Vaginal discharge

The medical term for vaginal discharge is simply that - vaginal discharge. It's a natural and healthy part of having a vagina. It's a fluid produced by the glands in your cervix and vagina that helps keep your vagina clean and lubricated.

Here's a breakdown of what vaginal discharge is made up of:

• Cervical mucus: This is a fluid produced by the cervix that changes consistency throughout your menstrual cycle. It's thin and watery right after your period, thick and sticky around ovulation, and thin and watery again before your next period.
• Vaginal fluid: This is a fluid produced by the walls of your vagina that helps keep it moist.
• Shedding vaginal and cervical cells: As new cells grow in your vagina and cervix, old cells are shed. These cells mix with the other components of vaginal discharge.
• Bacteria: There are healthy bacteria that live in your vagina and help protect it from infection.