Hey Dr Sue — Is There Such A Thing As Healthy Vaginal Discharge? If So… What?

Yes, there is! And you should experience some every day.

You may not necessarily see it or notice it. One of the reasons for this is that healthy vaginal discharge is clear or slightly off white.

I think the vagina is a fascinating organ. It changes size as needed and is self-cleaning. And that’s where the discharge comes in. Throughout the day the vagina will keep itself lubricated, because it’s important that the tissue stay wet. That lubrication also helps remove unwanted bacteria and can help to rebalance the pH of the vagina.

If you didn’t know, the pH of a vagina before menopause should be in the 3.8–4.5 range. After menopause, it will be higher, in the 6–8 range. If you want to read more about pH and lube (for both the vagina and the anus) check out this article

This lubrication, which we see as discharge from the vagina, is a mix of mucus and fluid. It’s not a massive amount, it’s actually less than a teaspoon each day.

So if you’re seeing some clear discharge then don’t worry — that’s normal.

There may be times when you notice a change in the amount of discharge, the texture of the discharge, or a different color than you’re used to seeing.