Most girls and women have discharge between periods, and pale marks on your underwear are normal. It keeps the vagina moist, clears out dead cells and helps protect it from infection. School hardly mentions it, so it makes sense if you've been worried.
What does usual discharge look like?
Usual discharge is clear or white, without a strong or unpleasant smell. It can be thick and sticky or slippery and wet, and everyone has their own amount. A light smell of its own is normal too, as long as it's familiar to you.
Why does it change through the cycle?
Discharge follows your hormones. Around ovulation there's often more of it, and it's thinner and stretchy like raw egg white. Afterwards it gets thicker. Some people notice these changes clearly and some barely do, and both are usual.
You may have more discharge in pregnancy, on hormonal contraception, or if you're having sex. That's why you can't reliably tell your cycle phase or confirm ovulation from it.
How do I wash without causing trouble?
Warm water is enough for the outside, and if you want soap, pick a mild one without perfume. Scented intimate gels, deodorants and wipes irritate the skin, so leave them on the shop shelf. Cotton underwear and clothes that aren't too tight help stop moisture from irritating your skin.
Can I tell what's wrong from the colour?
There are clues. A fishy smell often goes with bacterial vaginosis, when the balance of bacteria is off. Cottage-cheese discharge points to thrush, and green or frothy discharge to trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection.
But different causes can look alike, so treatments and antibiotics aren't chosen by colour. A doctor may take a swab with a cotton bud. Stop any vaginal medicines 3 days before that visit, and don't douche or have sex beforehand, so the test is more accurate.
Common questions
I have discharge but no period yet. Is that normal?
Yes. Discharge can start about 6–12 months before your first period, because of hormone changes during puberty.
Can I wear panty liners every day?
Yes, if that feels more comfortable. Pick unscented ones and change them when they get damp. But you don't have to wear them, because marks on your underwear are normal.
Should I wash more often to get rid of a smell?
No need to wash more, and never inside: perfumes and douching can irritate and make things worse. If the smell makes you want to cover it up, see a doctor, as it could be an infection that needs treatment.
In short
- Wash the outside with warm water, no scented gels
- Log your discharge in the diary to learn what's usual for you
- Choose cotton underwear and unscented liners
Source: NHS: Vaginal discharge
Educational content; it does not replace professional medical advice.