Vaginal Discharge: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Vaginal discharge varies naturally, but a new change in colour, smell, amount, or associated symptoms needs assessment for its cause.

Healthy discharge can be clear or white and may change in thickness across the menstrual cycle. A new change may involve a different colour, stronger smell, unusual amount, or a thicker or frothy texture. Itching, soreness, burning when passing urine, pain during sex, pelvic pain, or bleeding after sex can provide useful clues. Discharge alone cannot identify a condition, and the same symptom can occur with several different causes.

Arrange a medical review for discharge that is new, persistent, recurrent, or accompanied by itching, soreness, pain, or an unusual smell. Seek prompt care for pelvic or lower abdominal pain with fever, feeling faint, vomiting, or bleeding during pregnancy. Urgent assessment is also sensible after sexual exposure when infection is possible, particularly if you have pelvic pain or pain when passing urine. Avoid self-diagnosing from colour alone.

The causes are listed alphabetically rather than as a likelihood ranking. Bacterial vaginosis can alter the balance of vaginal bacteria and cause a noticeable smell. Cervical ectropion can produce mucus or spotting because delicate cells sit on the outer cervix. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are sexually transmitted infections that may cause discharge, though symptoms can be absent. Pelvic inflammatory disease is infection involving the upper reproductive organs. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection that may cause changed discharge and irritation. Vaginal thrush is an overgrowth of yeast often linked with itching and soreness.

A clinician will ask about timing, cycle changes, smell, irritation, pain, medicines, pregnancy possibility, and sexual health. They may examine the vulva and vagina, take a swab, and test urine or a sample for infections. Testing matters because appearance is not enough to separate thrush, bacterial vaginosis, and sexually transmitted infections. If pelvic pain or fever is present, the clinician may assess for infection higher in the reproductive tract and arrange further care.

Treatment is selected after the likely cause is assessed. Bacterial or sexually transmitted infections may need prescribed antibiotics, and sexual partners may need testing or treatment depending on the infection. Pelvic inflammatory disease needs prompt medical management; antibiotic treatment for pelvic infection may be part of that plan. Thrush is treated with an antifungal when the diagnosis fits. Do not use leftover antibiotics or repeated over-the-counter products without advice, because they can delay the correct diagnosis or irritate the area.

Wash the external area gently with water or an unscented product and avoid douching, perfumed sprays, and scented pads. Keep the area dry, change out of damp clothing, and choose breathable underwear. Condoms and testing can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections; discuss testing after a new partner or possible exposure. Taking antibiotics only as prescribed helps avoid unnecessary disruption to normal vaginal bacteria. These steps cannot prevent every cause of discharge, so new changes still deserve assessment.

Record whether the discharge changes around your period and whether you have itching, burning, soreness, urinary discomfort, pain during sex, pelvic pain, fever, or bleeding after sex. These details help a clinician choose the right examination and tests.

A GP, gynaecologist, sexual health service, or midwife can assess new discharge. Until you know the cause, avoid vaginal washes and consider avoiding sex or using condoms if infection is possible. Bring details of recent antibiotics, pregnancy possibility, and any new sexual exposure to the appointment.