Vaginal discharge is a fluid made by the vagina and cervix to stay clean and stop infections.
Different colors and textures can mean different things about your health.
There are 5 common types of vaginal discharge:
- Clear and Watery or Stretchy:
This is normal and healthy. Clear and stretchy fluid like raw egg whites usually means you are ovulating (releasing an egg). Watery and clear discharge can happen during exercise, sexual arousal, or pregnancy.
- Thick, White, and Clumpy:
This often looks like cottage cheese. If it comes with intense itching, burning, or redness, it usually means a yeast infection (thrush). This is a common fungal overgrowth and not a sexually transmitted infection.
- Gray or Thin White-Gray:
A thin, grayish discharge with a strong fishy smell—which often gets worse after sex—is a sign of bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV happens when the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina changes. It is easily treated with prescription medicine from a doctor.
- Yellow or Green:
A thick, cloudy, or frothy yellow or green discharge with a bad smell usually points to an infection. This can be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) like trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. You should see a doctor for testing and treatment.
- Pink, Red, or Brown:
This color is usually just blood mixed with your discharge. It is most common right at the beginning or end of menstrual period. Light spotting can also happen early in pregnancy known as implantation bleeding. If you bleed heavily between your periods or after sex, talk to your doctor.
