Topic: Vaginal Discharge
Description
Unusual vaginal discharge may be a sign of an infection. Some of these can be serious. Some may cause problems later in life if they are not treated.
Do's
If you are concerned about any vaginal discharge or have some other concern about your health, you should see your doctor, family planning clinic or sexual health clinic.
Practical Advice
What is normal?
- In young girls before the age of puberty:
- any vaginal discharge should be discussed with your doctor, clinic nurse or health worker
- bacteria from the bowel can cause infection in the vagina of young girls
- poor hygiene, pinworms and something put inside the vagina can all cause irritation and discharge
- sexually abused girls can also develop sexually transmitted infections of the vagina causing discharge. - After puberty:
- vaginal secretions are produced normally due to the female hormone oestrogen,
- a range of bacteria are normally present in the vaginal secretions
- the amount of discharge normal women produce varies from woman to woman
- the amount of discharge is different at different stages of the menstrual cycle:
- just before and just after the period, the discharge may be thicker and white
- in the middle of the cycle, around the time of ovulation, there may be more discharge and it is usually clear and runny like egg white
- women on the oral contraceptive pill may notice less discharge
- the smell of normal vaginal discharge may change, although it is not normally offensive
- general health and well-being may affect the amount and quality of discharge. - After menopause:
- oestrogen is no longer produced
- the lining of the vagina and the skin around the outside of the vagina become thinner
- there are less vaginal secretions
- the vagina can become quite dry
- replacement oestrogen, called hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reverse these changes.
Abnormal vaginal discharge may include:
- an unusual increase in the amount of discharge
- an unusual and unpleasant smell
- an unusual yellow or green colour
- a discharge which is accompanied by itching, irritation or vulval swelling and pain.
Causes of abnormal vaginal discharge may include:
- Infection:
- Thrush (Candidiasis) - often thick white discharge, usually itchy
- Trichomonas - may be a fishy smell
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Chlamydia
-Gonorrhoea - tampon left in too long
- something put into vagina and left there (eg. broken condom)
- allergy to:
- latex (condoms)
- medicated vaginal creams such as those used to treat thrush - irritation caused by:
- douching agents
- soaps, detergents
- spermicides - Toxic shock syndrome: this has been associated with tampon use and is fortunately uncommon. Women with toxic shock syndrome are usually quite unwell and have a high fever.
Other Resources
Queensland Health - Sexual Health website
Related Content
Thrush (Candidiasis) fact sheet
Bacterial Vaginosis fact sheet
Safe Sex fact sheetLast updated: 20th October, 2009
Review Date: 30th June, 2010
