Different types of vaginal discharge and what to look out for
Firstly, if you feel unwell or are concerned about changes to your vagina or vulva, never hesitate to talk to a trusted adult and a doctor about this. A doctor will give you the necessary medical advice.
Vaginal discharge is often totally normal and healthy. This is the name for the secretions that come out of your vagina. You may notice discharge in your underwear or when you wipe after using the bathroom. There are few kinds of vaginal discharge and most of them are related to your menstrual cycle and periods. There are, however, some kinds that you need to look out for because they may indicate that you have a yeast infection.
What does normal and healthy vaginal discharge look like?
Even before you get your first period you will start to see vaginal discharge in your underwear. This is called cervical fluid because it is produced by your cervix (the entryway between your uterus and your vagina). It can look a few different ways - it may be white and dry, like streaks; or it may be watery and more like lotion; or it may look more like egg whites and be clear and stretchy or gloopy.
Once you start experiencing menstrual cycles, you will begin to see a pattern with different types of cervical fluid showing up at different times in your cycle. You will usually see a lot more cervical fluid and it will be more obvious to you around ovulation. But you may have cervical fluid leading up to ovulation and before your period too.
You can use the Teena app to journal your experience of cervical fluid and keep track of what is normal for you. You will soon notice the pattern and be clued in to when to expect to see the different kinds of cervical fluid and what they look and feel like for you.
What does vaginal discharge look like when you have an infection?
Vaginal discharge that is a sign of an infection is usually gray or green tinted and may look like cottage cheese consistency to you. It will look a lot different to the cervical fluid you will get used to during your menstrual cycles which is nearly always white or clear – although it may sometimes have a slight yellow tint or be speckled with red if there’s some period blood or spotting in there too.
But don’t worry, for most teens it is not hard to know when you have an infection because the vaginal discharge is different plus there are often other symptoms like redness of your vulva, itchiness of your vulva, and maybe a burning sensation or irritation when you urinate. The vaginal discharge that comes with an infection also smells very funky! Normal, healthy cervical fluid won’t have much of a smell.
How to prevent yeast and vaginal infections
Vaginal infections or yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of “candida” which is a kind of fungus or yeast. This can happen to anyone and it does not mean you are dirty. In fact, we all have some candida in our vulvas but also other places on the body.
One thing you can do to avoid this happening is wear cotton underwear that breathes rather than underwear made of synthetic materials. Make sure your underwear is not too tight. If you’re swimming like at school or a pool party or the beach, be sure to change out of your swimsuit soon after you’re done.
Remember, the vulva and vagina are self-cleaning! In fact, the cervical fluid you see is part of that cleaning process, as this takes out any germs from your vagina to the outside. You never need to use vaginal cleansers or douches. In fact, using these can cause infections which then make you produce infection discharge. Your vulva needs, at the most, just gentle soap and water. But overall the vulva and vagina are naturally very clean and need little to no assistance from us to stay that way.
If you have to take antibiotics - say for Mono or strep throat - this can cause you to have a yeast infection during the course or after you stop. This is because the medication gets rid of all bacteria - even the good stuff that helps keep candida in check. Just something to keep in mind, although it does not happen for everyone who takes antibiotics.
Yeast infections and your menstrual cycle
Yeast infections can happen more often right before you get your period. The hormone estrogen can increase the amount of candida in your vulva. It is unlikely that you will experience yeast infections before you start having a period, but if you notice changes like the ones we described above, let a trusted adult know.
For most people, there is less cervical fluid before menstruation begins or those days there is no cervical fluid at all. This also makes it easy to notice if the vaginal discharge you’re seeing is due to infection. Track your periods with Teena and you will get an accurate prediction on when to expect your next period, even with irregular cycles, making it easier to spot an infection early.
What to do if you have a yeast or vaginal infection
If you see infection-type vaginal discharge and feel the symptoms of itchiness and redness and irritation, talk to a trusted adult and your doctor as you may need medication, a prescription, or over-the-counter treatment to get rid of the infection completely. Once you have an infection, you need medical advice from a pharmacist and doctor to make sure it goes away completely and you feel comfortable again. Your doctor might take a quick swab of your vulva to test for the infection or they might not need to, either way it won’t hurt.
Treatments include pills to swallow, a cream to put on the vulva, or a suppository to insert like a tampon.
