What is it?
Being on the Pill can change discharge.
Discharge is the cream-coloured stuff that comes out of our vaginas, and is often found in girls' nix.
Most girls start to find vaginal discharge as they reach puberty, often about a year before their periods start.
- It is made up of salt water, minerals and cells from our bodies.
- We make nearly half a teaspoon every day from when we hit puberty.
- It's slightly sour - pH 3.5-4.5 on your litmus paper, somewhere between orange juice and beer...
What is it for?
It helps protect our bits from infection.
When girls get sexually aroused (turned on) their vagina secretes extra moisture which protects and lubricates it during sex. This is different from every-day discharge.
What does normal discharge look like?
Normal discharge can be clear, white, cream or yellow. Some girls get more than others.
It can also change during the month. Many girls find it looks a bit like raw egg white in the first couple of weeks after a period, then it can get more white and goo-ey towards the end of the month.
Being on the Pill can change discharge. Some girls get less, some more.
What do I need to look out for?
Changes in your discharge need checking out by a doctor. It may mean you have thrush or a sexually transmitted infection. So get used to what's normal for you.
Discharge can change in:
Colour: turning grey, green or even blood stained.
Amount: Keep an eye on your discharge so you know what's a normal amount for you.
Smell: All vaginas have an individual smell. That's normal. But if yours changes - that's different.
What should I do if my discharge changes?
See your GP, or local sexual health clinic. Infections are easy to cure with antibiotic pills or creams, but they can cause problems if left to get worse.
If you use tampons, it's also worth checking you've haven't forgotten to remove the last one. This can be a cause of smelly discharge.
Further help and advice
Find your nearest clinic
More advice from the net doctor
Written by Dr Melissa Sayer
Last updated 17th June 2007
Previous article
Shelly, 17
thanks so much! this helped tremendously.
caris, 13
i think this was very good. i learned alot with this. things i really needed to know!
Ashleigh :), 13
Oh my gawsh, this was so helpful! All of the oys in my class kept asking me today if I have discharge and who I got it over. Now I know what they were talking about x
Francesca, 18, 18
This website is really good. Growing up I don't think I can recall ever having this kinda thing to read. I'm glad there is more help out there. When I was growing up talking about sex, periods or vaginas was deffaintly tabboo lol!
clare , 13
thx, this really helped me
Nikita, 15, 15
Thanks so much it's so helpful it practically saved me! I began having clear discharge, then it turned a greenish colour. I told my mum but she said it was normal liek she always does but it turned out I was having abdonemal tranfusion problems. This website opened my eyes so much. Thanks!
Catriona, 13
Thanks this really helped this site is great for this type of things i defo reccommend it!
tina , 14
This just soo so so so so so soooo so so soooo so soo helpful. its just because i dont like to talk to people about things like this and this just the best being able to talk about it. Mostly me and my friends talk about this stuf and they hadnt with this and no im realy happy that im human YAY! :)
Meg, 13, 13
Thank goodness 4 this page!! i had no idea about wat that stuff was!!!
louy, 15
this is a brill website
jess, 13 13 13 :D
this website is really great it helps me with alot of thing and also reading other peoples comments helps too.......thank youu .
Yasmin, 13
This really helped me!Thankyou!
Hasna, 28
I am really thankful. it really helps people who have no idea about their bodies
-, 14
this webite is brill. Go BBC !I recoment it to any1 that doesnt like to talk to talk about certain things.
katie, 14
thanks
Charlotte, 13
This website is really good i have found it really useful because i find it very difficult to talk to anyone so it gives me the answers people can get from talking to their friends and family
Becka, 17
I totaly agree, growing up I always thought my body wasnt "normal" like do i look every other girl in "that" area! I now know every girl even if they dont show it has these worries! I also used to think what if I am not normal down below and a boyfriend notices and thinks I'm weird and I had a serious boyfriend for a year and he never mentioned anything and it made me so much better! Bring on my next boyfriend haha! Good luck girls & please be safe! x
Beth, 13
thank goodness for this site... has helped me a lot with different issues! Thanks :D
emma , 15
i used to worry about this all of the time, i thought i had something wrong with me no one seemed to worry about it so i thought it was just me but then i realised that it is perfectly normal and i think it is really good to have it written somewhere to really reassure people.
Rachael, 12,
I find it really hard to talk to my mum, so this helps me alot
jodie, 13
This Webstie it Fantastic i dont what i would do without it really helps me out, and tells you things that it hard to find out and answers the questions that are hard to ask other people xx =]
Flo, 13
It is has much more information than the problems in magazines. The magazines just make you worry that you aren't the same as other people.
Lauren + Jenny, 14
Its a Good Wbsite for help, But quite funny as well.:) Sozzard!!
******, 14
thank you so much xx
fiona, 12
I have had a discharge for nearly a year now and I think i might have my first period soon help.
XDeanneX, X12X
this has totally hepled me thanx
RM, 14
i think this website is amazing it has helped me a lot:)
Helena, 17
Thanks for this help I thought there was something wrong with me but thankyou now I no there isn't.
shannon, 13
i got really scared about discharge as it just seemed to be there all the time however after reading the infomation i fell much better xxx thankyou i will be rekomending this site
molly 13 xxx, 13
thank youu have helped me so much xxxx luv molly13xxx
Nancy, 13
This website is good for if u don't want to talk to talk to people about certain things. I recommend it to anyone with that problem
katie, 13
thankyou x
Katie, 16
I totally agree.... Go BBC!
Alice, 16
I think this is really good to help people out
onelife
bodymind_girls_discharge