Yellow Green Discharge: Is It Normal? Causes, Treatment

Question: What causes yellow green discharge?

From time to time, it’s important that women understand changes in their body and inform their doctor if anything that seems unusual.

Your period and vaginal discharge can quickly tell when something is wrong; So, being observant is important to prevent long-term complications that may affect your chances of conceiving in the future.

A yellow-green discharge is most likely an abnormal discharge and occurs most times because of infections that irritate the vagina and cervix (often sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis, or bacterial vaginosis). A normal discharge is usually clear to whitish in color and does not cause any form of pain or itching down there.

Normally, your body’s uterine cervix contain glands that help in the production of cervical mucus. This fluid travels through your vaginal canal and assists in keeping your vaginal devoid of infection and dead cells. This is a natural protective way your body keeps your vagina in good health and also clean.

Within your vagina are many kinds of good bacteria (normal vaginal flora) that live together without causing infections. After vaginal douching, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and steroids, vaginal balance of these bacteria are affected, resulting in infections. World Health Organization+1

If you notice a yellow or green discharge, even without vaginal itching, back pain, lower abdominal pain, or pain while having intercourse, you still need to pay attention. Many sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms at all, so any persistent yellow-green discharge should be checked by a doctor. ECDC+1

However, if you do have these symptoms with a yellowish green discharge, you should see your doctor right away.

Common causes of yellow green discharge are chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. CDC

This article explains why you have an abnormal discharge, when to worry and what to do.

What causes yellow green discharge from vagina?

If you are experiencing a yellow-greenish discharge, it’s normal that you will worry about something’s wrong.

Here is an email I received from Thelma (one of my readers)

Hi Dunn

Am 33 years old, and I recently had an abortion through evacuation. I have been spotting for about two weeks now with smelly green yellow stuff from my vagina. I’ve tried many other medications, and it’s not improving, should I see a doctor?

Just like Thelma, you will be worried if you notice a greenish colored discharge. In most women, it is because something’s wrong. After an abortion, a bad-smelling yellow or green discharge with ongoing bleeding can be a sign of infection or retained tissue, and this needs urgent medical care in a clinic or hospital. CDC+1

Here are common causes you should know.

---

1. Chlamydia infection

If you have a greenish-yellow vaginal discharge, it’s possible that you have chlamydia vaginal infection.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection, which means, you must have had an unprotected sexual activity with someone in the past.

Sometimes, apart from vaginal intercourse, you can still catch chlamydia if you share sex toys with an infected partner.

When chlamydia enters a woman’s body, most times, there will not be any sign of the infection. At least 70 percent of women and about half of men with genital chlamydia infection have no symptoms at the time of diagnosis. ECDC

However, if you become infected and begin to show symptoms, an abnormal vaginal discharge that is greenish or yellowish is common.

Other symptoms that suggest you have chlamydia are

• Excessive vaginal discharge due to inflammation of your cervix and vagina wall

• Pain while urinating

• Vaginal pain during sexual activity

• Yellow vaginal discharge

• Fever

• Lower abdominal pain

• Back pain

• Spotting in between your menstrual periods

• Rectal discharge that is offensive

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and have a greenish discharge, it’s possible you are already infected with chlamydia.

What to do?

A greenish-yellow discharge that is due to chlamydia infection can be treated with antibiotics. Most recent guidelines now prefer a 7-day course of doxycycline tablets for adults and adolescents, while a single dose of azithromycin is often used during pregnancy or when doxycycline cannot be taken. CDC

Talk to your doctor first before taking medication. A vaginal or cervical swab, or a urine sample, will usually be tested with a special laboratory test (NAAT) to confirm the infection. CDC+2JAMA Network+2

Your sexual partner(s) should also be tested and treated; otherwise you can pass the infection back and forth to each other.

If you are pregnant and have an abnormal discharge, you must see your healthcare provider for information and evaluation before taking any medication. This is vital to prevent serious complications for you and your growing baby. CDC+

---

2. Gonorrhea infection

Just like chlamydia infection, a yellow green discharge may be due to gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is another sexually transmitted infection that can affect your vagina resulting in vaginal pain, smell, and itching.

It is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and if you had sexual intercourse before without always protecting yourself with a condom, you might already have the infection.

After sex with someone who has gonorrhea, it takes about two weeks for your body to react and start showing symptoms. However, this may not always be the case for most infected women. In fact, many women that get gonorrhea are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms. Merck Manuals

In women that show symptoms, a green yellow discharge with odor is common. Here are other symptoms you may experience

• Painful sexual activity

• Spotting in between period

• Pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis

• Fever

• Waist pain

• Yellowish green discharge

• Vaginal itching

• Foul smelling discharge

• Burning pain while urinating

These symptoms are common with a gonorrhea infection. However, you may also have other STDs too. Talk to your doctor quickly.

What steps to take?

Gonorrhea is mostly asymptomatic in most women, and if you are showing symptoms, talk to your doctor quickly.

Experts recommend that if you are sexually active and under 25 years, or older with risk factors (new partner, multiple partners, partner with an STI), you should have regular STI screening because untreated gonorrhea can cause infertility and chronic pelvic pain. CDC

Treatment of gonorrhea is through use of antibiotics. The current CDC-recommended treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea is usually a single injection of ceftriaxone, and you may also receive tablets (for example doxycycline) if chlamydia has not been ruled out. CDC

Again, your sexual partner(s) need treatment too, and you should avoid sex until you and your partner have finished treatment and symptoms have gone. CDC+1

---

3. Bacterial vaginosis

Your vagina is made up of many types of cells and bacteria that live together without normally causing an infection.

The bacteria, lactobacillus, ensure your vagina is acidic, and also, help you fight bacterial infections.

After vaginal douching, these good protective vaginal bacteria (lactobacillus) are destroyed resulting in an unbalanced number of cells that favors harmful bacteria that cause infections.

If this happens, you are at risk of Bacterial vaginosis that makes your discharge smell like fish. Other symptoms are burning pain while urinating and lower abdominal pain, although some women have BV without any symptoms. Mayo Clinic+

What to do?

Apart from an unpleasant smell that is very discomforting, bacterial vaginosis infection can increase your risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases (like gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV) and can sometimes cause problems in pregnancy. World Health Organization+1

Talk to your doctor as treatment is also quick and easy. Metronidazole (Flagyl) or clindamycin – taken as tablets, or used as a vaginal gel or cream – are common treatments your doctor may prescribe. CDC

---

4. Trichomoniasis…see here

Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a tiny parasite (Trichomonas vaginalis). It often causes a foul-smelling, thin or frothy yellow-green discharge, itching, and pain during sex or urination, but many women have no symptoms. CDC

I have explained trichomoniasis in more detail in another article (you can link to your trichomoniasis post here). For more background, you can also read the CDC fact sheet: https://www.cdc.gov/trichomoniasis/about/index.html. CDC+

---

What causes yellow green discharge after period?

If you are experiencing a yellow-green discharge after end of menstruation, it could be due to chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea and bacterial vaginosis infections. Talk to your doctor for examination and test to be carried out.

If you recently had an abortion, delivery, miscarriage, or any procedure inside the womb and then develop yellow-green discharge with fever, lower tummy pain or feeling very unwell, you should go to the hospital urgently to rule out pelvic inflammatory disease or a womb infection. PMC

---

What causes yellow green discharge no odor?

Whether you experience a smelly discharge or not, a greenish looking discharge is not normal. Some sexually transmitted infections do not cause any smell or obvious symptoms at all, so do not wait until the discharge becomes offensive before you ask for help. CDC+1

See your health care specialist to rule out possible causes, especially vaginal infections.