Excess Vaginal Discharge: All You Need to Know

Is excess vaginal discharge a cause for concern?

Excess vaginal discharge is not always a cause for concern. For example, some factors such as ovulation and arousal may affect the amount of vaginal discharge you have.

However, excess vaginal discharge may also be a symptom of an underlying condition. Therefore, it may be time to call your doctor if you experience other unusual symptoms.

Here are 13 causes of excess vaginal discharge to watch for:

1. Stress or hormonal imbalance

Having an excess vaginal discharge is a sign that you are stressed or dealing with a hormonal imbalance. For example, stress or other health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cause hormonal imbalances and an increase in vaginal discharge.

PCOS is a common gynecological problem affecting 10% of women of childbearing age. Also, many women report excess vaginal discharge while some experience less.

Other symptoms of PCOS include weight gain, infertility, irregular periods, and excess facial and body hair.

2. Ovulation

Excess vaginal discharge may be an indication that you are ovulating. Moreover, discharge increases in the middle of your menstrual cycle as your ovary prepares to release an egg. The middle of your menstrual cycle is around day 14.

Your discharge may become clearer, stretchier and wetter than before as your ovulation nears. On the other hand, the discharge may decrease and become thick and cloudy after the release of an egg.

Other ovulation symptoms include spotting, one-sided abdominal pain and increased basal body temperature.

3. Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Excess vaginal discharge may be a symptom of STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. That said, chlamydia and gonorrhea may have no symptoms at first.

However, you may experience thick, foul-smelling vaginal discharge or bleeding between periods as the infection progresses.

Other symptoms of STI include lower abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, pain with bowel movements and painful urination.

If gonorrhea and chlamydia, and indeed other STIs are left untreated, they can lead to more serious infection. For example, they may cause infection of the reproductive organs called pelvic inflammatory disease which may cause infertility.

4. Yeast infection

Excess vaginal discharge may be a sign of yeast infection.  In fact, about 75% of women have yeast infections at one time or another.

Yeast infections may occur as a result of:

• High blood sugar
• Antibiotics
• Synthetic clothing
• Tight clothing
• Weak immune system

Additionally, you may experience excess discharge together with:

• Itching
• Watery discharge
• Pain during sex
• Pain during urination
• Redness
• Thick discharge

5. Bacterial vaginosis

Your excess vaginal discharge may be an indication of bacterial vaginosis.

An overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina causes bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis may lead to an increase in fishy-smelling discharge that is white in color, gray, thin or green.

Other symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include burning or pain during urination and vaginal itching.

Moreover, your risk of having bacterial vaginosis may increase with certain practices like having unprotected sex or douching.

6. Pregnancy

Excess vaginal discharge is an early sign of pregnancy. Most if not all women experience increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy.

Excess vaginal discharge helps protect the fetus from infections that may come from the vagina into the uterus. During pregnancy, your discharge may be clear, thin or white in color.

Other early symptoms of pregnancy include:

• Nausea
• Tender breasts
• Increased urination
• Fatigue
• Missed menstruation

7. Hormonal birth control

If you use hormonal birth control, you derive benefits like protection against pregnancy and treatment of acne, cysts and heavy periods.

However, the use of hormonal birth control comes with certain side effects such as increased vaginal discharge. Excess vaginal discharge occurs as your hormones adjust.

Hormonal birth control may also cause changes in libido, headaches, tender breasts and nausea.

8. Arousal

Your excess vaginal discharge may be a sign you are aroused. The blood vessels in your genitals dilate when you are aroused.

As a result of the dilatation of the vessels, your vagina releases fluid as lubrication. This makes the vaginal walls wet, increasing discharge as a result. You may see this wetness at the entry to the vagina.

When aroused, you may also experience swelling of the vulva, flushing on the neck and chest, increased pulse rate and quickened breathing.

9. Breastfeeding

You may experience a type of vaginal discharge, called lochia, in the weeks after childbirth. Breastfeeding may increase the volume of vaginal discharge.

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy begins as dark red bleeding and then changes to a brown or watery pink discharge before eventually turning to creamy yellow color.

