Green discharge: Colors, causes & what it means

What is green vaginal discharge?

While vaginal discharge can vary in appearance, green discharge is never normal. It can indicate an STI or another infection, and you should always reach out to a healthcare professional if you notice that your discharge is green [1].

Vaginal discharge is a type of fluid that’s created in the vagina and comes out as discharge. It is generally a combination of cervical mucus, normal bacteria, cells from the vaginal wall, and fluid produced by glands in the vagina. It has several functions, and one of the main ones is keeping the vagina clean and protected from infection [1]. However, if you notice green or light green discharge in your underwear or when you wipe, it’s a sign that something is causing damage or inflammation in the vagina or reproductive tract. 

Learning what your discharge usually looks like and keeping an eye on changes in appearance, consistency, or smell can help you understand if something might be going on, so you can get help when you need it. 

What does normal discharge look like?

First things first: before we learn more about green discharge and what that means, let’s talk about what normal discharge looks like. Healthy discharge is typically white or clear in color. The consistency can range from thick and sticky to slippery or watery, and while it doesn’t have to be odorless, it shouldn’t have an unpleasant or strong smell [1].

Another good thing to keep in mind is that your discharge will change appearance during your menstrual cycle. At the beginning of your cycle (right after your period ends), you may have less discharge, and it’s often thicker and more sticky at this stage. When you enter your fertile window and you get closer to ovulation, you may notice your discharge becoming clear and stretchy, with a consistency similar to raw egg whites [2]. This type of discharge is sometimes called “egg white cervical mucus”. 

What causes green discharge?

So, back to green discharge. Green discharge can happen for a number of reasons, but it’s usually a sign of some type of infection. That might sound scary, but the good news is that these conditions can be treated — so it’s important to speak to a doctor about it. Let’s go through the most common causes of green discharge.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

If you’ve had unprotected sex and notice green or light green discharge, with or without odor, it’s possible you’ve contracted an STI. There are a couple of STIs that can have green discharge as a symptom, and these include:

• Trichomoniasis: This often goes unnoticed since it doesn’t always cause symptoms, but unusual discharge is one sign. You may notice more discharge than usual, and its appearance can be green, yellow, white, or clear. The consistency can be thin or frothy, and you might also experience other symptoms like itchiness or soreness of the vagina or vulva, pain during sex, or pain when you pee. Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite, and it can be easily treated with medication [3, 1].
• Chlamydia: One of the more common STIs, chlamydia can become serious if left untreated. Symptoms include unusual discharge and a burning sensation when you pee, but not everyone notices any symptoms at all. Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics [4, 5].
• Gonorrhea: This is another example of an STI that doesn’t always lead to noticeable symptoms, but when it does, you might have green or yellow discharge, pain while peeing, pain in your lower abdomen, or bleeding between periods. The treatment for gonorrhea is antibiotics, which are given as a single-dose tablet or injection [6].

These infections all have one thing in common: they don’t always cause symptoms, which means they can be tricky to spot. At the same time, it’s important to get treatment since they can lead to complications if they’re left unchecked, or be passed on to others. It’s always a good idea to get tested for STIs if you’ve had unprotected sex or start having sex with a new partner. Also, remember that condoms are the only birth control method that offers effective protection against STIs.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

If bacteria makes its way from the vagina into the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes, it can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID. In short, it’s an infection in the female reproductive system. PID is most often the result of STIs, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, that are left untreated [7]. 

Similar to the STIs we mentioned above, PID doesn’t always give obvious symptoms, so it can be hard to spot right away. Keep an eye out for:

• Green or yellow discharge that might have an unpleasant smell
• Pain during sex
• Heavy or painful periods
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain when you pee
• Fever or feeling unwell
• Severe stomach pain [8]

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare professional so you can get the right treatment. PID can lead to serious complications or even infertility if it’s left untreated, so it’s important to get help as soon as possible if you suspect you might have it.

Tampons or other objects left or stuck in the vagina

Another, albeit less common, cause of green discharge is if you forget to remove an object that’s been inserted into the vagina, or that an object becomes stuck so you can’t get it out. If it’s not removed, this can result in an infection and may cause symptoms such as abnormal or foul-smelling discharge, pain, or bleeding [9]. Worst case, it may even lead to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but potentially life-threatening condition which is caused by certain bacterial infections [10]. It’s best to get help from a healthcare provider right away to help get the object out and get other treatment for the symptoms if needed.

