Normal Discharge

All women form a certain amount of discharge. The amount is different from woman to woman and varies with the individual woman, who therefore can have periods of more discharge and periods with less discharge.

The normal discharge is thin, slimy or white. The amount is affected by the sex hormone oestrogen and therefore changes through a menstrual cycle. Right after the menstruation there is only a little discharge that is rather milky looking. Around the time of ovulation there is more and the secrete is thinner and clear in colour – almost like raw egg whites. After the ovulation the secrete becomes unclear, sticky and incoherent.

When you are sexually excited more secrete is formed – it can actually drip with juice. In periods where the woman is more sexually active, the production of secrete rises and thereby the amount of discharge. The use of the contraceptive pill can also increase the amount of discharge.

Under normal conditions there are several different bacteria in the vagina. They live in balance with each other and protect from inflammation with harmful bacteria and other microorganisms.

The most important of these good bacteria are the lactic bacteria (Lactobacillus), that form lactic acid. The lactic acid make sure that the sourness of the vagina (pH level) is kept low. When the sourness is low, the harmful bacteria do not thrive but in the case of high sourness (pH level) in the vagina the harmful bacteria can multiply.

Further reading on Chlamydia