A Colour Coded Guide To Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge is a key indicator of vaginal health and is a useful diagnostic tool to help assess vaginal health early. It is common to wonder if the colour and consistency of vaginal discharge are normal or need to be checked by your healthcare practitioner.
CREDIT: Medical news today
What Is Vaginal Discharge?
Vaginal discharge is fluid secreted from tiny glands in the vagina and cervix. This fluid leaks from the vagina each day to remove old cells and debris, keeping the vagina and reproductive tract clean and healthy.
The amount of vaginal discharge can vary significantly from person to person. The color, consistency, and amount can also change from day to day, depending on where a person is in their menstrual cycle:
- Days 1-5. At the beginning of the cycle, discharge is red or bloody, with occasional brown discharge towards the end of menstrual cycle, as the body sheds the uterine lining.
- Days 6-14. Following a period, a person may notice less vaginal discharge than usual. As the egg starts to develop and mature, the cervical mucus will become cloudy and white or yellow. It may feel sticky.
- Days 14-25. A few days before ovulation, the mucus will be thin and slippery, similar to the consistency of egg whites. After ovulation, the mucus will go back to being cloudy, white or yellow, and possibly sticky.
- Days 25-28. The cervical mucus will lighten, and a person will see less of it, before getting another period.
