You've noticed more discharge than usual, or it looks different from last week, and now you're searching to find out whether that's normal. Most of the time it is.
Normal vaginal discharge is clear or white, has little or no smell and changes in amount and texture through your cycle. It's worth getting checked when discharge changes colour (yellow, green or grey), smells fishy or unpleasant, looks like cottage cheese or is blood-stained. The same goes when it comes with itching, burning, soreness or pelvic pain. Discharge that keeps coming back after treatment, or any new discharge after the menopause, should be examined by a gynaecologist.
Most changes have a simple, treatable cause. If yours is persistent or unexplained, a private gynaecology consultation (£250, 117a Harley Street) gives you an examination and a clear plan.
Normal vs abnormal discharge at a glance
| Usually normal | Worth getting checked | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Clear, white or slightly cloudy | Yellow, green, grey or blood-stained |
| Smell | None or mild | Fishy or strong |
| Texture | Stretchy mid-cycle, creamy after ovulation | Frothy, or thick and lumpy like cottage cheese |
| Other symptoms | None | Itching, burning, soreness, pelvic pain or bleeding |
| Pattern | Changes with your cycle | New after the menopause, or returns after treatment |
What normal discharge looks like
Vaginal discharge is the body's way of keeping the vagina clean and moist. It is produced by glands in the cervix and vaginal walls, and its appearance changes through your menstrual cycle in response to hormone levels.
After your period (days 5-9): Little to no discharge. What there is tends to be dry or slightly sticky.
Approaching ovulation (days 10-14): Discharge increases. It becomes clear, wet and stretchy, similar to raw egg white. This is fertile mucus, and its job is to help sperm travel through the cervix. If you notice this mid-cycle, your body is doing exactly what it should.
After ovulation (days 15-28): Discharge becomes thicker, creamier, and white or slightly cloudy. This is the progesterone phase. The thicker consistency blocks the cervix.
During pregnancy: Discharge typically increases and becomes milky white. This is called leucorrhoea and is normal.
On hormonal contraception: The pill, patch or hormonal coil can reduce or change discharge patterns. Some women on the progesterone-only pill notice thicker, white discharge throughout the cycle. This is a normal hormonal effect.
The key point: white or clear discharge without smell, itching or burning is almost always normal. It varies in quantity and consistency from woman to woman, and from cycle to cycle. If you searched "white creamy discharge" and ended up here, what you have is almost certainly normal progesterone-phase discharge.
When discharge is worth checking
A change in colour, consistency or smell, or discharge that comes with itching, burning or pain, may point to an infection or another condition that needs treatment.
White, thick, cottage-cheese-like discharge with itching
This is the classic presentation of thrush (vaginal candidiasis). It is caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which lives naturally in the vagina. Thrush is not sexually transmitted. Antibiotics, stress, high blood sugar or hormonal changes can all trigger it. Over-the-counter antifungal treatment (pessary or oral capsule) clears most cases within a few days.
If thrush keeps coming back (four or more times a year), a longer course of treatment or investigation for underlying causes (such as diabetes or immune issues) is worth doing.
Grey or off-white discharge with a fishy smell
This is typically bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age. BV comes from an imbalance in the natural vaginal bacteria rather than a specific pathogen. It isn't an STI, though sex, new partners or douching can trigger it.
BV is treated with antibiotics (metronidazole). It often recurs, and if you are getting repeated episodes, a longer treatment course or maintenance regime may help.
Yellow or green discharge
Yellow or green discharge suggests infection, particularly if it is thick, frothy or strong-smelling. Possible causes include trichomoniasis (an STI), gonorrhoea or chlamydia. These need testing and antibiotic treatment.
If your discharge has turned yellow or green, a sexual health screen is the fastest way to identify the cause. Results for most infections are available within a few days.
Watery or blood-tinged discharge between periods
Small amounts of watery discharge outside your period can be normal, particularly around ovulation. If it is persistent, heavy or blood-tinged, it is worth checking. Possible causes include cervical ectropion, polyps or (rarely) cervical or endometrial changes, and the right test here is a gynaecological examination.
A smear test is designed to find cervical cell changes in women without symptoms, so persistent or blood-stained discharge needs an examination even after a normal smear. If you are also due screening, mention it when you book.
If you are bleeding too, our guides to bleeding between periods and bleeding after sex go into more detail.
Discharge after menopause
Any new discharge after menopause should be assessed. Vaginal atrophy (thinning and dryness of the vaginal walls from low oestrogen) can cause a thin, watery discharge. Infections are also possible. A gynaecological examination will identify the cause.
Discharge and STIs
Several sexually transmitted infections change your discharge, and some cause no symptoms at all. If you have a new sexual partner, have had unprotected sex, or notice a sudden change in your discharge, a sexual health screen is a sensible first step.
The infections most often linked to discharge changes are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and mycoplasma genitalium. All are treatable with antibiotics. The earlier they are found, the less likely they are to cause complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect fertility.
Looking after your vaginal health
Let the vagina clean itself. It does this well on its own. Douching disrupts the natural vaginal bacteria and increases the risk of BV and thrush.
Keep perfumed products external, or skip them. Scented soaps, washes and wipes can irritate the vaginal lining and alter pH balance when used internally.
Come and see us if…
- You have a new partner, have had unprotected sex, or your discharge is yellow or green. Start with STI testing: women's STI screening at Sexual Health Clinic London, or our sexual health screen at Harley Street.
- Your discharge is persistent or recurrent, thrush or BV keeps returning, there is blood in it, you have pelvic pain, or it is new after the menopause. Book a consultant gynaecology consultation with Dr Hikmat Naoum (£250 at 117a Harley Street) for an examination and tests chosen for your symptoms.
- You have no symptoms and are due cervical screening. Book a private smear test (£245 including a mini consultation).
Worried about a change in discharge?
If your discharge has changed and you want it checked, book a consultant gynaecology appointment online or call 020 7183 1049. No GP referral needed.
Ground Floor, 117A Harley Street, Marylebone, London W1G 6AT
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