Many women fail to pay attention to how their body works – and more specifically, to how their vagina works. Vaginal discharge is an important part of the female reproductive system, and serves as a housekeeping function that allows the vagina to cleanse itself and flush out dead cells and bacteria. While some vaginal mucus every now and then is absolutely normal, a bad odor and clumpy, cheesy consistency usually indicate the presence of an infection. Some women are not even aware of the discharge, especially if their vagina produces very little.
The good news is that you are not alone – lots of women experience white thick vaginal discharge, which usually bears no odor. Outlined below are real-life stories from women struggling with the very same issue.
1. A few days ago I noticed a lot of thick white discharge no odor on my underwear. It smelled musky, and seemed to have a chunky, lotion like consistency. I’m sure it was not caused by a yeast infection since there was no itching, swelling or pain at urination (these are the symptoms I have experienced with yeast infections in the past). It is not an STD either since I haven’t had sex for a year now. What does thick white discharge mean? Is it normal? Is it a matter of concern?
AllDischarge.Com Expert Answers:
Many women fail to identify the symptoms of a vaginal infection (or vaginitis) correctly. While it’s true that smelly thick white vaginal discharge usually indicates the presence of an infection, it is not always the case. You say that your discharge has no smell, and you do not exhibit symptoms of yeast infection such as itching or swelling. Since you have not had any sex for a year now, we have to exclude the possibility of a STD too.
What many women don’t know is that it’s normal to have up to 30 times more discharge towards the middle of their menstrual cycle – more specifically, during ovulation. The amount decreases as your period approaches, but increases again a few days before period. It’s important to know your body well, especially when it comes to your vagina. Your discharge may be absolutely normal, but it just happened to be more than usually, so it soaked through your underwear. Normal discharge is white and tends to be creamier before period, so that’s not a matter of concern either.
Another potential cause of white thick discharge is the use of feminine hygiene products, and specifically scented soaps. They alter your vagina’s pH, and create a breeding ground for bacteria and other organisms. This, in turn, causes your discharge to become abnormal – but this doesn’t seem to be your case since there is no itching, smell or discomfort.
To completely rule out the possibility of an infection, it’s recommended that you see your GP or go to a sexual health clinic to have a few vaginal swabs taken for analysis.
Read also:
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What Did I Learn from My Experience with White Clear, Itchy, Thin Discharge?
2. My period is 5 days late already, and this has never happened to me before. However, I have been having this thick white discharge with odor for about one week. The smell is barely noticeable, but can get really bad if I don’t change my underwear at least two times a day. There is a lot of it! I have never had a late period before, and I’m afraid that it might be an STD. I had sex a couple of weeks ago with a guy I knew for just a few days, but he promised that he was clear, and that he had never suffered from any sexually transmitted disease either. Has he lied to me? We used protection, but I noticed that the condom was broken when we finished! Is thick white discharge normal? When should I expect my period?
AllDischarge.Com Expert Answers:
It seems that you were wise enough to use protection, and that’s reassuring. However, the breakage of the condom is concerning since you could have contracted an STD. Guys would do and say anything to get laid, so there is a very good chance that he lied to you. Since you knew him for such a short time, I imagine that it’s been very simple for him to claim that he was completely clear, and even behave as if your doubts offended him.
Vaginal infections are a frequent cause of missed periods, so if you contracted an infection during intercourse, then it may have caught up with you. Your symptoms sound very much like a bacterial vaginosis: it causes lots of cottage cheese like discharge with a strong smell, but no itching or other such symptoms. This isn’t necessarily a cause of concern – BV usually goes away on its own. Your period may as well come today or next month – you cannot tell for sure. It may be the BV causing it to be late, but it’s not uncommon to have missed periods every now and then. If you are stressing over this issue, this may cause it to be even later or not start at all.
There is also the possibility that you are pregnant. The condom broke, which means that sperm cells could have traveled to your egg. But since the days before your period comes are usually non-fertile, I’m not sure if a potential pregnancy is what’s causing your period to be late. Instead of waiting another 5 days or more for it to start, you should see your doctor and have the problem investigated. If any STD is discovered, make sure to inform your partner about it to prevent other people from getting infected.
Read also:
Noticing Changes in Vaginal Discharge During Menstrual Cycle? Learn Whether They’re Normal!
3. My vagina produces some sort of thick white yellow secretion; it’s been already two days since I have had this secretion for the first time, and it seems to worsen during sex. There’s no smell but itching, and my vagina feels very dry. The discharge is clumpy and pasty, like a thick cream. When I urinate, there seems to be more of this weird secretion. This is not the first time I experience white thick discharge – it usually happens during ovulation, and is either sticky or stringy. Is this normal?
