Remember how air can make your discharge seem yellower? It can also make discharge seem darker, Dr. Schaffir says.Īlso, keep in mind that certain variables may mess with the color of your discharge so that you think it looks off when it really doesn’t. If you’re dealing with weird discharge, it’s important to look out for any other symptoms that might be a cause for concern, Dr.

Your discharge doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Definitely see your doctor if you have unexplained bloody discharge. Other possible cervical cancer symptoms include pain during sex.

Abnormal bleeding is a common sign of cervical cancer-you might bleed after sex or spot between periods, and some of this blood can affect your discharge. In very rare situations, bloody discharge could be a sign of cervical cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. “A yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis-pretty much any infection can cause bleeding from the vaginal walls that will cause red or pink discharge,” she says. This can also be due to health issues like cervical polyps (non-cancerous growths that can form on your cervix) or irritation from an infection, Dr. There are tons of possible reasons behind this, like recently starting a new birth control or messing up the way you take your usual birth control. Streicher says, unless it’s new for you even though nothing else about your health has changed.Īnother possible cause here is breakthrough bleeding, i.e., bleeding that happens between periods. Either way, you shouldn’t automatically view it as a red flag, Dr. If this happens a little before or after your period, it’s likely due to either early bleeding or old blood that’s dribbling out. Minkin says, which isn’t immediately an emergency! This usually indicates that there’s some kind of bleeding going on, Dr. If your discharge is brown, pink, or red… If you know your discharge like the back of your hand and it suddenly turns gray, see your doctor for an evaluation. Not only can it cause white or green discharge, this condition can lead to a dark or dull gray discharge that has a thin consistency, ACOG says.

Then there’s that overachiever bacterial vaginosis. It can cause either the white or greenish vaginal discharge we’ve mentioned, or one that’s a yellow-gray color, ACOG says, so you might pick up on more of a gray hue. Trichomoniasis is a common culprit here, according to Dr.

These can all cause green discharge as well.īacterial vaginosis can also cause green discharge, according to ACOG, along with the aforementioned strong fishy odor and vaginal discomfort.īottom line: See your doctor if you’re suddenly experiencing yellow or green discharge, especially if you’re dealing with other symptoms. But yellow discharge could be a sign of an STI like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis, Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale Medical School, tells SELF, especially when it comes with symptoms like itching and burning. If you’ve had instances of yellow discharge for as long as you can remember, cool. Mucus from the vagina and cervix sometimes turns yellow when it comes into contact with the air, according to the U.S. This might sound counterintuitive, but seeing yellow discharge doesn’t automatically mean something’s up. (And read what doctors have to say about treating yeast infections on your own before you make any moves to try that.) If your discharge is yellow or green. But if your white discharge has an unusual-for-you consistency and comes with other symptoms, you should see your doctor. If you have white discharge and no bothersome symptoms, you’re probably just fine, Jonathan Schaffir, M.D., an ob/gyn at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF. Sometimes people with these STIs don’t have any signs of infection. These may cause additional symptoms like a strong vaginal odor, itching, and burning, but symptoms aren’t guaranteed. White discharge can also sometimes be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia (which is bacterial), gonorrhea (also bacterial), or trichomoniasis (which happens due to a parasite).

Discharge gonorrhea symptoms pictures