Unusual discharge is often a sign of infection or inflammation, such as thrush (yeast infection) or bacterial vaginosis (bacterial infection of the vagina). It can be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection, so it's best to have it checked out.
Vaginal discharge that is chunky, foamy or accompanied by itching and changes in color may mean you have an infection. Color: Vaginal discharge is healthy if it's clear, milky white or off-white. Dark yellow, brown, green or grey discharge may indicate an infection or other issue.
Schedule a visit with your health care provider if you have: Greenish, yellowish, thick or cheesy vaginal discharge. Strong vaginal odor. Itching, burning or irritation of your vagina or of the area of skin that surrounds the vagina and urethra, also called the vulva.
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.
If your vaginal discharge increases, changes color or odor, or is suddenly itchy or irritated, see your doctor. You may have a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, or trichomoniasis. Your doctor will need to examine you to make a diagnosis.
Summary. Although white vaginal discharge and cramping with no period can be signs of pregnancy, there are many other conditions that can cause these symptoms. Thick white discharge or foul-smelling vaginal discharge could be a sign of an infection.
Increased discharge can occur for non-alarming, natural processes such as sexual arousal or ovulation. Abnormal discharge may also indicate infection, especially when other signs and symptoms such as a foul smell are present.
For some girls, it's normal to have a lot of vaginal discharge. They may even need to wear a pantiliner to keep their underwear dry. Other girls may not have much vaginal discharge at all. Vaginal fluids should be clear, white, or off-white in color.
Watery discharge after ovulation
Ovulation usually happens 10–16 days before your period starts. You may notice more discharge when you're ovulating. This discharge tends to be clear and stretchy, like an egg white. Right before your period arrives, the discharge may become white and cloudy.
Milky white discharge is sometimes an early sign of pregnancy, or it can mean the body is preparing for ovulation. People who are pregnant may have clear or milky and odorless discharge.
An increase in vaginal discharge can be a sign of pregnancy. It is typically a thin clear, or milky white liquid. Changes to discharge appearance can indicate several health conditions. Anyone with a vagina can experience discharge from this part of the body.
Causes of Watery Vaginal Discharge. Watery vaginal discharge is typically normal and can be due to natural hormonal fluctuations that occur during reproductive processes in a woman's body, like ovulation and pregnancy, or during sexual arousal or menopause.
Normal vaginal discharge in pregnancy is thin, milky white and mild-smelling or odourless. “Everyone's got their normal, and that can increase in pregnancy,” says Harris. “If it changes from normal, that's a good thing to talk about with your healthcare provider.”
Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common causes of a smelly vagina, affecting 15% to 50% of women of reproductive age. 'It's a condition where there's an imbalance in the vaginal flora,' Dr Rosén explains. 'The first symptom is often a fishy smell, which can progress to a frothy, grey or green-ish discharge.
Vaginal discharge can vary in color, texture, and volume during pregnancy. Most discharge should be clear or milky white. Other colors can sometimes indicate an infection or other problems. An increase in vaginal discharge is often one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.
As ovulation nears, your discharge will become wet, stretchy and slippery. The most common analogy used for super fertile cervical mucus is looking and feeling like raw egg whites. If you see that texture, you will know you're at your most fertile time. After ovulation, your cervical mucus goes back to thick and dry.
It's perfectly normal to have a mild-smelling creamy white discharge even before pregnancy. (It's called leukorrhea.) There's just a lot more of it during pregnancy because your body is producing more estrogen, which signals the vagina to produce more discharge.
“A thick, white discharge can be standard, especially if you're not experiencing any abnormal smell or itchiness with it,” Dr. Goje says. Thick, white discharge usually happens between your period and ovulation. The texture could be sticky and paste-like or creamy, almost like the texture of yogurt.
Whether caused by stress, diet, or a health issue like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hormonal imbalance can result in side effects like watery vaginal discharge. However, not all people with PCOS will have excess vaginal discharge.