Cervical Mucus

Based on the cause, your provider will tell you the best way to treat the vaginal discharge. If you have an infection that does not resolve after the first round of treatment, your provider may need to do more tests to figure out what’s causing it.

What Does Milky White Vaginal Discharge Mean?

White vaginal discharge is usually normal and a sign of a healthy reproductive system. Most people who have a vagina have some discharge.

White milky white vaginal discharge is usually a sign of a normal menstrual cycle. Your discharge can give you a clue about what stage of the cycle you’re in. A milky white discharge can also be an early sign of pregnancy.

However, there are times when white vaginal discharge is a sign of a problem like a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis (BV). Vaginal infections usually cause a “cottage cheese-like” white discharge as well as other symptoms like itching, burning, and a foul odor.

This article will go over what having milky white vaginal discharge and other discharge colors could mean, when vaginal discharge is normal, and when you should call your provider.

Milky White Discharge

Milky white discharge can be a sign that your body is preparing for ovulation. It could also be an early sign of pregnancy.

When your body is getting ready to release an egg from an ovary (ovulate), it makes a watery discharge. The discharge will be thinner in consistency and may look like egg whites. It will also be odorless and cause no discomfort.

If you become pregnant, you may have a clear or milky discharge. That is odorless and mild. This kind of white vaginal discharge is called leukorrhea , and it’s a normal part of pregnancy.

Thick White Discharge

Throughout a person’s menstrual cycle, vaginal discharge can change in consistency and color. When it looks like a thick white discharge, it can be a sign of ovulation.

What Does Normal Vaginal Discharge Look Like?

Your normal discharge may range from milky to white. It will vary from person to person.

Tracking your menstrual cycle and taking note of how your discharge looks at different points can help you figure out when it’s normal and when it might not be.

Clumpy White Discharge

If you’re seeing clumpy white discharge, it can be a sign of a yeast infection. Vaginal discharge from a yeast infection usually has a thicker, clumpier consistency (like cottage cheese) and comes along with symptoms like burning and itchiness.

How Common Are Vaginal Yeast Infections?

Vaginal yeast infections are common. In most cases, they are very treatable. In fact, 75% of people with a vagina are likely to experience at least one yeast infection in their lifetime.

The causes of a vaginal yeast infection vary. For example, wearing a wet bathing suit too long, douching, or taking antibiotics can cause yeast infections.

Vaginal yeast infections are usually treatable with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. However, if you get them often or they keep coming back, you should see your provider for treatment and find out if you have a condition like diabetes that can make them more likely to happen.

Your provider may prescribe antifungal medications such as oral fluconazole . Vivjoa (oteseconazole) is used for chronic yeast infection in females who are not able to become pregnant (for instance, because of menopause or hysterectomy). While the vagina is self-cleaning and a certain level of yeast is normal, having too much yeast can alter the pH of the vagina and cause an infection.

Here are some tips for preventing vaginal yeast infections:

Always change out of wet clothing or bathing suits as soon as possible: Yeast grows best in wet and warm environments, making bathing suits and wet clothing the perfect setup for a yeast infection.
Avoid douching: Douching can kill the bacteria that control yeast overgrowth in the vagina.
Don’t use scented tampons or pads: Fragrance can be irritating to the vaginal tissues which are very sensitive.
Keep your blood sugar levels as normal as possible if you have diabetes: Diabetes can make you more likely to get yeast infections. Managing the condition can help prevent them.

Thick White Sticky Discharge

Thick white sticky discharge is a sign of a healthy vagina and menstrual cycle. The discharge acts as a barrier to protect the cervix from infection.

As you get closer to ovulation, your vaginal discharge will thin out into a clear or milky discharge. This is a sign of fertility because it’s easier for sperm to swim through than a thicker discharge.

Other Discharge Colors

Vaginal discharge that is reddish-brown, green, yellow, or gray can be a sign of a health problem.

Here is a list of what the color of your vaginal discharge could be a sign of:

Yellow: Infection, STIs
Green: Bacterial vaginosis, STIs
Gray: Bacterial vaginosis
Reddish-brown: The end of a period, infections
Pink: Implantation bleeding, pregnancy, the start of a period, vaginal injury
Red: Spotting, period, infections, miscarriage, cancer

Keep in mind that the color of your vaginal discharge on its own is not always a reliable way to know what’s causing it. The amount of discharge, what it smells like, and the consistency of it also matter. If you have vaginal discharge that is unusual for you, tell your provider.

Preventing Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal discharge is often completely normal and necessary for the health of your body. However, if you have excessive discharge, you can talk to your provider about ways to manage it.

Coping with vaginal discharge can be as simple as wearing a liner in your underwear. If there is a medical cause for the discharge, your provider can recommend the best treatment for the underlying condition.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you have any vaginal discharge that could be from an infection, such as a thick, white, and chunky discharge, or any discharge that is abnormal for you, see your healthcare provider.

