What is Abnormal Vaginal Discharge? A Complete Guide!

Most of the time, vaginal discharge is entirely normal. Depending on where in your menstrual cycle, the volume, odour, and colour of your vaginal discharge (which can range from clear to milky white-ish) can change. For instance, you will have more vaginal discharge while ovulating, breastfeeding or sexually aroused. If you neglect your hygiene when pregnant, you might smell different. None of these changes is concerning. So, what is abnormal vaginal discharge? You might have an infection or another problem if the colour, smell, or consistency appears strange, especially if you also experience burning or itching in your vagina.

What is considered abnormal vaginal discharge?

Normal and abnormal vaginal discharge:

A normal vaginal discharge must be white or clear. The odour should be unpleasant, and its thickness will change throughout your menstrual cycle. Other characteristics of vaginal discharge include:

Vaginal discharge can range in consistency from watery and gummy to thick and pasty. The hormones in your body are to blame for this change, but infections and other factors can also affect the nature of your vaginal discharge. Chunky, foamy, or accompanied by irritation and colour changes, vaginal discharge could be an infection.

Clear, milky white or off-white vaginal discharge is considered healthy. However, a dark yellow, grey, brown, yellow, or green discharge is an abnormal vaginal discharge and may signify an infection or an underlying condition.

Although vaginal discharge may have an odour, it shouldn't be strong or unpleasant. If your vaginal discharge has a fishy or unpleasant odour and changes in texture or colour, you may have a vaginal infection.

While some women have a lot of vaginal discharge, others produce less. Ovulation, birth control pill use, and pregnancy can all affect how much vaginal discharge you have. There can be a problem if there is an excessive amount of vaginal discharge.

What are the causes of an abnormal amount of vaginal discharge?

The causes of abnormal discharge could be the following:

Bacterial vaginosis

Cervicitis

Chlamydia trachomatis

Gonorrhea

Forgotten or retained tampon

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Trichomoniasis

Vaginitis

Yeast infection

Some other causes are:

Certain hygiene practices, such as - douching or using scented soaps and sprays

Cervical cancer

Pregnancy

Vaginal atrophy

Vaginal cancer

Vaginal fistula 3

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy:

The consistency, thickness, frequency, and amount of discharge all increase during pregnancy. The vaginal discharge, known as leukorrhea, will change as soon as one to two weeks after sex, even if you haven't missed your period.

As your pregnancy progresses, you may notice this discharge more, and it usually gets heavier towards the end. The hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy are to blame for this. Throughout your pregnancy, you should stay away from tampons and use an unscented panty liner. In the final weeks of pregnancy, you might also observe thick mucus streaks with blood in your discharge (sometimes referred to as "show"). It is a typical early sign of labour and is not cause for concern.4

What does unhealthy discharge mean?

Vaginal discharge can be a sign of an infection if you have the following symptoms -

It causes itching and swelling.

It has a bad or fishy-smelling odour.

It is green, yellow or grey

It looks like cottage cheese or pus.

It causes pelvic pain or pain when you pee.5

What are the types of discharge?

You can have different types of vaginal discharge, and it can range in colour from healthy to concerning. Possible colours include:

Yellow, green, or grey discharge - If your discharge is yellow, green, or grey, you may have a bacterial or STI such as trichomoniasis or bacterial vaginosis. If it is chunky, white, off-white, or yellow, this can be due to a yeast infection.

Brown or red discharge - Implantation bleeding or irregular periods are typically associated with a brown or red discharge. If you have brown or red-tinged discharge not due to your period or menstrual cycle, this may be a sign of an underlying disease that needs attention.

Pink discharge - A pink discharge is normal and only the beginning of your upcoming periods. It may also indicate that you are experiencing unusual uterine bleeding, implantation bleeding, IUD-related bleeding, or vaginal irritation.

Clear or white discharge - Vaginal discharge is frequently clear, white, or off-white in colour. During ovulation, your vaginal discharge may be wet or sticky (like egg whites). However, you may have a yeast infection if your vaginal discharge is white but thicker than usual or itches, while a cloudy white discharge could be an indication of gonorrhea.6

When should I be concerned about an abnormal discharge?

As mentioned above, you must visit a doctor if you have an unusual discharge. You need to identify the causes and available treatments for vaginal discharge. Therefore, if your vaginal discharge appears green, yellow, thick, or cheesy; please consult a doctor. If your vagina or the area around your vagina and urethra (vulva) is red, itchy, burning, or itching. Additionally, you should see a doctor if you experience bleeding or spotting unrelated to your periods or menstrual cycle. Abnormal vaginal discharge may have complications that can be managed with antibiotic and antifungal medications.