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Conditions

Vaginal Discharge

Test for the presence of vaginal discharge

It’s perfectly normal for all women to experience vaginal discharge. However, this nugget of information will be of little comfort to you if your handbag is a repository for clean pairs of ‘emergency knickers’. Vaginal discharge usually begins just before puberty and ends after the menopause. Effectively this is your vagina cleaning itself. Normal discharge is clear, white or creamy and may give off a musky smell, but it’s not unpleasant. You may notice the amount changing from time to time and getting heavier just before your period. Sexual arousal or pregnancy may also bring an increase. However, if your discharge becomes thicker and has a consistency rather like cottage cheese, then you may have a bacterial infection such as thrush. And if it’s a greenish yellow colour then it may be more serious and could be a symptom of gonorrhoea or trichomoniasis. And be warned: chlamydia may also cause a change in your vaginal discharge.

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

Hi, Im 22. Ive had discharge since i was 11 and is there any way of preventing the smell? Its not very pleasant. As well as is there a way where we can wear underwear and it wont stain or discolour. Im forever using panty liners and im trying to find something new?? Can you help?





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hello , My name is Ella . This month i didn`t took my contraseptions, after 6 months, and from the 20th to 23rd this month i had my period. On the 29th it started again, is not a heavy bleeding , but i am just worried is it normal? I will be more than gratefful, if you coud come back to me with an answer . Thank you!





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Im 15 and ive had this Vaginal Discharge since i started my period at 11, I get the dischange everyday which means i have to wear a pad everyday its hard because it also sometimes can not smell nice and make me feel really low about myself i chose not to do p.e a lot cos im worried people can smell it .. please help.. im just going into gcse dance and i wondered if anything could help ?





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Hiya... I was due on my period THursday but still haven't come on... I start taking my pill again Sunday... However i have been getting brown discharge which doesnt smell to nice!! Could you possible tell me what it is x





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okay vaginal discharge bleeches my underwear and about a 4 days ago i went pee and wipped and on my toliet paper was white mucus the size of two toonies side bye side with a little blood on the corner... then got my period like the next night





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Last night I woke up to water coming out of my vagina, is this normal? I have now started spoting? i have missed two pills but I am not due on my period for over a week. should I go to the doctor?





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Im 15 and ive had this Vaginal Discharge since i started my period at 11, I get the dischange everyday which means i have to wear a pad everyday its hard because it also sometimes can not smell nice and make me feel really low about myself i've missed loads of school because of it and as im in my last year its really important not too, Im to imbarrasted to talk too my parents about it, please help! Lilly.





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I'm in my late teens I have regular sex with my boyfriend of nearly a year, but I've noticed a strong, unplesent smell from my vagina, and so has he, so much so I dint let him give oral to me, I need help, it's bringing me down, and I can't speak to my parents about it :( please help!





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Im 18 and have been with my partner for nearly a year, but within the past 6 months during sex i have a sharp pain that feels like it is in my cervix, it has got worse over the past 2 months and i have been left in tears through the pain. These pains also re occour sometimes during the day after we have had sex. Its getting me down because now i feel as if we cant have sex incase it happens again. Since these pains have worsend I have also had an increase in vaginal discharge, i don't know if they are connected but it had become much thicker and i can feel it sitting in my knickers sometimes. This is also knocking my bedroom confidence!! can you help?!





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I'm 15 and suffer from excessive vaginal discharge. It is becoming very inconvient as it happens all the time. During PE lessons i am aware of it and worry greatly as we are forced to wear shorts. I am confident that there is nothing amiss with my body, however i am curious regarding ways that the discharge can be prevented as it is embarrasing.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


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More Information

  1. Doctor Responses: Vaginal Discharge

    In Videos - Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about vaginal…

  2. Episode 1

    In Episodes - The first set of cases through the EI doors included cases of Piles…

  3. How To Check Your Vulva

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your vulva against vulval ca…

  4. Vaginas

    In Episodes - The EI team roll into Norwich to setup a clinic in one of the count…

  5. Consultation: Vaginal Prolapse

    In Videos - Dr Harper examines a woman who has suffered a prolapsed vagina afte…

  6. Consultation: Enlarged Labia

    In Videos - A woman comes to see Dr McKenna about her enlarged labia.

  7. Consultation: Second Adult Circumcision

    In Videos - Dr Jessen examines a patient in need of a new circumcision

  8. Dr Priya Manickavasagar

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Priya.

  9. Dr James Russell

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr James Russell.

  10. Consultation: Soreness on the Penis

    In Videos - A patient is examined for soreness around his penis

  11. Doctor Responses: Enlarged Labia

    In Videos - Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about enlarge…

  12. Dr Christian Jessen

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Christian

  13. Dr Pixie McKenna

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Pixie.

  14. Dr Dawn Harper

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Dawn.

  15. How To Check Your Testicles

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your balls against testicula…


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