Your vaginal discharge helps keep your vagina clean, healthy, and lubricated. The vagina has a dynamic and well-regulated ecosystem where the balance of bacteria, pH, and moisture comes into play. Changes outside and within the body can easily affect this balance.
While it’s common for your vaginal discharge to change throughout the menstrual cycle, you might see some odd changes that may make you question if it’s normal — especially with the color.
You might start backtracking on everything you did and ate when you encounter something odd, but you shouldn’t panic immediately because many colors are actually normal. Even if there wasn’t anything different in your day-to-day life, you might want to know what these colors mean.
What colors are there in the vaginal discharge rainbow?
Clear Transparent
Clear discharge is very common. It’s usually slippery or has a consistency similar to egg whites. Your vaginal discharge is most likely going to be clear when you’re ovulating or sexually aroused, or when the vagina is rebalancing itself.
White
The shade of white you’ll see can range from eggshell to cream. White discharge is often normal and a sign of healthy lubrication. If it’s not accompanied by other bothersome symptoms, then you shouldn’t be worried.
Watch out for consistency and odor. Unusually thick consistency similar to cottage cheese, thin consistency, strong or fishy odor, itching, or burning may be signs of an infection. If you notice any of these along with your white discharge, it’s best to consult a doctor.
Red to Brown
Your body will usually emit red or brown bloody discharge during your period. The color can range from bright red to rusty brown. Having discharge in this color a little before or after your period might be early bleeding or just old blood dripping out.
It’s recommended to see a doctor if you experience bleeding in between periods or bloody discharge throughout the entire month.
Pink
A pink discharge may signify that there’s some bleeding going on, but that doesn’t always mean an emergency! Blush pink to deep pink discharge may mark the coming of your period or beginning of your cycle.
Sexual intercourse may also result in pink discharge, especially when there are small tears or irritation in the vagina or cervix.
Health problems may sometimes also result in pink discharge. If you notice or experience anything odd in your body, go see your doctor.
Yellow to Green
Discharge with a very light yellow hue is actually more normal than you think, and doesn’t usually mean that there’s a problem. Mucus from the vagina and cervix sometimes turn yellow when exposed to air. Changes in diet or dietary supplements can also make your discharge yellow.
Discharge with shades ranging from dark yellow to green could be a sign of an infection, especially when accompanied by other symptoms. Consult a healthcare provider if it’s thick and clumpy with strong fishy odor, and you’re experiencing itching, burning, or any vaginal discomfort.
Gray
Gray discharge is not healthy, and could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis (BV) or trichomoniasis. Other symptoms that they can also show are itchiness, irritation, strong odor, and redness around the vulva or vaginal opening.
Go see your doctor immediately if you have gray discharge. Antibiotics or antibacterial ointments may be prescribed after proper diagnosis.
When should I be worried?
Infections and changes in the level of hormones are usually the causes of changes in vaginal discharge. If you notice anything odd in the color, watch out for these other symptoms too:
- Itching
- Burning sensation
- Pain or discomfort
- Strong, foul odor
- Frothy discharge
- Thick discharge, like cottage cheese
- Bleeding not related to your period
Your body will give out signs and cues when there’s something wrong. Go to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms so you can get checked and treated if necessary.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/vaginal-discharge-color-guide#takeaway
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322232.php#outlook
https://www.self.com/story/vaginal-discharge-colors
Good evening po, ask ko lng po kung anong pwedeng maging reason nitong nararanasan ko. Last month pa po kasi may araw na sobrang kati po nung private part ko,kahit mahigit isang Linggo na last period ko ang sakit prin ng puson ko bali apat or limang araw po. and iba po lagi amoy. Ngayon po may mens ako color brown po sya at iba rin po ang amoy.
Hi, Yine! Maraming posibleng sanhi ng iyong nararanasan, gaya ng impeksyon o kondisyon. Doktor lang po ang makakasuri sa inyo at makakapagtukoy kung ano ang tiyak na sanhi. Mabuting makipag-ugnay na kaagad sa OB/GYN ukol dito o magpunta sa malapit na health center para makita ang sanhi at mapayuhan ka kung ano ang angkop na lunas para sa iyong sitwasyon.