Your provider will ask you about the odor, consistency, and color of the discharge, as well as whether you have symptoms like itching or burning. Your provider will also want to know if the discharge only happens at certain phases of your menstrual cycle or during or after sex.

Based on the cause, your provider will tell you the best way to treat the vaginal discharge. If you have an infection that does not resolve after the first round of treatment, your provider may need to do more tests to figure out what’s causing it.

Summary

Vaginal discharge is normal and necessary for the health of your reproductive system. However, there are times when changes to your discharge can signal a problem.

If you have vaginal discharge that is thick, clumpy, or an unusual color, call your provider. It can be a sign of an infection, like an STI, or another problem with your health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes thick white discharge?

A thick white discharge can indicate that a person is ovulating. This is when their ovaries release a mature egg. However, the color and consistency of discharge can vary from one person to another. A change in the typical appearance of your discharge may be a sign of an infection.

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Cervical Mucus

Cervical mucus is a fluid produced by the cervix. Your cervical mucus changes throughout your menstrual cycle. Wet and slippery cervical mucus indicates fertility. This type of discharge makes it easy for sperm to swim to an egg at ovulation. Some people find charting their cervical mucus helps identify when they’re most likely to conceive.

Overview

Checking cervical mucus for fertility using your fingers.

What is cervical mucus?

Cervical mucus is a fluid produced by and released from the cervix (the opening to the uterus). Hormones cause your cervical mucus to change in texture, volume and color throughout your menstrual cycle. It can be used to identify when you’re most fertile.

Your mucus is thick, white and dry before ovulation (when your ovary releases an egg). Just before ovulation, your cervical mucus will turn clear and slippery. This consistency makes it easy for sperm to swim up to meet an egg at ovulation. If you want to get pregnant, this type of discharge tells you it’s time for sex.

Some people chart their cervical mucus to tell them where they are in their cycle. Cervical mucus can tell you when you’re fertile or most likely to conceive. It can also indicate when you’re not fertile and pregnancy is less likely. This process is called the cervical mucus method of natural family planning.

Function

What does cervical mucus do?

Cervical mucus, or cervical fluid, has two jobs depending on where you are in your cycle. The first is to help sperm move through the cervix so it can fertilize an egg during ovulation. The second job is to prevent sperm or other substances from getting into the cervix.

What are the different types of cervical mucus?

Not every person will be the same, but your cervical mucus will resemble all or most of the following during your menstrual cycle:

Dry or no cervical fluid.
Sticky like paste. It can be white or yellow.
Creamy like yogurt. Smooth in texture and usually white.
Slippery, stretchy. Resembling raw egg whites.
Wet, watery and clear in color.

The type or texture of your cervical mucus will depend on what stage of your menstrual cycle you’re in. Your mucus generally starts as dry or pasty before moving to a creamier texture. As ovulation nears, your discharge will become wet, stretchy and slippery. The most common analogy used for super fertile cervical mucus is looking and feeling like raw egg whites. If you see that texture, you’ll know you’re at your most fertile time. After ovulation, your cervical mucus goes back to thick and dry.

How does cervical mucus help with conception?

Cervical mucus plays a key role in conception. The hormone estrogen peaks just before ovulation. This causes cervical mucus to change from pasty or creamy to resembling stretchy, raw egg whites. This wet, slippery discharge makes it easier for sperm to swim up the vagina and into the uterus to meet an egg. If you have sex at this time, you increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Think of your uterus as a swimming pool, your cervical mucus as water and the sperm as a person trying to swim. If the water was thick or mud-like, there’s no way a person could swim through it to reach the other side of the pool. This is how hard it is for sperm to reach your fallopian tubes if your cervical mucus isn’t fertile. It’s easier for sperm to swim up the uterus to meet an egg for conception in thin, wet, egg-white mucus.

How does cervical mucus change throughout my menstrual cycle?

The changes in cervical mucus happen as a result of hormones shifting throughout your menstrual cycle. Estrogen increases before ovulation and makes your cervix produce the fertile, egg-white mucus. It’s your body’s way of making it easy for sperm to reach the egg it’s about to release. After ovulation, estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This rise in progesterone helps the fertilized egg implant into your uterus if conception occurs. However, this causes your cervical mucus to begin to dry up.

If you have a 28-day menstrual cycle, your cervical mucus will generally follow this pattern:

Days 1-4 after your period ends: Dry or tacky. It can be white or yellow-tinged.
Days 4-6: Sticky. Slightly damp and white.
Days 7-9: Creamy, yogurt-like consistency. Wet and cloudy.
Days 10-14: Stretchy and resembles raw egg whites. Slippery and very wet.
Days 14-28: Dry until menstruation occurs.

