what is normal vaginal discharge?
Posted , 6 users are following.
cross posting from another group because i might get a better range of answers here!
i recently got diagnosed with bv and am wondering how long i have had it. it seems like ever since i hit puberty i've had some kind of discharge and i've never known what's completely normal or not. i'm pretty much used to seeing dried discharge on every pair of panties at the end of the day (and don't know if that's normal). often after a while this will ruin the panties and it's almost like the crotch part gets "stained" white even after washing. i know a certain amount of discharge is normal and i think i just don't know the difference! the main clue that tipped me off something may be wrong is my discharge def has a fishy odour. in highschool i'd sometimes notice it when wearing leggings or yoga pants. now that i'm sexually active it becomes noticeable (to me) after sex and i always get self-conscious, though nobody else has mentioned it. again -- i've always heard some smell and discharge is normal, so i really don't know how to tell. i just do know that the smell and the amount can be problematic for me, which i don't think is normal. doctor picked up bv in a regular exam otherwise i might not have known to get tested
i dont know how to describe the discharge other than white/clear/gray (ish?) and usually pretty watery, sometimes a bit thicker/gellish. i don't even really know what grey discharge would look like so i'm asking about all of your symptoms. i don't have any redness/itching/irritation. i know some vaginal discharge IS normal and honestly i don't know how to differentiate healthy from bv discharge. before/after or comparison photos would be super appreciated (i'll see if i can take some of mine later and add them!)
0 likes, 7 replies
Guest a51054
Edited
discharge varies from each person honesty. regular amount should be around a teaspoon or so, not heavy unless you aroused you know ? Normal odor from discharge you should be able to smell it when you bring it to your nose, rather than going pee and you can smell it than. you will always have a faint smell and will vary depending on where you are on your cycle. Color should be clear to milkyish, not yellowish or grey or clumpy. That would indicate an infection. your discharge will stain your undies because the discharge is naturally on the acidic side, you can wear pantiliners like the always daily ones which i prefer to wear. I hope that answers some of your questions.
janel73667 Guest
Posted
thank you for the info, I also struggle with not knowing healthy discharge/smell.
Guest janel73667
Posted
your welcome, how long do you feel you had BV and what are you taking to treat it ? just an FYI it is know to come back after it clears.
a51054 Guest
Posted
thank you so much for your reply, this is really helpful for context! i think i definitely get more than a teaspoon on a daily basis (one big glob is like a teaspoon in itself....). when you say "milky" is that an opaque or a transluscent white? also, what about consistency? mine can range from mucus-like to very runny, almost watery.
thank you again for your help!! i wish they taught us this in highschool -_-
Guest a51054
Posted
yes sometimes its more than other days thats for sure. but thats a healthy amount and normal. It can range from clear to opaque milky in color. at least for me it has. It all depends on where you are in your cycle. Sometimes its like egg yolkish and other times more milky whiteish. Life is where you learn all of this lol and thats why its good to ask questions if you dont you will never know.
Guest
Posted
one thing i do want to add us after sex your discharge/vag will have a strong smell. it is normal as the sex and your partner will throw off your PH balance. just try to remember to pee after sex and clean up to avoid getting a UTI.
Caitlin_B a51054
Posted
The amount of discharge varies from women to women I have always had heavy discharge. If it is more than your normal amount then something could be going on. The texture and color changes during different times of your cycle from clear and stringy to white and creamy.