In adults, the objects in question are usually period products like tampons or menstrual cups, or items used during sex or masturbation, like condoms or sex toys [9].

Tampons should generally be removed after around 4-6 hours (depending on your flow), and should never be left in for longer than 8 hours. But it’s possible sometimes that a tampon gets stuck. Usually, this happens if you forget to take your tampon out before inserting a new one, or if you forget to take it out before having sex. If this happens and you can’t get it out yourself, don’t wait! See a healthcare professional right away so they can help remove it [11]. 

Vaginitis

Vaginitis is a term that means that there’sinflammation in the vagina. You might feel itchy or sore in or around the vagina, and you may also notice that it’s red or swollen. Vaginitis can cause you to have more discharge than usual, and it may also have an unpleasant smell. In some cases, your discharge can have an unusual color like green or yellow, or have a different consistency than usual [12, 13].

Vaginitis is quite common, and it’s usually caused by another condition, such as an STI, a yeast infection, or bacterial vaginosis (BV). It can also be be the result of an allergic reaction to some product you’ve used in or near the vagina [12]. Remember that the vagina is actually self-cleaning, so you don’t need to clean your vagina — doing so can actually increase your risk of vaginitis. 

Vaginitis is treatable, but the exact treatment depends on the cause. Your healthcare provider can help you find the right option for you, so it’s important to reach out if you experience symptoms of vaginitis.

Rectovaginal fistula

A rectovaginal fistula is an abnormal opening between your vagina and rectum, which can lead to poop leaking into the vagina from the rectum, sometimes leading to yellow or green foul smelling vaginal discharge. Rectovaginal fistulas are very rare, but can be caused by Crohn's disease, injuries sustained during childbirth (especially if they aren’t repaired), or cancer. Treatment typically involves treating the underlying cause of the fistula and managing symptoms, but in some cases, surgery can be an option [14]. 

When to see a doctor for green discharge

Green discharge always merits a visit to your doctor to figure out what’s causing it — it’s never normal to have green discharge and it’s important to start treatment as soon as possible. 

You can always speak to your doctor if you’re wondering about the color of your discharge, and it’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for any changes. Reach out to your doctor if you notice symptoms that can indicate an ongoing infection, such as:

• Soreness or itchiness in or around your vagina
• Foul-smelling discharge
• Pain when you pee
• Pain in your pelvis, lower abdomen, or back
• Pain during sex
• Unexpected bleeding between periods
• Feeling unwell
• Fever [1, 8]

To sum up, green discharge on its own is enough to indicate there’s something going on that needs medical treatment, but noting other symptoms can help your healthcare provider narrow down the cause (alongside any testing they might do during your appointment). 

What does green discharge during pregnancy mean?

If you’re pregnant, you may notice that you have more discharge than usual — and that’s normal. However, healthy discharge should still be clear or white and mostly odorless. If you notice green discharge during pregnancy, other symptoms like a strong or fishy smell, or other signs of infection, reach out to your midwife or doctor right away [15].

How to treat green discharge

The treatment you get for green discharge will depend on the underlying cause — that’s also why it’s important that you get help from a doctor who can do tests and take all your symptoms into account. However, since an infection is the most likely culprit for green discharge, medical treatment is needed and in most cases, you’ll be prescribed antibiotics. Don’t try to treat green discharge on your own. 

Can you prevent green discharge?

So, can you prevent green discharge? By preventing the conditions that cause green discharge, you can avoid the symptom itself. These are some things you can do:

• Use condoms during sex
• Get tested for STIs regularly or if you’ve had sex with a new partner
• Change tampons or menstrual cups regularly and remember to take them out before having sex or inserting a new one.
• Avoid vaginal douching or using harsh products. You don’t need to clean your vagina, but you can use water and a mild soap to clean the vulva as needed.
• Wear cotton underwear or loose fitting clothes to let your vagina breathe
• Wipe front to back after using the bathroom 

Get to know your body with Natural Cycles

Thank you for reading about green discharge! Here at Natural Cycles, we believe that everyone should have the knowledge they need to take charge of their own health — and that includes knowing what different types of vaginal discharge means. The NC° app isn’t just a hormone-free, FDA Cleared birth control and fertility app; it’s also a great tool for understanding your own body. By tracking your discharge during your menstrual cycle, along with other symptoms, you can get to know what your usual patterns look like and spot changes that stand out. Why not see if Natural Cycles could be a good fit for you?