Vaginal discharge: What teenagers need to know

All women have a little discharge starting a year or two before puberty and ending after menopause.

As teenagers, you will usually get your first period a year after you first have discharge from your vagina.

Secretions produced from the small glands in the lining of the vagina and the cervix is what result in vaginal discharge.

How much discharge a woman gets changes from time to time and it will change quite a lot between periods. 

Many girls notice a yellow or white stain in  their underpants as they go through puberty. This is a normal fluid that helps clean and moisten female organ. It also means puberty hormonal changes in your body have already started.

However, if you have itching, odour, or irritation around your vagina, this could mean that you have an infection. If you have any of these symptoms, visit your doctor for some tests.

To really get in touch with what is normal - pay attention and keep a little calendar for some months, noting what kind of discharge you have every day. Once you know what normal is for you, you will worry a lot less.

Different Types of Discharge:

Light yellow: For girls who have not started their period yet, having a little yellow or white discharge that dries in their panties every day is perfectly normal!

Thick, white discharge is common at the beginning and end of your cycle. Normal white discharge is not accompanied by itching. If you experience itching with a thick white discharge, that can be an indication of a yeast infection.

Clear and stretchy discharge: This is “fertile” mucous and means you are ovulating ( It is the release of egg  from the ovary to the fallopian tube). Do not be shy, feel it - if it stretches between your fingers - you are ovulating!

Clear and watery discharge: This occurs at different times of your cycle and can be particularly heavy after exercising.

Dark yellow or green discharge: May indicate an infection, especially if thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a foul odour.

Brown discharge: May happen right after periods, and is just “cleaning out” your vagina. Old blood looks brown.

Spotting Blood/Brown Discharge: This may occur when you are ovulating or when you are in your mid-cycle.

Watch out!
A normal, physiological, discharge is usually clear, creamy or very slightly yellow.

It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the following changes are noticed as they may indicate that the discharge is caused by infection (vaginitis).

If there is suddenly a greater amount of discharge.

If the discharge changes colour from yellow-whitish to brownish, reddish or greenish.

If it becomes smelly.