Vaginal discharge is normal and needed: it protects the vaginal wall and keeps your vagina clean, moist and healthy. When your hormones start to fluctuate around menopause, your vaginal discharge may change as well. Your discharge may increase or appear slimy or watery. What is normal? And how do you take care of your vagina?
Since six weeks, I’ve noticed that my discharge is heavier than normal. It’s clear, white and odourless. It’s a relief to know that extra discharge isn't a cause for concern. - Mina (age 46)
Studies suggest that almost two-thirds of menopausal women experience vaginal issues, the most common one being vaginal dryness. However, the opposite can also happen: some women notice an increase in vaginal discharge or more slimy discharge.
About 25 percent of women suffer from heavy or abnormal discharge. After menopause, when oestrogen reaches a permanently low level, these symptoms will likely decrease.
The female body undergoes several hormonal shifts during menopause, including a decrease in the sex hormone oestrogen. Fluctuating or falling levels of sex hormones can cause a wide range of symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep problems and mood swings.
Oestrogen contributes, among other things, to vaginal health. It keeps the vagina moist and clean. It also plays a role in maintaining an optimal vaginal flora (the balance between healthy and so-called pathogenic bacteria), preventing the growth of unwanted bacteria and fungi.
During perimenopause, progesterone levels drop faster than oestrogen levels. This can lead to an oestrogen dominance, resulting in more vaginal discharge.
When oestrogen levels drop even further around menopause, it can disrupt vaginal balance. Low oestrogen levels can cause thinning and drying of the vaginal wall, and a decrease in the amount of healthy bacteria and fungi in your vagina. This can disrupt the balance of your vaginal microbiome. Vaginal dryness can cause irritation and your discharge to change in colour, quantity, appearance or smell.
Something similar happens during your menstrual cycle. Right after your period (when the lining of the uterus builds up again) you usually have a few days with less and clear discharge. Around ovulation discharge increases and is often thin, clear and slippery – kind of like raw egg whites. After ovulation, it’ll get creamy and sticky, and is usually pale yellow, white or cloudy.
Certain factors can affect how much vaginal discharge you have. Being sexually active or vaginal irritation, for instance, makes your body produce more vaginal discharge. Stress or changes in the lining of the vagina may also increase your vaginal discharge.
Certain medications, health conditions (such as diabetes) and vaginal care products can also cause changes in discharge. And last but not least, a vaginal infection or an STI can cause abnormal discharge.
Vaginal discharge can have many different appearances, ranging from watery to sticky and from clear to brown – and all these variations can be normal. It’s also normal for your discharge to change as you go through different life stages. Moreover, what is normal for you may be abnormal for someone else. There is no standard of normal when it comes to vaginas because they're all different.
What is considered normal vaginal discharge?
When should you see your GP?
Changes to your vaginal discharge are a common and normal part of menopause. Here are some tips for taking good care of yourself and your vagina.
Treatment for vaginal discharge will depend on its cause and how severe your symptoms are. Always remember that ‘normal’ is a broad spectrum and that the amount, odour, texture and colour of discharge may change during menopause. Green discharge – especially when it's chunky or accompanied by an unpleasant smell – is a sign to see your GP for examination and treatment.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces the female hormones that are at a lower level as you experience menopause. It is used to relieve severe symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes or sleep problems. HRT can be a godsend for many women. If you're also suffering from other symptoms besides a change in vaginal discharge, then hormone therapy might be an option for you.
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After menopause, when your body has reached a new hormonal balance and oestrogen levels are consistently low, you'll notice that your vagina will get drier. This is perfectly normal. You might still have some discharge. Are you postmenopausal and do you have light or dark yellow vaginal discharge or abnormal discharge? Then this could be a sign of an infection. Consult your GP.
Brown (or dark red) spotting usually happens when your periods become more irregular (which is a normal part of the menopausal transition). It is typically a sign of blood mixing into discharge. So it's perfectly normal if you notice this just before or after your period. However, abnormal spotting after menopause could signal an underlying health issue. In this case, you should contact your GP.