You can experience vaginal discharge for many reasons. It doesn’t always mean you have an STI.
Vaginal discharge is nothing to worry about if it’s:
The amount of discharge you might experience can vary. You might experience heavier or more frequent discharge if you’re:
During ovulation, you’ll notice more slippery and wet discharge, which is normal.
You have vaginal discharge and:
You should look out for anything that doesn’t seem normal for you. This can include discharge which is:
STIs that can cause vaginal discharge include:
If you’re sexually active and you experience any abnormal discharge, contact your local sexual health clinic to get tested for STIs.
Vaginal discharge can also be caused by thrush or bacterial vaginosis.
You might be asked to visit your local sexual health clinic for a vaginal examination to ensure you get the correct treatment.
If you’re experiencing discharge that you don’t think has been caused by an STI, you can visit your local pharmacy for advice.
If you experience discharge and think there’s a chance it could be caused by an STI, you should contact your local sexual health clinic. If they think you need treatment or aftercare for anything that’s caused vaginal discharge, you’ll be given this for free.
Free treatment is available for:
You can’t always prevent vaginal discharge. But it’s important to keep your vagina clean and healthy. Your vagina cleans itself internally. So you don’t need to clean inside with things like a vaginal douche.
You can use panty liners if you experience heavy discharge. But don’t use them all the time as they can cause irritation.
Last updated:
01 June 2023