Usually, lochia stops four to six weeks after delivering a baby. It is important to note that breastfeeding moms in later stages of breastfeeding report increased discharge.

10. Intrauterine device

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a contraceptive device that is inserted into the uterus. IUD is effective in preventing pregnancy in the long term.

However, IUD is a foreign body and therefore may irritate sensitive uterine tissues. Some women reporthaving brown, watery or smelly discharge with IUDs.

A range of discharge that comes with IUD may be normal. However, some changes in the discharge may signify an infection. For example, you may need to see your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

• Persistent foul odor
• Green, gray or yellow discharge
• Pain around the vaginal opening (or vulva)
• Vulva swelling

11. Allergic reaction

Allergic reaction may occur in and around the vagina just like it occurs on other parts of the body. Common triggers of allergic reaction include sex toys, clothing, douches, toilet paper and cleaners.

Also, you may experience the following symptoms in addition to the excess vaginal discharge:

• Pain during urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Redness
• Itching

12. Tampon or condom

Tampon may cause excess vaginal discharge if you forget to take it out. This is not as uncommon as you may think. For example, you may forget a tampon if you put in a new one before removing the previous one.

Similarly, you may forget about a tampon if your flow is light, especially at the end of your period. Also, you may have heard that condom can get lost in the vagina.

In either case of forgetting a tampon or accidentally losing a condom in the vagina, you may experience excessive, foul-smelling discharge. The discharge color ranges from pink to brown or yellow to green.

Other symptoms of forgetting a tampon or losing a condom include:

• Swelling around the vagina
• Rash around the vagina
• Fever
• Pain during sex
• Pain during urination
• Itching

13. Antibiotics

Antibiotics help with a number of illnesses. However, antibiotics can also disrupt the balance of bacteria in the vagina.

Disrupted vaginal bacteria balance can lead to a yeast infection. Remember that yeast infection is characterized by increased water or cottage cheese-like discharge.

Use of antibiotics may also cause:

• Itching
• Soreness or pain
• Pain during urination
• Burning during sex
• Rash

When is vaginal discharge healthy?

Whether vaginal discharge is healthy or not depends on some factors including:

• Age
• Sexual activity
• Menstrual cycle
• Underlying health conditions
• Medications

You know what? An average woman produces about 5mls of clear, white discharge a day. The texture of the discharge ranges from slippery to creamy and thin to thick. Color may range from off-white or clear to white. Smell of the discharge is relatively odorless.

Your discharge depends on where you are in your cycle.

Depending on where you are in your cycle, you may have more or less discharge. For example, lots of clear or slippery discharge may herald ovulation. Once ovulation has occurred, discharge amount reduces and becomes whiter and thicker.

In the days after your menstrual period, you may experience dark red or brown discharge as the blood continues to exit the uterus.  

So, your discharge is likely normal and healthy provided it is within these ranges. However, anytime you experience other symptoms or a major change in discharge, talk to your doctor about it.

When to see a doctor for an excess vaginal discharge

It is important to note that excess vaginal discharge usually is not cause for concern, unless you are having other unusual symptoms.

Often, vaginal discharge fluctuates depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. However, see a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Itching
• Rashes
• Fever
• Sores
• Pain
• Strange odor
• Bleeding between periods
• Gray, green or yellow discharge

How to manage excess vaginal discharge

Your vaginal discharge may be a source of discomfort even if it is normal. Here are tips on how to mitigate the impact of excess vaginal discharge:

Wear panty liners

Try to wear panty liners when you experience heavy discharge. Panty liners can protect your underpants. Also, they help you stay dryer throughout the day.

Use with cotton underpants

Use cotton underpants. Cotton may help prevent yeast infections, unlike other materials such as nylon which trap heat and increase yeast growth.

Practice good bathroom hygiene

Always wipe from front to back when using the bathroom. This practice will help reduce your risk of certain infections.

Use unscented cleansers

Use unscented cleansers to reduce your risk of irritation. It is best to avoid using soap inside the vagina or using douches.

Instead, gently cleanse the vulva and rinse well with water the keep the tissue healthy. Opt for a gentle feminine wash, formulated specifically for vaginal pH balance.

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