What causes vaginal discharge?

Normal discharge is often clear or white and may vary in amount and texture during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or sexual arousal. Vaginal thrush commonly causes discharge with itching, soreness, or irritation. A change in smell or colour, pain when urinating, bleeding after sex, or pelvic pain can occur with infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or trichomoniasis. Pelvic inflammatory disease may cause discharge alongside lower abdominal pain, fever, pain during sex, or bleeding between periods. Cervical ectropion can produce extra mucus or bleeding after contact without being an infection. Appearance alone cannot reliably identify the cause.

Note when the discharge started, its colour, texture, smell, and associated symptoms. Avoid douching, scented washes, and products that irritate the vulva. If the change is new, recurrent, or follows sex with a new partner, arrange an examination and appropriate swabs or urine tests. Avoid self-treating repeatedly when the diagnosis is uncertain. If an infection is found, follow the prescribed course and ask whether partners need testing or treatment; antibiotics and antifungal medicines treat different causes.

Seek prompt medical care for discharge with fever, worsening lower abdominal pain, vomiting, feeling faint, or pain during pregnancy. Arrange testing soon for a strong new smell, green or yellow discharge, genital sores, bleeding after sex, or pain when urinating. Urgent assessment is needed for severe pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, or fainting. These features can indicate an infection or another problem requiring timely treatment.

Does the pattern suggest thrush, an STI, cervical ectropion, or pelvic infection? Which tests are needed, and should my partner be tested? When is it safe to have sex again, and what treatment should I use?