Green mucus vaginal discharge is an abnormal feminine secretion that occurs for some reasons. Most of the time, the discharge is yellow-green, has a bad smell that’s usually referred to as fishy, and a thick, creamy consistency that resembles cottage cheese. Common causes include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), bacterial vaginosis, and foreign objects inside of the vagina (e.g. tampons). Many women may experience odorless green discharge as a normal part of their menstrual cycle, which isn’t necessarily a reason of concern.
If you are new to abnormal discharge and would like to know when it’s normal and when it isn’t, the FAQ guide below will help you.
1. What Should My Discharge Look Like?
Normal vaginal discharge is usually clear to whitish to pale yellow, has a consistency ranging from watery to thick and creamy, and no odor, although it might sometimes smell quite musky. The amount usually varies from woman to woman – while some experience very little discharge, others report the discharge literally soaking through their underpants. On average, a woman’s vagina produces one tablespoon of discharge every day.
However, there are some factors that may affect the color, consistency, smell and amount of vaginal odor. These include pregnancy, hormonal changes, sexual arousal, infections, lifestyle changes, and stress. If you notice any sudden changes in how your vaginal discharge looks, it may be the right time to seek medical assistance.
2. Why Do I Have Green Mucus Discharge?
If you experience greenish yellow discharge from vagina, this is usually a sign of infection. In most cases, the discharge is accompanied by itching, swelling, redness, pelvic pain, burning during urination, spotting between periods, and a bad, fishy odor. The most common causes of yellow-green mucus include Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, which can be contracted during sexual intercourse or contact with infected bodily fluids. For example, the infection can be spread if you use the same towel, swimming suit or underpants as an infected person – say, when you sample them in the store.
3. The Amount of Discharge Increases During Sex – Why?
If you have an STD, the amount of discharge will likely increase during intercourse as a result of sexual arousal. The odor will probably be stronger after intercourse, especially if the discharge is caused by bacterial vaginosis (BV) instead of a sexually transmitted disease. If you notice this, make sure to tell your doctor about it. He will use a vaginal swab to take a sample of the discharge and send it to a lab to have it tested.
Read also:
Green Discharge – Questions and Answers
What’s Causing Green Vaginal Discharge & How Can You Address It?
4. Is Green Odorless Discharge Normal While Pregnant?
An increased amount of discharge is normal during pregnancy. It’s a condition that is known as “leucorrhea” or “white flow,” and occurs as a result of your estrogen levels going up. It’s often watery or egg white, clear or whitish in color, and bears a slightly musky smell. It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to feel their vulva wet, tacky or slippery, or get their underpants soaked due to the great amount of discharge coming out of their vagina. Sometimes, the discharge may feel as if they have accidentally passed urine.
However, if you experience green discharge no odor instead, this is a sign that there might be something wrong down there. You may have an infection, which should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent complications and ensure that both you and your baby are healthy. If left untreated, you could encounter very serious consequences such as ectopic pregnancy or preterm lab. Your doctor will prescribe you pregnancy-safe medication that will not affect the development of your baby.
5. Should I Increase the Frequency of My Hygiene Habits If I Experience Green Mucus Discharge?
The use of feminine hygiene products is a common cause of yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis, which is why you should avoid this if you experience green smelly discharge. These products alter the bacterial flora of your vagina, which created the optimal conditions for bacteria to fester. Stay away from scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes and other products that have been manufactured for washing your genital area. Instead, use just plain tap water to keep yourself clean and fresh down there until the infection is cleared up. Then you can occasionally use mild, unscented soap, but never more than that.
6. The Discharge Is Wetting My Underwear – What Can I Do?
Many women utilize tampons or panty liners to avoid wetting their clothing and bad smell. What they don’t know is that both tampons and panty liners alter your vagina’s environment and can often result in yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. Even if you experience large amounts of green discharge no smell, it’s better to stay away from them. Instead, wear cotton underwear and make sure to change it as frequently as possible to stay clean and fresh. Cotton is more breathable than other types of fabric, circulating air and keeping your intimate area properly “ventilated.”
7. What Are Some Other Causes of Green Smelly Discharge?
If the discharge is yellow with a slight nuance of green, then you may as well have bacterial vaginosis instead of an STD. This is the case if you haven’t had any sex during the past few weeks. Risk factors are usually weak immunity, hygiene products, stress, hormonal changes (birth control pills, hormonal medications), lifestyle changes and poor eating habits – essentially, anything that could possibly upset the balance of good and bad bacteria in your vaginal flora. It’s best to consult your doctor before taking any hormonal medication, and even before making other changes to your lifestyle if you want to avoid yellow-green mucus.
8. How Long Does It Take for the Discharge to Come Back to Normal?
Most of the time, the discharge will come back to normal once you complete the treatment, and the infection is cleared up. This can range from a few days in case of bacterial vaginosis to a few weeks in case of most STDs. It’s important to continue taking your treatment for as long as instructed by your doctor even if symptoms disappear. Otherwise the infection may return. Your doctor will also give you advice on what to do after the infection is cleared up, and also how to prevent it in the future.