Discharge is one of the most common worries women have, and also one of the most misinformed. The reality is that the vagina produces secretions continuously as a self-cleaning mechanism, so having discharge is normal.
What is normal: clear or slightly milky, without a strong smell, varying across the cycle — thinner and stretchy around ovulation, thicker before a period — and with no itching or burning.
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Message us with what you are experiencing and we will tell you whether an examination is worth making, and what the appointment involves.
WhatsAppLINEWhat warrants a check: thick white discharge like curdled milk with intense itching usually indicates thrush. Thin grey discharge with a distinctly fishy odour, particularly noticeable after sex, usually indicates bacterial vaginosis. Green or yellow frothy discharge with irritation may indicate trichomonas.
Why self-treatment so often fails: those three conditions need completely different medications. An antifungal does nothing for a bacterial imbalance, so treating without knowing which you have tends to produce a cycle of temporary relief and recurrence. Douching and antiseptic washes make matters worse by destroying the protective bacteria that keep the balance stable. A swab takes minutes and settles the question.