What Is That? 5 Common Causes of White Discharge

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Adina Rivers

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Lover of Life, Love & Sensuality. Optimist. Believer. Natural Beauty Advocate. Minimalist. Living life outside the box; where the magic happens.

You go to the Ladies’ Room. It’s all pretty mundane…until you wipe. You say to yourself, “What is that? Why do I have this thick, white discharge?”

Anything out of the ordinary can be scary. But there are some pretty common causes of white discharge.

#1 First, know your body. This could be normal.

The reality is, all women have discharge. It may just be a small bit, and you may not even notice it. In fact, this fluid produced by glands in the vagina and cervix helps fight infection and keep the area clean. Normal discharge is lighter in color, and has virtually no smell. So breathe easy about this kind of discharge.

#2 Next up, it’s that time of the month: discharge during ovulation

Usually at about the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, women experience ovulation (when the egg is released from the ovary). At this time, there is a normal increase in the amount and viscosity (thickness and stickiness) of discharge. For some women, this discharge is clear in color. But for many others, this discharge is thicker and white. As long as the discharge is clear or white and still has no odor, you have nothing to worry about.

#3 The third possibility for white discharge is pregnancy.

During pregnancy, hormones are all over the place. These fast changes in hormones can cause and increase in thickness and amount of discharge. Most women report the discharge as clear-ish or white. And either of these is normal for this time. If you start to notice a yellow-ish discharge, you may check with a doctor to make sure there’s no infection. You can also read: 8 Signs You Have A Vaginal Infection

#4 It may be time to see the doctor. It could be an infection.

If you have a large amount of discharge, if it is a particularly bright white, or if the texture is chunky or cottage cheese-like, you may need to see a doctor.  There are several possible infections that can cause this type of discharge. Yeast infections are very common for women and can cause thick and clumpy, white discharge. Yeast infections is usually treated with anti-fungal medication. Though we at MTS recommand a natural healing process. Read more here: 12 Ways To Naturally Heal A Vaginal Infection. Bacterial infections are a build-up of bacteria in the vagina. While the discharge can be yellow or green, white discharge is also reported. A foul odor also accompanies this kind of infection. Both yeast infections and bacterial infections also cause vaginal itching and irritation.

#5 Finally, it could be serious. Get checked for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs)

If you find the discharge is thick, changing from white to yellow or cloudy, or is accompanied by a strong odor, you definitely need to have it checked by a medical professional. It may be one of the minor infections, but you may also be experiencing symptoms of a sexually-transmitted infection. Also check out article: The Most Common Vaginal Infections. Additional symptoms may include burning, pain, or urinary incontinence. It is important that if you experience any of these symptoms, or are unsure of the quality of the discharge, you seek medical advice as soon as possible.

There are many possible causes of white vaginal discharge. And since they range from completely harmless to potentially dangerous, the best rule (which is always the best rule where women and their bodies are concerned) is to know your own body. Pay attention to your own normal, and when the discharge deviates from your normal don’t be afraid to ask for help, even though it’s sometimes a hard topic to discuss. If there is a problem and there’s a need for treatment, the earlier the better.

If you have any questions regarding white discharge write them in the comments and I will answer them personally.