Firstly, everyone needs to understand that there is nothing wrong with seeing a little bit oozy, gooey liquid in your underwear. Everyone who is premenopausal will expel around one to one and a half teaspoons of vaginal discharge on a daily basis. So, it’s completely normal!
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But, if you’re really worried about it, here’s how you can tell if your discharge is healthy, or not.
A healthy, happy vagina
When you have a vaginal discharge, most of the time it’s a sign that your vagina is healthy.
Discharge actually helps to clean the vagina, keeping it lubricated and infection-free. What does healthy vaginal discharge look and smell like? Well, it has no odour and it appears clear or milky. The texture can alter depending on many factors, including your menstrual cycle. Sometimes your discharge can look thin and slimy, but as long as it’s smell-free you have nothing to be concerned about.
How do you spot unhealthy discharge?
It’s actually really useful to analyse your discharge every time you go to the loo, because there’s a lot it could be telling you. Your vagina is a sensitive ecosystem, and any change will automatically show up in your discharge. Here are some things you should observe when you’re looking down.
We've established that white discharge is usually safe, but pair it together with some funky smells and textures and you're not in the clear anymore.
Now, if your discharge is white, but the texture is thick, clumpy, and kind of resembles curd, it could be a sign that you have a yeast infection. If it smells a little bit like mould, then it's a sure-fire sign. When you have a yeast infection, you'll most likely be experiencing other symptoms like itching and burning while passing urine.
Discharge that come in shades of yellow and green are definite indicators that something is not quite right with your vagina. Take a small whiff of the discharge. Do you smell something unpleasant? Unfortunately, you might have a sexually transmitted infection, like gonorrhoea or chlamydia.
Grey discharge that is heavier than usual, and very watery could mean that you have bacterial vaginosis. If it has an intense fishy smell, then you need to visit your gynaecologist, as soon as possible.
Finally, seeing discharge with different shades of red and brown should not alarm you, especially if it’s during and after your periods. However, if it persists throughout the month you could be struggling with a vaginal infection.
If you have been noticing any of these signs and symptoms, go get it checked. There is nothing better than a healthy, happy vagina!