Most people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with a 28-day cycle ovulate around day 14. This is why your cervical mucus is slippery, stretchy and highly fertile just before the egg is released.

How long will I have egg-white cervical mucus?

The egg-white discharge lasts about four days. If your cycle is 28 days, the fertile cervical mucus occurs around days 10 to 14.

How does cervical mucus change during early pregnancy?

Changes in cervical mucus can be a sign of early pregnancy. After ovulation, your cervical mucus thickens or dries up, then you eventually get your period. However, if you conceived at ovulation, you may still produce some cervical mucus. This can indicate to some people AFAB that they might have conceived. In other cases, implantation bleeding occurs. Implantation cervical mucus is tinged brown or pink. This happens around your period, leading some people to think they didn’t become pregnant.

It’s important to note that every person is different and not everyone has implantation bleeding or noticeable changes in cervical mucus.

Anatomy

Where does cervical mucus come from?

Cervical mucus is produced by your cervix when the hormone estrogen rises. Your estrogen level begins low, then climbs to its peak at ovulation before dropping again. This is why you see the changes in your mucus instead of it being the same all the time.

What can cervical mucus look like?

Cervical mucus can look sticky, creamy, pasty, watery, stretchy or slippery. At your most fertile time, your mucus is slippery and watery. When you’re not fertile, the mucus will be thick or pasty. Your cervical mucus is generally odorless. If it’s foul-smelling, it could mean you have an infection. It’s common for your mucus to be white, off-white or clear in color.

At certain times, especially if implantation has occurred, your discharge might be tinged with pink or brown. If this happens regularly, talk to your healthcare provider as it could be spotting between periods or signs of a problem.

Conditions and Disorders

What can cause changes to cervical mucus?

Certain factors can play a role in the amount of cervical mucus you have or what it looks like. Things that can affect your cervical mucus are:

Breastfeeding (chestfeeding).
Sexual lubricants.
Hormonal birth control.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Other vaginal infections like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
Surgery on your cervix.
Medications.
Stress and diet.

How do you know if you have a problem with your cervical mucus?

If you check your cervical mucus and don’t believe you see the slippery, fertile cervical mucus, it could be a sign of ovulatory problems, infection or other issues. Your healthcare provider will diagnose cervical mucus problems by performing a pelvic exam and discussing your health history and any medications you take. They’ll examine your cervix for signs of infection, scarring or other conditions that could impact vaginal discharge.

Care

Are there medications to take to increase cervical mucus?

To naturally increase your cervical mucus, try increasing your water intake and eating more fruits and vegetables. Certain medications and vitamins are available that claim to increase cervical mucus. Before taking any supplements for cervical mucus production, talk to your healthcare provider. They’ll want to discuss issues you’re having with conception and rule out any problems.

Additional Common Questions

How do I check my cervical mucus?

You can check your cervical mucus a few different ways:

Use your fingers: With clean hands, place a finger in your vagina. Remove your finger and look at the mucus. You may need to use another finger to see if it stretches.
Check your underwear: Look at your underwear when you go the bathroom and note the discharge you see.
Use toilet paper: Using toilet paper is probably the least reliable method to check cervical mucus, but it can still be helpful. After urinating and wiping, check your toilet paper for cervical mucus.

Pay attention to how your cervical mucus looks and feels. Is it sticky, creamy, watery or dry? If it’s dry or sticky, you’re probably not fertile yet. If it’s wet, slippery or soaking your underwear, you are likely fertile.

How do I start charting cervical mucus to get pregnant?

Charting or tracking your cervical mucus is called the cervical mucus method of family planning. Determining ovulation is one of the best tools you can have in your toolbox if you want to conceive.

To chart your cervical mucus, keep track of the changes you see each day — the amount, texture and color. It might be helpful to use a calendar and label days as pasty, creamy, wet or dry. You’re most fertile around the time your mucus becomes slippery and wet, like raw egg whites. Once you see this type of mucus, it’s time to have sex if conception is your goal. To prevent pregnancy, you should abstain from sex or use another method of birth control.

If you need help recognizing patterns or think your cervical mucus never reaches a fertile stage, talk to your healthcare provider for guidance.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Tracking your cervical mucus is a helpful way to track your menstrual cycle and identify when you’re fertile. Learn how to check your vaginal discharge and note your findings, especially if you’re trying to conceive. Cervical mucus alone isn’t a reliable form of contraception, so if you don’t wish to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about more effective contraception. If you notice any foul-smelling discharge, speak with your healthcare provider so they can rule out any issues.

What Does White Creamy Discharge Mean After Ovulation

Cervical Mucus

What Does Milky White Vaginal Discharge Mean?

Milky White Discharge

Thick White Discharge

What Does Normal Vaginal Discharge Look Like?