Short answer: The NHS says normal discharge may be clear or white, thick and sticky, or slippery and wet, without a strong unpleasant smell. It often becomes clearer, wetter and more noticeable around ovulation.
Why discharge changes
Vaginal discharge is fluid or mucus that helps keep the vagina clean and moist. The amount and texture can vary with sexual activity, contraception, pregnancy and the menstrual cycle.
Around ovulation, NHS guidance says secretions become thinner and stretchy, like raw egg white. Cleveland Clinic explains that rising estrogen supports this wetter, slippery mucus and that mucus generally becomes thicker or drier after ovulation.
Describe the change, do not diagnose it
If something changes, record concrete details: color, smell, texture, amount, itching, soreness, pain, bleeding and cycle timing. A single descriptor cannot confirm an infection.
The NHS lists patterns that can occur with bacterial vaginosis, thrush and sexually transmitted infections, but explicitly says not to self-diagnose. Examination or a swab may be needed to distinguish causes.
- Clear or white without a strong smell can be normal.
- A fishy smell or thin grey-white change may occur with bacterial vaginosis.
- Thick white discharge with itching or soreness may occur with thrush.
- Pelvic pain, bleeding, sores or urinary pain add important context.
When to get help
NHS guidance advises seeking help if discharge changes color, smell or texture, becomes more than usual, or appears with itching, soreness, bleeding between periods or after sex, pain when peeing, or pelvic pain.
A sexual health clinic can assess unusual discharge and often provide testing. Avoid douching or scented products, which may irritate the area and do not identify the cause.
If the change is new, note whether it follows a new product, medicine, sexual contact or cycle phase, but do not use that timing to rule an infection in or out. Testing and clinical context are more reliable than an appearance-based guess.
- Note the change and when it began.
- Avoid assuming the diagnosis from appearance.
- Use a GP, sexual-health clinic or local advice service when check-it signs appear.
Sources
- NHS: Vaginal discharge — Reviewed 15 February 2024; describes normal patterns and check-it signs.
- NHS: Periods and fertility in the menstrual cycle — Reviewed 5 January 2023; describes thinner, stretchy secretions around ovulation.
- Cleveland Clinic: Cervical mucus — Medically reviewed; updated 18 December 2024.
- NHS: Bacterial vaginosis — Reviewed 19 June 2026; explains symptoms and the need for assessment.