Watery Discharge: Is It Normal, And What Does It Mean?

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat does it mean when you have a lot of clear watery discharge?

Medically reviewed by Priya Patel, MD — Written by Joana Cavaco Silva — Updated on May 30, 2025

When does discharge occur?
Abnormal discharge
Treatment
Seeing a doctor
Summary

An increase in watery vaginal discharge is a healthy, natural process, and may indicate ovulation, arousal, and pregnancy. Changes to discharge color, texture, and smell can indicate infections and other issues.

Vaginal discharge keeps the vagina clean, moist, and clear of infection. It is typically clear, fluid, or mucus.

However, if discharge suddenly takes on an unusual smell, color, or texture, this may signal an infection. This is especially true if vaginal or vulvar irritation, pain, or itching accompanies the discharge.

This article covers what constitutes healthy, natural discharge, what indicates an infection or other issue, and the reasons for both.

When does discharge occur?

Woman fixing her make-up in a public bathroom — Olga Pankova/Getty Images

Vaginal discharge is a natural, healthy process. The amount of discharge depends on certain factors, including the phase of the menstrual cycle.

A person is likely to have more discharge if they are:

pregnant
taking birth control pills
sexually active

Before a period

Vaginal discharge changes during the menstrual cycle. In preparation for ovulation and during it, discharge tends to be stretchy and wet. The body produces more mucus at this stage than after it. Ovulation occurs between days 11 and 21 of the menstrual cycle.

Just before a period, discharge is often white or cloudy because of raised levels of the hormone progesterone.

After a period

Immediately after a period, vaginal discharge may be brownish, due to remnants of blood in the vagina. Once this is flushed away, a person may spend a few days without discharge.

During pregnancy

A person produces an increased amount of vaginal discharge through pregnancy to better prevent infection. Discharge amounts increase further toward the end of pregnancy and may start to include streaks of pink mucus. This is called a ‘show’ and indicates the body is preparing for birth.

Abnormal discharge

Changes in the color, consistency, and smell of vaginal discharge can indicate various different conditions.

Color

The color of discharge can indicate the presence of blood from menstruation or other means, infection responses, and conditions that require immediate attention.

Color	Cause
Clear	ovulationpregnancyarousal
Gray	bacterial vaginosis
White	healthy dischargeyeast infection
Pink	cervical bleedingimplantation bleedingvaginal irritation
Red	menstruationcervical infectioncervical polypendometrial or cervical cancer
Yellow-green	sexually-transmitted infectionsyeast infection

»Learn more:The different colors of discharge

Smell and texture

Unusual changes in the smell and texture of vaginal discharge typically indicate an infection. Common changes include:

Fishy odor: Changes to the discharge odor can indicate bacterial vaginosis.
Thick texture: Discharge that resembles cottage cheese can indicate candidiasis (thrush).
Frothy: Frothy discharge often accompanies a change in color and can indicate trichomoniasis.

Anyone experiencing sudden changes to discharge color, texture, or smell should seek immediate medical assistance.

Abnormal discharge during pregnancy

Vaginal discharge due to infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and respiratory problems. It is essential to seek medical attention if discharge suddenly changes or increases during a term.

Treatment

Abnormal discharge can signal a vaginal infection, usually bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, or thrush. These can be treated in the following ways:

Bacterial vaginosis: A healthcare professional will usually prescribe antibiotic medication. This may involve clindamycin cream or oral or intravaginal metronidazole.
Trichomoniasis: This is treated with oral antibiotics.
Candidiasis: A healthcare professional may recommend oral or topical medications. Some topical medicines are available over-the-counter (OTC) and online. These can resolve the issue in 1 to 3 days. Oral medications are available by prescription.

Prevention

Each of these infections requires medical treatment, but practicing good hygiene can help to prevent a recurrence. Wash the genitals frequently, either without soap or with a nonallergenic soap, such as one that includes glycerin. Dry the area by patting gently.

Other tips include:

Changing underwear regularly.
Wearing breathable underwear.
Wiping from front to back, to avoid fecal contamination.
Washing the hands after urination and bowel movements.
Using barrier methods and limiting the number of sexual partners to prevent STIs.
Washing sex toys and storing them clean.
Avoiding intravaginal washing and douching.

Although these measures may help, they cannot eliminate an infection.

When to see a doctor

Consult a healthcare professional if:

more discharge than normal appears
discharge has an unusual smell, color, or texture
bleeding occurs between periods or after sex
pain accompanies urination
the vaginal area is itchy or sore
pain occurs in the pelvis, the area between the abdomen and the thighs

Blood in discharge

The term spotting refers to vaginal discharge that contains small amounts of blood. If this occurs outside of the typical period cycle, it can indicate:

the presence of a foreign object
a hormone imbalance
an infection
growths in the reproductive system
cancer

While some of these causes are less severe than others, anyone who experiences vaignal bleeding unrelated to their period should see a healthcare professional.

Summary

Clear, watery vaginal discharge changes naturally, to coincide with the menstrual cycle, arousal, or pregnancy.

Sudden changes to the color, smell, texture, frequency, or volume of discharge can indicate an underlying condition or infection. Anyone experiencing these changes should consult a medical professional.

Women's Health / Gynecology

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Kaskheli M, et al. (2021). Vaginal discharge during pregnancy and associated adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8377920/
Vaginal discharge. (2024).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-discharge/
Vaginal discharge in pregnancy. (2024).https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vaginal-discharge/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Priya Patel, MD — Written by Joana Cavaco Silva — Updated on May 30, 2025

Latest news

A 1-week social media break could boost your mental health
Certain changes in driving patterns may point to cognitive decline, dementia
Eating takeout food too often may increase cardiovascular disease risk
Between sleep and exercise, choose sleep, research suggests
To keep your heart healthy, try drinking more orange juice

Related Coverage

What is discharge, and what does it mean?
Vaginal discharge is a normal occurrence. However, changes in color or smell could signal an underlying health issue. Learn more about discharge types…
READ MORE
What causes yellow vaginal discharge before a period?
Yellow discharge before a period can have a range of potential causes. Diagnosis depends on the consistency, smell, and color of the discharge. It may…
READ MORE
What does milky white discharge indicate?
Milky white discharge may be an indication that a person needs to see a doctor. Learn about the causes of milky white discharge here.
READ MORE
Color-coded guide to vaginal discharge
The color and consistency of vaginal discharge can vary. While some changes are no cause for concern, certain colors or consistencies require medical…
READ MORE
What can cause orange discharge?
Orange discharge may indicate an STD or an underlying health condition. Learn the potential causes, symptoms, and treatments for unusual discharge.
READ MORE

Tag » What Does Watery Discharge Mean

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us