What Clear Discharge Can Tell You About Your Health

With everything you have going on in life, it’s unlikely that you’re obsessing over your vaginal discharge. But it’s also completely understandable to check in on what’s happening down there, whether it’s when you wipe or pull up your underwear.

While everyone’s standard discharge is slightly different, clear vaginal discharge is generally considered normal. But there are variations with clear discharge, and each can give you little clues about what may be going on with your health.

For the record, it’s common to have some level of discharge down there. “Vaginal discharge is a normal function of the body,” says women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, MD. But when you stray from your normal consistency, amount, or color, it’s fair to have questions. That’s especially true if you’re experiencing other symptoms or if you’re trying to get pregnant.

Whether you’ve suddenly noticed more discharge than usual or you’re trying to read it like tea leaves to see what could be going on in your body, here’s what ob-gyns say could be behind your clear discharge.

Experts Featured in This Article

Jennifer Wider, MD, is a women’s health expert, author, and podcast host.

Lisa Masterson, MD, is an ob-gyn in Santa Monica, CA.

Why Is My Discharge Clear?

There are a few different reasons why you may have clear discharge right now. These are the biggest, according to doctors.

It’s business as usual.

Clear discharge is considered fairly standard when you have a vagina. “Clear discharge without an odor is normal,” says Lisa Masterson, MD, an ob-gyn in Santa Monica, CA. “The vagina is a self-cleaning oven with its own natural balance of bacteria, creating a normal pH balance.” When people are healthy, “the discharge is usually clear, white, or tinted slightly yellow,” Wider says.

You’re ovulating.

Ovulation is when one of your ovaries — the pair of female glands inside your pelvis — releases an egg, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Ovulation happens at a certain point in your cycle, although the exact timing of it can vary. In general, it tends to occur around day 14, per ACOG.

You may end up seeing an increase in clear discharge around this time. The amount of discharge you produce “can be affected by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle,” Masterson says. This clear discharge “becomes similar to the consistency of an egg white, which makes it easier to trap sperm and facilitate transport to the egg,” Wider says.

You’re aroused.

Discharge helps keep vaginal tissue moist and lubricated, Masterson explains. When you’re aroused, glands near the opening of the vagina, called Bartholin glands, produce fluid. That mixes with moisture that’s already inside your vagina to create a vaginal fluid that’s usually clear and watery, Wider says. “It is a natural lubricant for sexual intercourse,” she adds.

You just worked out.

You’re not the only one who has noticed more moisture down there after exercising. While working out is unlikely to make you produce more clear discharge, it can push more out of your vagina, Wider says. That’s especially true if you do moves like squats, and HIIT workouts.

You’re pregnant.

Clear discharge alone is not a symptom of pregnancy, and your discharge may change over time. But you also can have clear discharge during pregnancy. “Some women have vaginal discharge during the duration of the pregnancy — it should be clear, creamy, or white, with no smell,” Wider says. As your due date approaches, the amount of discharge you produce usually increases, she says.

What Does Clear Discharge With Blood Mean?

Having clear discharge with blood can mean a few different things. “Some are normal, some are not,” Wider says. You may have a clear discharge with blood at the beginning or end of your period. Or if you’re pregnant and nearing your due date, having a jelly-like discharge with streaks of blood can be a sign that you’re going into labor soon, she says.

But if you have a bloody discharge with pain or itching, it could be a sign of an infection, whether you’re pregnant or not, Wider says. Additionally, if you’re dealing with clear discharge with blood, along with symptoms like weight gain, acne, and unusual hair growth, it could be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), per Wider.

When to See a Doctor For Clear Discharge

In the vast majority of cases, clear discharge is normal and no big deal. But if the amount or frequency of discharge you’re noticing has suddenly changed, you’ll want to keep tabs on any other symptoms you have, such as itching, burning, or pain. It’s also worth noting that “you shouldn’t have so much discharge that you need to wear a pad,” Masterson says.

Ultimately, if you’re concerned, Wider recommends calling a doctor: “When in doubt, contact your health provider.”

Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, health, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and more.

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