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What does yellow discharge mean?

20 Jan, 2023

What does yellow discharge mean?

Vaginal discharge is part of everyday life for us women. It is usually white. However, occasionally the discharge can also take on a yellow colour. What causes yellow discharge and what you should do in this case is explained below.

Yellow discharge - the most important facts at a glance

  • It is normal for women to have vaginal discharge and for it to change during the menstrual cycle.
  • Normally, vaginal discharge in healthy women is whitish in colour.
  • Yellow discharge can be the symptom of an infectious disease such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, among others.
  • Sometimes mistakes in intimate hygiene or taking antibiotics are also responsible for the yellow discharge.
  • If you have yellow discharge and other symptoms such as itching, a timely visit to your gynaecologist is advisable.

What is vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge is something completely normal. The discharge has an important function. It cleanses the vagina, removes dead cells from the mucous membrane and helps to fight off pathogens. Both its quantity and consistency can vary from person to person.

In healthy women, vaginal discharge is usually liquid and odourless. The consistency and appearance of the discharge changes in the course of the menstrual cycle. However, if the discharge turns yellow, this can be a warning sign.

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Possible causes of yellow discharge

Yellow discharge can have different causes. It is not always a cause for alarm. However, you should keep an eye on it and contact your gynaecologist if you have any doubts.


Yellow discharge after menstruation


If your vaginal discharge is yellowish immediately after your period, it may be because there are small amounts of menstrual blood in it.

As long as you don't notice a strange smell and there are no other symptoms, you can usually assume that there is nothing wrong with the yellow discharge.

Yellow discharge caused by infectious diseases

Yellow vaginal discharge is often a symptom of an infectious disease. Possible diseases that may be associated with yellow discharge include gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

You can also tell if the yellow discharge is caused by an infection by the following symptoms, for example:

  • Fishy smell of the vaginal discharge
  • Burning when you urinate
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Itching in the genital area

Yellow vaginal discharge caused by mistakes in intimate hygienepostpartum underwear

Good intimate hygiene is very important. Unfortunately, many women overdo it when it comes to intimate hygiene. Too frequent washing, unnecessary vaginal rinses and the use of unsuitable care products can impair the vaginal flora. This can then become noticeable in the form of yellow vaginal discharge.

Yellow vaginal discharge caused by antibiotics

In order to treat bacterial infections, it is often unavoidable to take antibiotics. Antibiotics not only get rid of harmful bacteria. They also attack good bacteria in the intestinal flora and the vaginal flora, for example.

For this reason, treatment with antibiotics sometimes causes the vaginal discharge in women to take on a yellow colour. However, this is usually only a temporary phenomenon that resolves itself promptly after the end of treatment.

Yellow discharge in pregnant women

It is not uncommon for women to develop yellow discharge during pregnancy. This is because the vaginal flora in pregnant women is often confused. This makes you particularly susceptible to bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.

If you notice abnormal vaginal discharge during pregnancy, you should definitely have yourself examined by your gynaecologist. Even if treatment is not usually a problem, it should never be avoided.

When is yellow discharge a case for the gynaecologist?

period pantiesIf you notice yellow discharge, you should always contact your gynaecologist. This is especially true if you have other symptoms such as itching, pain or burning, or if you are currently pregnant.

Your gynaecologist can examine you and, if necessary, determine the necessary treatment measures. This way you can be on the safe side and make sure that any health problems can be treated promptly.

Period underwear for yellow discharge

Depending on the amount, yellow discharge can be extremely annoying in everyday life. In addition to identifying and eliminating its cause, it may therefore be necessary to protect yourself with a suitable hygiene product.

Period underwear from Weekiss proves to be particularly comfortable and reliable in this context. Our sustainable period underwear is available in different absorbencies.

So you can always choose exactly the right model to ensure a pleasant, dry feeling during your period or in case of vaginal discharge.

Conclusion

As you can see, yellow discharge can be serious. Even if there is not always a reason to worry, it is often highly recommended that you see your gynaecologist.

Regardless of this, adequate intimate hygiene contributes to a balanced vaginal flora. This also helps to reduce the likelihood of problems such as yellow discharge.