7 types of vaginal discharge
From menstrual cycles and pregnancy to STIs, learn about typical vaginal discharge and when you should see a healthcare provider.
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Vaginal discharge is typically a natural bodily function, especially during certain life experiences such as pregnancy and menopause.
In fact, many of the fluids in your vagina are there to protect you: Healthy discharge includes vaginal skin cells, bacteria, mucus and fluid that come from the vagina and the cervix, which is the narrow opening of the uterus. This fluid guards against vaginal and urinary tract infections (UTIs) and helps lubricate vaginal tissues.
But discharge can also be a sign of an underlying health issue. If something doesn’t look, feel or smell right, it’s best to see your healthcare provider (HCP), says women’s health specialist Jackie Moore, DNP, WHNP-BC, of Women’s Health Partners and Summerville Medical Center in South Carolina. Here’s what to know about how vaginal discharge should look, when it might change, and when to see a healthcare provider (HCP).
Sources: American Pregnancy Association. Cervical Mucus and Early Pregnancy. Accessed December 15 + 17
- American Pregnancy Association. Cervical Mucus and Early Pregnancy. Accessed December 15, 2022.
- American Pregnancy Association. Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy. Accessed December 15, 2022.
- Spence D, Melville C. Vaginal discharge. BMJ. 2007;335(7630):1147-1151.
- Khaskheli M, Baloch S, et al. Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1302-1308.
- MedlinePlus. Vaginal delivery – discharge. Reviewed October 5, 2020.
- North American Menopause Society. Changes in the Vagina and Vulva. Accessed December 15, 2022.
- Angelou K, Grigoriadis T, et al. The Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: An Overview of the Recent Data. Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7586. Published 2020 Apr 8.
- Moral E, Delgado JL, Carmona F, et al. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Prevalence and quality of life in Spanish postmenopausal women. The GENISSE study. Climacteric. 2018;21:167–173.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Treatment of Urogenital Symptoms in Individuals With a History of Estrogen-dependent Breast Cancer. December 2021.
- Go Ask Alice. Vaginal discharge vs. lube from being turned on? Last updated March 4, 2014.
- Sexwise (UK). Sexual Pleasure. Last updated February 2018.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Basic Fact Sheet. Page last reviewed January 5, 2022.
- Joseph RJ, Ser HL, et al. Finding a Balance in the Vaginal Microbiome: How Do We Treat and Prevent the Occurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis? Antibiotics (Basel). 2021;10(6):719. Published 2021 Jun 15.
- WomensHealth.gov. Douching. Page last updated February 22, 2021.
- Mayo Clinic. Bacterial vaginosis. July 21, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fungal Diseases: Vaginal Candidiasis. Page last reviewed July 13, 2022.
- Willems HME, Ahmed SS, et al. Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A Current Understanding and Burning Questions. J Fungi (Basel). 2020;6(1):27. Published 2020 Feb 25.
- MedlinePlus. Vaginal itching and discharge - adult and adolescent. Reviewed July 13, 2021.
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