White discharge: what's normal and when to worry

In short: White discharge is usually normal. It is your body's way of keeping the vagina clean and healthy, and it changes through your cycle: clear and stretchy around ovulation, thicker and whiter before your period. It is a sign of infection if it becomes thick and lumpy with itching, grey and fishy-smelling, green or yellow, or comes with pain. See a gynaecologist if your discharge changes like this or worries you.

Many of us feel shy talking about discharge, even with our mothers or friends. So we quietly worry, or read scary things online. Let's talk about it openly, the way sisters would.

Here is the truth: almost every woman has white discharge, and most of the time it means your body is working well.

What is white discharge?

White discharge (often called leucorrhoea) is fluid made by glands in the cervix and vagina. It carries away dead cells and germs, keeps the area moist and protects you from infection. The vagina is self-cleaning, and discharge is how it does that.

Healthy discharge is:

• Clear, white or off-white
• Thin and watery, or thick and sticky, depending on the time of month
• Mild in smell, or with no real smell at all
• Not itchy or painful

It may leave a light yellowish mark on your underwear once it dries. That is normal too.

Why white discharge happens: your cycle explained

White discharge kyu hota hai? Mostly because of oestrogen and progesterone, the hormones that rise and fall through your cycle.

• Just after your period: you may feel quite dry, with little discharge.
• Before ovulation: discharge increases and becomes wetter.
• Around ovulation (mid-cycle): it becomes clear, slippery and stretchy, like raw egg white. This is your most fertile time.
• After ovulation and before your period: it turns thicker, whiter and stickier.

So is white discharge before your period good or bad? It is usually perfectly normal. It is simply the hormone change before your period arrives.

Discharge can also increase when you are sexually aroused, during pregnancy, when breastfeeding, and with stress.

White discharge during pregnancy

In pregnancy, discharge often increases quite a lot. This is because oestrogen is higher and more blood flows to the area. Thin, milky, mild-smelling discharge is common and helps protect against infection. You can read more in the truth about increased vaginal discharge in pregnancy.

But in pregnancy, always tell your doctor if discharge itches, smells bad, changes colour, becomes watery and constant (this may be leaking fluid), or has blood in it. Do not treat yourself.

White discharge vs yeast infection: how to tell

Sometimes discharge changes because of an infection. Common ones are:

• Yeast infection (thrush): thick, white, lumpy discharge, a bit like cottage cheese or paneer crumbs, with itching, burning and redness. Usually no strong smell.
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV): thin, grey-white discharge with a fishy smell, often stronger after sex or during your period. Usually not very itchy.
• Trichomonas and other sexually transmitted infections: yellow or green, frothy or foul-smelling discharge, sometimes with pain when passing urine or during sex.

These infections are common and nothing to be ashamed of. A doctor can treat them easily, but each needs a different treatment, so guessing at home often doesn't work. Infections can be more likely around your period; see yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis during menstruation.

White discharge with lower abdomen pain

Discharge with tummy pain should not be ignored. It can be a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection that has spread up into the womb or tubes. Other signs include fever, pain during sex, and bleeding between periods. PID needs treatment soon, because untreated it can affect fertility later.

Mild cramps before a period with normal white discharge are usually just your cycle. But pain that is new, strong, or comes with smelly discharge or fever needs a doctor.

What helps at home

Gentle care keeps your vagina happy:

• Wash the outside (the vulva) with plain water once or twice a day. A mild, unscented soap on the outer skin is fine; never inside.
• Don't douche or wash inside the vagina. It washes away the good bacteria and makes infections more likely.
• Skip scented washes, sprays, wipes and powders.
• Wear cotton underwear and change it daily, or more often if you sweat a lot.
• Change pads every 4 to 6 hours during your period.
• Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
• Sleep without underwear sometimes, to let the area breathe.
• Eat well, drink enough water, and keep blood sugar in check if you have diabetes.

Daily panty liners are not needed for normal discharge, and can trap moisture.

When to see a gynaecologist

See a doctor if your discharge:

• Becomes thick and lumpy, grey, yellow or green
• Has a strong, fishy or foul smell
• Comes with itching, burning, soreness or swelling
• Comes with pain when passing urine or during sex
• Is suddenly much more than usual and stays that way
• Has blood in it when you are not on your period
• Appears after menopause

Go to a doctor the same day if:

• You have fever with pelvic or lower tummy pain
• Foul-smelling discharge comes with fever or feeling unwell
• You have severe or one-sided tummy pain
• You are pregnant and notice bleeding, a gush or steady leak of watery fluid, or tummy pain

A gynaecologist may gently examine you and take a swab of the discharge to find the exact cause, then suggest the right treatment.

Questions women ask

What is the reason for white discharge?

White discharge is mostly caused by normal hormone changes in your cycle. It keeps the vagina clean, moist and protected. It increases around ovulation, before periods, in pregnancy and with arousal. It is only a worry when the colour, smell or texture changes, or when it comes with itching or pain.

Is white discharge before a period good or bad?

It is usually good, or at least normal. After ovulation, progesterone rises and discharge becomes thicker and whiter in the days before your period. If it is not itchy, has no bad smell and causes no pain, there is nothing to worry about.

Is white discharge normal during pregnancy?

Yes. Thin, milky, mild-smelling discharge often increases in pregnancy because of higher oestrogen. Tell your doctor if it itches, smells bad, turns green or yellow, has blood, or becomes a constant watery leak, since these need checking.

How do I know if it is white discharge or a yeast infection?

Normal discharge is smooth and does not itch. A yeast infection usually causes thick, lumpy, white discharge with itching, burning and redness around the vagina. If you are not sure, or it keeps coming back, see a gynaecologist rather than guessing.

Is white discharge with lower abdomen pain serious?

It can be. Mild cramps before your period are common, but discharge with new or strong tummy pain, fever or a bad smell may mean an infection such as PID. Please see a doctor soon, and the same day if you have fever or severe pain.