Most days, you might not
give vaginal discharge a second thought — and that's a good thing. After
all, it's probably not your favorite thing in the world to think about.
And if there's nothing particularly noticeable about it, that usually
means everything's running normally. But what if you notice a sudden
change in the color, odor, or texture? Here's how to decode your
discharge, and what it can tell you about your health.
1. You're ovulating.
If
you notice your discharge is kind of stretchy — we're not trying to
ruin breakfast for you forever, but think of the consistency of raw egg
whites — it probably means you're ovulating (your ovary's releasing a
mature egg that will pass through a fallopian tube and can be
fertilized). "Just before ovulation, you may notice an increase of
clear, stringy discharge," says Hilda Hutcherson, MD, a professor of
Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians
and Surgeons. The sticky fluid makes it easier for sperm to travel to
the egg. Translation: If you're sexually active, now's a good time to be
extra-extra-careful.
2. Your period's on its way.
A
few days after ovulation, your discharge will start to slow down again.
If you're cycle's pretty regular, you'll usually get your period around
14 days after you ovulate, so a decrease in discharge can help you
start the countdown clock. "Women may also periodically see thick white
discharge," Dr. Hutcherson adds. As long as it's odorless and doesn't
itch or burn, it's normal and should subside in a few days.
3. You're stressed.
Feeling
a little more…er, productive than usual? Stress can ramp up the amount
of discharge your body produces. It's NBD to have slightly heavier
discharge now and then, but you may want to analyze your current stress
sitch and see if you're overdue for some chill time.
4. You're spotting.
You
don't need to panic automatically if you see a bit of blood in your
discharge — it could just be leftover menstrual blood or random
mid-month spotting. Still, bloody discharge can occasionally be a sign
of something more serious. "It might mean that there is a vaginal
infection, uterine infection, pelvic infection, or pregnancy," Dr.
Hutcherson says. If you notice blood in your discharge and you're not
expecting your period anytime soon, or you have other symptoms (like
pelvic pain), it's worth calling a doctor to rule out anything major.
5. You have an infection.
There
are three ways discharge can clue you in to an infection. Normal
discharge is relatively odorless, so a foul or fishy odor could be a
sign that something's wrong. A thick, cheesy texture can be a telltale
symptom of a yeast infection. And anytime you notice a change in color,
you should mention it to your doctor. According to Dr. Hutcherson, the
colors to watch out for are grayish (a common symptom of bacterial
vaginosis when accompanied by a foul odor), yellow or green (which could
indicate that your white blood cells are fighting a sexually
transmitted infection), or brown (caused by dry blood, which could hint
that an infection is causing major inflammation). If you notice
any of these changes, mention them to your doctor – because your
discharge may be good at dropping hints, but only a doctor can give you
the full scoop.
source by: http://www.seventeen.com/health/a37819/5-things-your-discharge-may-be-trying-to-tell-you/
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