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HEALTH
Your Bod
Discharge deets you need to know
I started noticing discharge a few months ago, but last week or the week before I started smelling something weird and stinky, and it was actually my discharge. Should I visit the doctor? I thought it was normal until it seemed to get stronger. I could now smell it when I'm just sitting down sometimes. Is that normal or is there something wrong?
Hey girl, it’s a tough call but it all depends on its appearance. It’s good you’re being attentive, however, and tracking these changes. While vaginal discharge is a normal function, off discharge can be the sign of an infection (eck!) and one that’s best caught and treated sooner rather than later.
Know your healthy dischargesDischarge is part of the menstrual cycle: it’s your bod’s way of cleaning itself. Normal discharge is clear and stretchy and indicates ovulation. Some other healthy kinds of discharge are clear and watery discharge (from after your bod exercises), white and thick discharge (occurring at the beginning and end of your period) and brown discharge (this occurs right after your period usually -- the brown is old blood).
Warning signsIs your discharge green or yellow in color? Does it have more of a cottage cheese texture or a really off odor? That kind of discharge is not normal and should be looked at by a doc. If you’re itching as well or have pain, it’s important you tell a parent fast and get an appointment set up. Vaginal infections are easy to treat, but they just need to be detected first.
Where you fallIt seems like you could go either way depending on the color and texture of your discharge. Check it out and if it doesn’t fall under one of the healthy discharge types, alert a parent ASAP.
In general, it’s not uncommon to have discharge that does smell, but it’s important you’re sure it’s the healthy kind. If your discharge is normal and the odor is just growing stronger, it may also be a sign you’re close to your period. Grab a pantyliner—It may just help the intensity of the odor a bit.
Remember too it’s always OK to tell your mom about this stuff –in fact, it’s important you do in the case of an infection. Don’t be nervous and know that vaginal infections aren’t that uncommon either. Most women get them in their lifetime; it’s just important to know the signs. Good luck!
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