUDs, can change the amount or texture of your discharge. Some women notice they have more discharge, while others notice less. As long as there are no other concerning symptoms, these changes are often normal.
Other Hormonal Changes
Hormones don’t only change during your menstrual cycle. Stress, breastfeeding, certain medications, and health conditions that affect hormone levels can also influence how much discharge you produce and what it looks like.
Menopause
As women approach menopause and after their periods stop permanently, oestrogen levels fall. This often leads to less vaginal discharge and increased vaginal dryness. Some women may also experience itching or discomfort because the vagina is no longer producing as much natural lubrication.
Knowing that vaginal discharge naturally changes throughout your life can save you a lot of unnecessary worry. The important thing isn’t whether your discharge changes; it’s whether those changes are accompanied by symptoms such as a strong odour, itching, burning, pain, or an unusual colour, which could point to an infection.
Different Types of Vaginal Discharge and What They Mean
While the colour of your vaginal discharge can give you helpful clues about what’s happening in your body, colour alone doesn’t tell the whole story. You should also pay attention to the texture, smell, the amount of discharge you’re having, and whether you have other symptoms like itching, burning, pain, or irritation.
Here are the most common types of vaginal discharge and what they could mean:
Clear and Watery Discharge
Clear, watery discharge is usually completely normal. It can happen at different times of the month and is your body’s way of keeping the vagina clean and healthy.
You may notice more of it:
- During or after exercise
- During pregnancy
- At different points in your menstrual cycle
- On hot days when you’re sweating more
Clear discharge isn’t usually a cause for concern. However, if it develops a strong unpleasant smell or is accompanied by itching, burning, pelvic pain, or irritation, it could be a sign of an infection that needs medical attention.
Clear and Stretchy Discharge
If your discharge looks clear and stretches between your fingers like raw egg white, don’t panic. This is one of the most common and healthiest types of vaginal discharge.
It usually happens around ovulation, the time your ovary releases an egg. During this period, your body produces more cervical mucus to make it easier for sperm to travel.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, this is often considered your most fertile time of the month.
Unless it’s accompanied by an unusual smell, itching, or pain, clear and stretchy discharge is completely normal.
White or Milky Discharge
White or milky discharge is also considered normal for many women.
You may notice it:
- A few days before your period
- After ovulation
- At different times during your cycle
As long as the discharge is smooth or slightly creamy and doesn’t have a strong smell or come with itching, burning, or pain, it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Many women in Nigeria assume every white discharge means an infection, but that’s a common misconception. Healthy vaginal discharge is often white or off-white.
Thick White Discharge (Cheese-Like)
If your discharge becomes thick, clumpy, and looks similar to cottage cheese, it may be a sign of a yeast infection.
Other symptoms often include:
- Intense itching around the vagina
- Burning, especially during urination
- Redness or swelling of the vulva
- Irritation or soreness
Yeast infections are common and can happen after taking antibiotics, during pregnancy, or if you have diabetes.
Although some women buy over-the-counter treatments as soon as they notice these symptoms, it’s a good idea to speak with a doctor first, especially if it’s your first infection, your symptoms are severe, or the problem keeps coming back. Other infections can cause similar symptoms but require different treatment.
Yellow Discharge
Yellow discharge isn’t always a sign that something is wrong. A light yellow discharge may simply be caused by discharge drying on your underwear or slight changes in your body’s chemistry.
However, dark yellow discharge, especially if it’s thick or accompanied by other symptoms, may point to an infection.
See a doctor if your yellow discharge comes with:
- A strong or unpleasant smell
- Itching
- Burning
- Pain during urination
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during sex
These symptoms may be caused by bacterial infections or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so it’s important to get checked rather than trying to treat yourself at home.
Green Discharge
Green vaginal discharge is not considered normal and should be assessed by a healthcare provider.
It may be caused by infections such as:
- Trichomoniasis (a sexually transmitted infection)
- Certain bacterial infections
Green discharge often comes with a strong smell, itching, burning, or irritation.
Because the exact cause can’t be confirmed based on colour alone, it’s important to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Grey Discharge
Grey discharge is commonly linked to bacterial vaginosis (BV), one of the most common vaginal infections in women.
A major sign of BV is a strong fishy smell, which some women notice more after sex.
Other symptoms may include:
- Thin grey discharge
- Mild itching or irritation
- Burning during urination in some cases
Bacterial vaginosis usually requires medical treatment, so don’t ignore these symptoms or rely only on home remedies.
Brown Discharge
Brown discharge is often old blood leaving your body. Because the blood has taken longer to come out, it turns brown instead of bright red.
You may notice brown discharge:
- Just before your period starts
- A few days after your period ends
- During light spotting between periods
In many cases, this is perfectly normal.
