Not every discharge points to an STI. For women, discharge is often simply part of a healthy body, and men can have a little fluid too. Still, a noticeable change in colour, smell or amount can sometimes point to an STI. The important thing to remember: discharge on its own cannot give a diagnosis. Only a test gives you certainty.
In this article we calmly compare "normal" and "watch out", for both men and women. Without judgement, and without panic.
What is normal discharge anyway?
Normal discharge is the fluid your body makes to stay healthy. In women, vaginal discharge keeps the vagina clean and moist, and the amount and colour can vary from day to day. That is usually a sign of a healthy body, not of an STI.
The colour can range from clear to milky white. Around ovulation, discharge is often a bit thinner and more abundant. Just before your period it can be thicker.
Factors such as new contraception, arousal or a stressful spell can also change your discharge for a while. That is usually harmless.
In men, a small amount of clear fluid, for example during arousal, is also perfectly normal.
Normal or watch out: the difference in women
In women, a change in colour, smell or amount can sometimes be a reason to consider a test. Important: these features can also belong to non-STI causes, such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. A test makes the difference clear.
Below are common signals that may sometimes be a reason to get checked.
- Normal - clear to milky white, mild or no smell, amount shifting with your cycle
- Watch out - yellow or green in colour, or a thick white discharge
- Watch out - a strong or fishy smell
- Watch out - far more discharge than you are used to, sometimes with itching or irritation
A chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection often runs without clear symptoms. According to Soa Aids Nederland, you may not notice anything at all, not even in your discharge (soaaids.nl). Seeing no change therefore does not automatically mean nothing is going on.
A yellow or green tint can sometimes point to a bacterial infection, while a thick white discharge with itching more often fits a yeast infection. Both patterns overlap, which is why you cannot draw a conclusion from them yourself.
A test gives the only clear answer.
Normal or watch out: the difference in men
In men, discharge from the urethra is less common, so a noticeable or persistent discharge can be more of a signal. Here too, the features can overlap with other causes, and only a test gives a clear answer.
These signals can sometimes be a reason to consider a test.
- Normal - a small amount of clear fluid during arousal
- Watch out - white, yellow or greenish discharge from the urethra
- Watch out - discharge together with a burning feeling when urinating
- Watch out - discharge that persists, especially in the morning
Yellow or green discharge in men is sometimes linked to gonorrhoea. Read more about the symptoms of gonorrhoea and how to test. A burning feeling alongside it can also have other causes, which we cover in this article on burning when urinating: an STI or something else.
Even in men, though, discharge does not always stand out. Some infections produce only a small amount of fluid now and then, or none at all. The absence of discharge therefore does not rule out an STI.
Which STIs can change your discharge?
A number of STIs can affect your discharge, although by no means everyone gets symptoms from them. The best known are chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas. Even so, the discharge itself does not tell you which STI it is, only a test can show that.
These infections are most often mentioned in connection with changed discharge.
- Chlamydia - often without symptoms, sometimes a bit more or different discharge
- Gonorrhoea - sometimes yellow or green discharge, sometimes with a burning feeling
- Trichomonas - can give frothy or strongly smelling discharge
Chlamydia is the most found STI in the Netherlands, and often runs silently. How to get checked for it, you can read in our article on chlamydia: symptoms and testing. If you want to test for several infections in one go, a chlamydia-, gonorroe- en trichomonastest can be a logical choice.
Can I tell from my discharge whether I have an STI?
No, you cannot tell from your discharge alone whether you have an STI. The features of an STI, a yeast infection and an innocent change can look very similar. That is why discharge can at most be a reason to get checked, not a way to diagnose yourself.
Many STIs give no visible change at all. According to Thuisarts.nl, testing is the only way to know for sure whether you have an STI (thuisarts.nl).
So try not to fixate on the colour or smell of your discharge. It does not give you an answer, and it can cause needless worry. A test shows objectively what is going on, or just as often that nothing is.
A test takes that uncertainty away.
When is testing or a GP wise?
A test can bring peace of mind as soon as you notice a change you worry about. With some signals it can be wise to contact your GP, because you may need advice or treatment sooner.
- Discharge together with fever, severe pain or sores
- Symptoms that persist or get worse
- A pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
- A known STI in a partner
The number of diagnosed STIs in the Netherlands is still rising, and testing remains the only way to get certainty (RIVM). Not sure which test fits your situation, read our guide on which STI test you need and when.
Sources
- RIVM - STIs and HIV (rivm.nl/soa)
- Soa Aids Nederland - STI symptoms (soaaids.nl/nl/soa-klachten)
- Thuisarts.nl - I want to know if I have an STI (thuisarts.nl/soa)
Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Autor