Thick white discharge to period blood colour: what your vagina is telling you

Thick white discharge to period blood colour: what your vagina is telling you

There is a bit of a mystery surrounding vaginal health. Still, it doesn't have to be as cryptic as it might seem. The truth is most of us are severely lacking in knowledge when it comes to our vaginas. You can learn a whole world of information by simply tuning into your body.

So, we’ve put together a guide to help you stay on top of your health and wellbeing by taking notes from your vagina. Let’s get into it!

 

What is your thick white discharge telling you?

Discharge can come in many colours and consistencies, depending on the stage of your cycle and the health of your vagina. In fact, understanding discharge is one of the best ways to tell what’s going on down there.

Where does it come from? The cervix produces vaginal discharge and can change daily depending on where you are in your cycle, whether you’re pregnant, have an STI or an infection.

When it comes to the discharge colour, you’re hoping to see something clear or milky white. If it starts looking yellow or green, you might want to get it checked out by a doctor. As far as consistency goes, it’s normal to have discharge that varies from watery to thick throughout your cycle.

 

Pro tip: Dealing with discharge

Thick white discharge can sometimes get in the way of your day, so to deal with vaginal discharge the easy way, try popping on a pair of Modibodi. We recommend our Light-Moderate if your discharge is on the lighter side, or you can wear our Moderate-Heavy if you’re on the heavier side. You’ll feel confident and fresh, no matter what your discharge is doing.

 

What is your period blood colour telling you?

Another common way your vagina communicates is through your period blood colour. While we generally think of period blood as red. The truth is there’s a range of colours your blood could show up as, depending on what’s happening and what stage of your cycle you’re in. It’s important to get to know the spectrum of colours, as some shades can give you clues about your health.

• Black or brown: If your period blood is black or brown, you’ll usually find you’re looking at old blood that’s taken its sweet time to leave your uterus. Don’t worry unless it’s also causing pain, odour or itching. Brown blood is super common in spotting or towards the end of your period.
  
  
• Dark red: Got dark red period blood? You’ll likely see this when you first wake up in the morning or towards the end of your bleed. It happens when your period slows down, and it’s generally a sign the blood isn’t as fresh.
  
  
• Bright red: A bright red period blood colour is common at the start of your period every month. It signals that the blood is fresh, fast-flowing and generally accompanied by your heaviest days of flow. Bright red bleeding between periods can be a cause for concern though, so keep this in mind. To stay secure and dry during those heavy period days or nights, try Modibodi Moderate-Heavy or Heavy-Overnight ranges featuring our ground-breaking absorbent technology.
  
  
• Pink or orange: Pink or orange period blood can happen at the very start or end of your period – and it usually signals blood mixed with cervical fluid. Pink spotting between periods can signal low oestrogen levels. It’s important to note sometimes orange blood that has a smell or is of a strange consistency could signal an STD.
  
  
• Grey: Lastly, grey period blood is uncommon and should be checked out by a doctor ASAP. It could signal an infection, especially if you’re also experiencing itching, pain, odour or fever.

 

What if your vagina smells sour?

Describing a ‘sour’ smell can be tricky because the reality is it’s common for your vagina to smell sometimes. This odour can be caused simply by a hot and sweaty environment or things like sex, diet and exercise.

But knowing when the smell has changed and is no longer ‘normal’ for your unique body is important because it could be a sign that something’s not quite right. From allergic reactions to STIs and yeast infections – the way your vagina smells can be a clue for underlying issues.

As always, being in touch with your body and seeing a doctor when worried can go a long way toward maintaining vagina health.

 

What if you have a sore vagina?

Like any other part of your body, if you start feeling sudden pain in your vagina or pelvic floor area, it can be a sign something is going wrong. This pain might feel like itchiness, stinging, burning or general irritation; it might feel uncomfortable while exercising, peeing or during sex; or it might come from the pelvic floor.

Healthline says the symptoms of your vaginal pain will vary depending on your specific condition. “For example, vulvar vestibulitis is a condition that causes pain only when there’s pressure put on your vagina. In contrast, vulvodynia is a condition that causes constant chronic pain.”

There’s a lot of complexity when it comes to vaginal pain – and it can happen to anyone. If you’re experiencing pain and feel uncomfortable, it’s always best to go to the doctor and check it out.

 

Get in sync with your vagina

So there you have it – from pain to smell and discharge, there’s a lot to understand about your vagina and its needs. To learn more about the body and all its signals, check out our other blogs here.