AllDischarge.Com Expert Answers:
From what I hear, your discharge has no smell but it’s itchy and makes your vagina feel dry. If you have been having sex with multiple partners, or a completely new partner, then you might have contracted an STD. If you are in a monogamous relationship, there is a slight chance that your partner may have cheated. I wouldn’t like to raise any doubts in regard to his fidelity and loyalty, but men always take advantage of the opportunity to get laid if there is no risk for them to be discovered. Many times, they are willing to risk contracting an infection. I’m not saying that your partner has cheated on you – unless you have proofs of his infidel behavior. The only way you can get it is by having a few vaginal swabs taken. If your doctor identifies an STD such as Chlamydia, trichomoniasis or gonorrhea, it’s no doubt that he gave it to you during intercourse. He himself must have contracted the infection during intercourse with another woman – at this point, it’s your decision whether you want to continue your relationship or dump him.
As for the discharge, your symptoms are a bit vague. Except for an STD, there is also the possibility of a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. They both cause white or yellow discharge, which usually does have a bad, fishy odor. Symptoms vary from woman to woman, so you may experience the white discharge with itching, but no odor. If you have recently used any feminine hygiene products, you may have altered your vagina’s pH, which made it possible for bacteria to fester. Alternatively, you could have taken antibiotics or hormonal medications (such as birth control pills), which can result in yeast infections too.
Think back and see if you can find anything that you’ve done out of the ordinary. Take some tests to see whether there is an infection, and make sure to carefully follow your doctor’s indications as to how to take the treatment. As for preventive measures, you should avoid engaging in sexual intercourse with multiple partners, and always use proper protection. Wash down below using just a bit of water and mild, unscented soap, and wear specifically cotton underpants. Also, avoid the use of tampons outside of your period, as they may change the environment of your vaginal flora, potentially leading to a BV and smelly discharge too!
4. I have been having thick white vaginal discharge instead of period for a few days already. I have had missed periods before, but this is the first time that I also experience this secretion. I have been in a relationship with a guy for a few years already – he is my first and only. We usually have unprotected sex, and I initially suspected a pregnancy, but I’ve taken two tests and both were negative. If I am not pregnant and I do not have an STD either, what could be causing the discharge?
AllDischarge.Com Expert Answers:
It’s not uncommon for pregnancy tests to turn out negative. Perhaps you have taken them too early. You must wait at least 10 days after impregnation to take a pregnancy test, otherwise the result may not be relevant. White thick discharge is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy, although many women ignore it and focus on breast tenderness or other such common signs. So it is still very possible that you are pregnant. Calculate 10 days from the date of the impregnation and repeat the pregnancy test. If it turns out negative, consider going to your GP or a sexual health clinic to see whether you have an infection.
Both yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis can develop in the absence of sexual intercourse, so they are not sexually transmitted diseases. Common risk factors include antibiotic use, douching, feminine hygiene products, poor eating habits, weak immune system, birth control pills, stress and hormonal changes. Also, using tampons outside of your period can change your vagina’s pH, which can result in abnormal discharge.
Before we jump to any conclusions, you should see your doctor first. He will tell you whether the discharge is normal, and will assist you in identifying the underlying cause. If there is any infection, he will prescribe appropriate medication to treat it. If you are pregnant instead, then you should expect a lot of thick white vaginal discharge until you give birth, sometimes coming in very large amounts that may feel as if you have passed urine.
5. I always have some sort of heavy, pasty discharge before period. It sometimes itches, but does not have any smell. When my period starts, the discharge goes away on its own. I have never had sex, so I’m absolutely sure that the mucus is not caused by an STD. Could you advise me please?
AllDischarge.Com Expert Answers:
Many young girls and even mature women experience creamy, cottage cheese like vaginal discharge as part of their premenstrual symptoms (PMS). Even mild itching is normal, and since there is no bad odor, it doesn’t seem to be an infection or BV. You also say that the discharge goes away on its own once your period starts, and I assume that it comes back only one week or so before your next period starts (right after ovulation). If you had had a yeast infection, then you would have experienced a really bad odor, not to mention itching, swelling of the labia, pain at urination (and discomfort during sex, but you are sexually inactive so this isn’t your case).
To address the issue, make sure not to be too diligent about your personal hygiene. Occasional washing with just a bit of water and mild, unscented soap will be just enough to keep your intimate area clean and fresh. Vaginal discharge is part of your vagina’s self-cleansing mechanism, and it helps flush out dead cells and bacteria. By cleaning your genitals excessively, you risk altering the vagina’s pH, and hence creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Needless to say, you’d be susceptible to infections.
Use tampons only when you are on your period, as they naturally contribute to the alteration of the vagina’s pH. I am usually against panty liners, but as long as they are unscented and let your skin breathe, they should be fine. However, I recommend changing your underwear more frequently to avoid wetting your clothes and prevent bad odors. And don’t forget to consistently visit your gynecologist to make sure that there is nothing wrong down there.