Question: Why Do I Have a Constant Vaginal Discharge?
Answer: It’s normal for menstruating girls and women to have a clear to whitish vaginal discharge throughout the menstrual cycle. The discharge may vary in consistency from thick and sticky to thin and slippery or creamy. The normal vaginal discharge is odorless. Learning how your normal vaginal discharge changes during the menstrual cycle is an important part of using Natural Family Planning (NFP) as to prevent unplanned pregnancies or achieve pregnancy when desired.
The amount of normal vaginal discharge often increases when women experience emotional stress, ovulation and sexual activity.
On the other hand, if you experience a vaginal discharge that suddenly increases in amount, that is green or yellowish, or one that has an odor, see your doctor to determine the cause and provide treatment.
Causes of abnormal vaginal discharges include:
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Trichomonas
- Vaginal yeast infections
- Forgetting to remove a tampon
- Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or infections (STIs)
Source: Vaginal Discharge; Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003158.htm; accessed 02/19/08.