However, you should speak with a doctor if:
- It keeps happening for no clear reason
- It occurs after menopause
- It’s accompanied by severe pain, fever, or a bad smell
- You’re pregnant and notice persistent brown discharge
Pink Discharge
Pink discharge usually contains a small amount of blood mixed with normal vaginal discharge.
It may happen:
- At the beginning or end of your period
- Around ovulation
- During implantation in very early pregnancy
In many cases, it’s harmless.
However, if the bleeding becomes heavy, continues for several days, or is accompanied by severe pain or dizziness, you should seek medical advice.
Bloody Discharge
Bloody discharge is most often your menstrual period.
However, if you’re bleeding when you’re not expecting your period, it’s worth paying attention.
Unexpected bleeding can have several causes, including hormonal changes, certain contraceptives, pregnancy-related conditions, infections, or other medical conditions.
You should see a healthcare provider if you have:
- Bleeding between periods that keeps happening
- Bleeding after sex
- Bleeding after menopause
- Heavy bleeding that’s unusual for you
- Bleeding accompanied by severe pain, fever, or dizziness
Remember, while the colour of your discharge can offer useful clues, it isn’t enough to diagnose the cause. The best way to know whether a change is normal or caused by an infection is to consider your symptoms as a whole and speak to a healthcare provider if you’re concerned.
Common Habits To Protect Vaginal Health
Taking care of your vaginal health isn’t just about treating infections when they happen; it is also about the daily habits that can help prevent them in the first place.
Sometimes, in an effort to stay “extra clean,” women end up doing things that actually upset the vagina’s natural balance. You may have heard advice from friends, family members, or even social media encouraging the use of antiseptics, scented products, or herbal mixtures to wash inside the vagina. While these products may promise freshness, they can do more harm than good.
The vagina is designed to clean itself. It contains healthy bacteria that help maintain the right environment and protect against infections. When this natural balance is disrupted, harmful bacteria or yeast can multiply, leading to abnormal discharge, itching, unpleasant odours, and other symptoms.
Fortunately, keeping your vagina healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple habits can go a long way in reducing your risk of infections and keeping your vaginal health on track.
- Avoid Douching
Douching means washing or flushing the inside of the vagina with water, antiseptics, herbal mixtures, or other cleansing products. While some people believe this makes the vagina cleaner or removes discharge, it actually does the opposite.
Douching can wash away the healthy bacteria that protect your vagina, increasing your risk of infections such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. Since the vagina naturally cleans itself, there’s no need to wash inside it.
- Wash Only the Outside of the Vagina
When bathing, clean only the external genital area (the vulva) using clean water. If you choose to use soap, opt for a mild, unscented cleanser and avoid getting it inside the vagina.
Strong soaps, scented body washes, perfumes, and antiseptics can irritate the delicate skin around the vagina and upset its natural balance.
- Wear Breathable Cotton Underwear
Your underwear can also affect your vaginal health. Cotton underwear allows air to circulate and helps keep the area dry, making it harder for bacteria and yeast to thrive.
If possible, avoid wearing very tight underwear or clothing for long periods, especially in Nigeria’s hot and humid weather, where sweat can build up easily.
- Change Out of Sweaty or Wet Clothes
After exercising, swimming, or getting caught in the rain, try not to stay in damp clothes for too long.
A warm, moist environment encourages the growth of yeast and bacteria, which can increase your risk of infections. Changing into clean, dry clothing as soon as you can is a simple way to protect your vaginal health.
- Practise Safer Sex
Using condoms can help reduce your risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), many of which can cause abnormal vaginal discharge.
It’s also a good idea to get tested regularly if you’re sexually active, especially if you have a new partner or more than one sexual partner.
- Only Use Antibiotics When They’re Prescribed
Antibiotics can be lifesaving when they’re needed, but using them unnecessarily can also kill the healthy bacteria that help protect your vagina. This can increase your risk of developing a yeast infection.
Avoid buying or taking antibiotics without a healthcare provider’s advice, even if someone recommends them based on similar symptoms.
- Manage Diabetes If You Have It
If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar under control is important for many reasons, including your vaginal health.
High blood sugar levels can make it easier for yeast to grow, increasing the risk of recurring yeast infections. If you’re experiencing frequent vaginal infections, you should discuss it with a doctor to make sure your diabetes is well managed.
By following these simple habits, you can help maintain a healthy vaginal environment and reduce your risk of infections.
From the Desk of Koyo Doctors
Your body is constantly giving you signals, and vaginal discharge is one of them. Rather than something to fear or feel embarrassed about, it can be a helpful indicator of your reproductive health.
If you notice a sudden change in your discharge, especially if it comes with a foul odour, speaking to a qualified healthcare provider can help you assess the situation and provide prompt treatment.
At Koyo, our licensed doctors are available to answer your questions and help with any concerns you may have, all from the comfort and privacy of your home. Your health deserves expert care, and help is always within reach.
