Why Does Your Vaginal Discharge Change Throughout the Month?
Team WythHer · · 3 min read
Vaginal discharge changes through your cycle because your hormones change. It's often light after your period, clear, slippery and stretchy around ovulation, and thicker, white or creamy before your period. White discharge before periods is usually normal. A fishy smell, itching, or green, yellow or cottage-cheese-like discharge is worth getting checked.
Some days your underwear feels completely dry. Other days there's white, creamy discharge. And sometimes it's clear and stretchy. Cue the question: "Is this normal, or should I be worried?" 👀
What is vaginal discharge?
Discharge is fluid made by glands in the cervix and vagina. It keeps the vagina clean, moist and protected from infection, which is why some discharge every day is healthy. How much you have, and what it looks like, changes with your hormones.
How does discharge change through your cycle?
Oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall through your menstrual cycle, and they change the cervical mucus that makes up much of your discharge. A typical pattern looks like this:
- Just after your period: little discharge. You may feel fairly dry for a few days.
- Leading up to ovulation: discharge increases and becomes wetter, cloudy or creamy.
- Around ovulation (mid-cycle): clear, slippery and stretchy, a bit like raw egg white. This is when you're most fertile.
- After ovulation, before your period: thicker, stickier, and white or creamy.
Your pattern may be different, and that's okay. Hormonal contraception, pregnancy, breastfeeding, stress and some medicines can all change it.
Is white discharge before periods normal?
Yes, usually. Thicker, white or creamy discharge in the days before your period is a common part of the cycle. It's normal as long as it doesn't come with a strong smell, itching, burning or soreness. Thick white discharge that looks like cottage cheese and comes with itching is different; that can be thrush.
Does discharge mean your period is coming?
Not necessarily. Many people notice creamier discharge before their period, but discharge alone can't reliably tell you when your period will start. If you want to predict your period, tracking your cycle dates works much better.
When should you see a doctor?
Don't try to self-diagnose. These changes are worth getting checked:
- A strong fishy smell: can be bacterial vaginosis (BV).
- Thick and white like cottage cheese, with itching: can be thrush (a yeast infection).
- Green, yellow or frothy: can be trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection.
- With pelvic pain or bleeding between periods: can be an infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
- Any discharge that's unusual for you, or itching, burning or pain when you pee.
Most of these are common and easy to treat, so there's no need to feel embarrassed about asking.
How to keep the area healthy
- Wash the outer area with plain water. The vagina cleans itself.
- Avoid douching and scented intimate washes, sprays or wipes; they can upset your natural balance.
- Wear breathable cotton underwear and change out of damp clothes quickly.
- On your period, change your pad regularly. Here's how often to change your pad, and why period smells change.
Frequently asked questions
Is white discharge before periods normal?
Yes. Thicker, white or creamy discharge before your period is a common, normal part of the menstrual cycle, as long as there's no strong smell, itching or burning.
What does discharge look like during ovulation?
Around ovulation, discharge is usually clear, slippery and stretchy, similar to raw egg white.
Can discharge tell me my period is coming?
Not reliably. Many people notice creamier discharge before their period, but tracking your cycle dates is a better way to predict it.
When is vaginal discharge a sign of infection?
See a doctor if your discharge smells fishy, is green, yellow or frothy, looks like cottage cheese with itching, or comes with pain, burning or bleeding between periods.
A little reminder 💗
Your discharge isn't dirty, and you don't need to smell like flowers to be clean. Get to know your body's patterns. Understanding what's normal for you helps you notice when something isn't. 💗
Sources
This article is for general information. It isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor, especially if something feels different for you.