Wala po bang ibang way para magamot ang yeast infection? Nakakahiya rin po kasi sa doctor hehe ask lang po
Hi! Hindi naman po kayo huhusgahan o ibabash ng doktor kapag may sakit o impeksyon kayo. Ang pagkonsulta sa kanila ay ang tanging paraan para mapayuhan sa angkop na lunas at tuluyang mawala ang impeksyon.
Hello po, ask ko lang po iba po kasi yung amoy ng nalabas sa vagina ko and kahit naghuhugas ako everytime na naihi ako yung amoy nya parang fishy minsan and minsan naman iba din yung amoy may problema poba kapag ganun?
Hi, Gemma! May ilang mga pagkain, gamot, at impeksyon na posibleng sanhi ng mabahong vaginal discharge. May ibang sintomas ka pa po bang nararanasan? Mainam na makipag-ugnay sa OB/GYN kaagad upang masuri kung ano ang sanhi ng iyong nararanasan at mapayuhan ka kung ano pwedeng gamot. Siguraduhin rin na palaging malinis ang ari sa pamamagitan ng paghugas nito araw-araw. Gumamit lamang ng maligamgam na tubig, at dahan-dahan dampiin para matuyo bago magsuot ng malinis na panty. Iwasan rin ang pagsuot ng masisikip na damit, at huwag muna makipagtalik habang hindi pa nakakapunta sa doktor. Basahin niyo rin po ito: https://doitright.ph/tl/ibat-ibang-amoy-ng-ari-at-ang-kanilang-mga-sanhi/
hi po.. this month po napaaga ang regla ko pero I find it hindi normal kasi po dati rati 2nd day malakas pero ngaun halos konti lang po.. d pa npupuno un napkin ko at pagktapos ng dalawang arw kulay chocolate po un lumalabas na po pero wala nmn po amoy. 39 na po ako.. maari po naay pagbbgo sa hormones ko? or kelangan ko po ba mag alala? maraming salmat po.
Hi, Melanie! Maraming pwedeng magdulot ng mga pagbabago sa regla, at kasama rito ang ilang mga impeksyon, sakit, stress, diyeta, at biglaang pagbabago ng timbang. May ibang sintomas pa bang nararanasan?
hi ask lang po itong week na to is date ng pagkakaroon kopo pero hnd poji dinatnan ng tuloy tuloy paunti unti lang po lumalavas and kulay black red po sya anu po kata dahilab nun
Hi, Rodelyn! Maraming pwedeng magdulot ng mga pagbabago sa regla, at kasama rito ang ilang mga impeksyon, sakit, stress, diyeta, at biglaang pagbabago ng timbang. May ibang sintomas pa bang nararanasan? Mabuting makipag-ugnay sa OB/GYN o malapit na health center para magpasuri kung ano ang sanhi at mapayuhan ka kung ano pwedeng solusyon para dito. Baka makatulong rin ito sa iyo: https://doitright.ph/tl/mga-dapat-malaman-tungkol-sa-iregular-na-siklo-ng-regla/
Hi po ask kolang po posible po bang buntis ako? Kasi march 9-15 period ko tapos april until now hindi pa po ako nagkakaroon.. 1year and 3months napo yung baby ko at pure breast feeding po ako .. Sana po masagutan tanong ko kasi kinakabahan napo ako ayoko pa po masundan si baby sana sagutin niyo po
Hi, Camille! Nasubukan niyo na po ba magpregnancy test?
Hi po maan possible po bang buntis ako kase po march 24-27po ako niregla tapos nung April hanggang ngaun po hindi pa ako dinadatnan breastfeeding po ako simula pagkapanganak ko hanggang ngayun 1year and 3months na baby ko sana po matulungan nyo ako kase po kinakabahan po ako baka mabuntis ako agad ang liit pa ng baby ko
Hi, Camille! Kung nangangambang buntis, ang tanging paraan para malaman ay mag-pregnancy test.
Hi po ask q lng po.. last mens q ay March 23 pero ng condom po mr q para safe kso april 23 dpt aq ng magkaroon pero till now wla p po . 3 days n po wala pa. N paparanoid n po aq kakaisip dhil mg 3 months plng c baby q. Maari po bng ng iba lng ng date dhil pure breastfeeding aq. At ung hormones ng babae ay ng iiba? Slmt po
Hi, Sandy! Opo, normal pong irregular ang menstruation kapag breastfeeding, lalo na kapag pure, dahil po sa antas ng mga hormones. Magiging regular po uli ito kapag tumigil na sa pagbebreastfeed.