7 Causes Of Yellow Mucus Discharge

Yellow mucus discharge is mostly an abnormal vaginal discharge seen in women. Though not always a sign of infection, the presence of yellow discharge down there can be worrying among women.

A small amount of pale yellow discharge without smell or itching can be normal, especially when normal white discharge dries on your underwear. But thick, greenish-yellow, foul-smelling, or itchy discharge is usually abnormal and may mean an infection.(ACOG).

Vaginal infections with yellow discharge may be due to gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomonas infections. This article explains the causes of yellow mucus discharge and when to worry about it.

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Whats normal vaginal discharge you should have

The vagina is protected naturally from infection by its discharge. Vaginal discharge may be thick white, brown, pinkish and still normal.

Women usually get worried when there is a color change of their discharge. Brown mucus discharge can be a normal type of discharge that occurs due to mixture of vaginal discharge with small amounts of blood. It could be due to sexual intercourse, ovulation or pregnancy.

Yellow mucus discharge can also sometimes be normal in women. Normal vaginal discharge that is white can turn yellow mucus when exposed to air and dries on your underwear. Therefore, if you have a mild yellow mucus discharge without symptoms like pain during intercourse, bad smell, or itching, then keeping your vagina clean with proper hygiene will help.

However, symptoms like vaginal itching, pain during intercourse or pain while urinating together with yellow discharge is a sign you may have an infection and need to see a doctor or sexual health clinic.

Vaginal discharge is made up of different types of cells and tissues. It consists of vaginal epithelial cells, good bacteria that maintain the pH of the vagina (lactobacillus), other bacteria and fungi that could cause vaginal infections, and clear mucus discharge from the cervix.

The good bacteria help maintain the acidity, thereby preventing infections. The normal vaginal pH is between 3.5 — 4.5, which helps to slow the growth of many harmful germs, but it does not completely prevent sexually transmitted infections or other problems.

However, some conditions that may affect this pH balance leading to infection are:

• Using vaginal douche to wash your vagina (This can destroy the good protective lactobacillus in the vagina)

• Using soap and detergents inside your vagina

• Taking antibiotics (even with your doctor’s consent) which may disturb the normal bacteria

• Using vaginal sprays or perfumed products inside the vagina

• Poor vaginal hygiene

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What causes yellow mucus discharge in women?

If you notice a yellow stuff coming out of your vagina, then these are the possible causes.

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Normal vaginal discharge

Yellow mucus discharge may not be due to an infection. Vaginal discharge that comes out white from the vagina can turn yellow due to oxidation when exposed to room air or when it dries on your underwear. This type of discharge does not have vaginal itching, burning, strong smell or signs of inflammation.

Reducing stress, avoiding harsh soaps inside the vagina and improving vaginal hygiene will help improve your symptoms. If the color, smell or amount suddenly changes, it is safer to let your doctor check it.

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Gonorrhea infection

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause yellow mucus discharge. It is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and can make women feel very uncomfortable.

Though a sexually transmitted infection, it can also be transmitted during childbirth from mother to baby. If you are pregnant or expecting a pregnancy, it is important to treat any abnormal yellow discharge.

Many women with gonorrhea have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can include:

• Yellow or yellow-green mucus discharge

• Smelly vagina or a bad vaginal odor

• Low abdomen or pelvic pain

• High body temperature or fever

• Vaginal pain during sexual intercourse

• Pain or burning while urinating

• Bleeding between periods or after sex

If you have a yellow mucus discharge with these symptoms, then it may be due to gonorrhea.

What to do? Inform your doctor or sexual health clinic as soon as possible. Untreated gonorrhea can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or cause problems with fertility in women. You can read more about gonorrhea symptoms and treatment from Cleveland Clinic.

During your visit, vaginal or cervical samples of your yellow discharge are collected, tested and antibiotics prescribed.

It is important to inform your male or female partner(s) to get tested and treated too. This is because reinfection is possible if you don’t abstain or use condoms while treatment is going on.

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Chlamydia infections

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted vaginal infection that may cause yellow mucus discharge. Many women with chlamydia also have few or no symptoms. If left untreated, chlamydia may result in PID, and can increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery and difficulty getting pregnant.

Symptoms of chlamydia infections are:

• Yellow or yellow-white vaginal discharge (sometimes with smell)

• Low abdomen pain

• Painful urination

• Bleeding between periods or after sex

What to do?

Inform your doctor immediately if you have these symptoms and yellow mucus from your vagina, or if a sexual partner has tested positive. Only proper testing can tell if you have chlamydia. You can read more on chlamydia symptoms and complications.

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Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the commonest causes of fishy vaginal odor and discharge. It occurs due to disruption of the normal vaginal flora and reduction of vaginal lactobacillus. This will result in overgrowth of other organisms that then cause infection.

Symptoms of vaginal bacterial vaginosis infection are:

• Fishy smelly vagina, especially after sex

• Off-white, gray, or sometimes yellow mucus discharge

• Sometimes itchy vagina with burning or discomfort

What to do?

If you have a fishy smelly vagina with yellow or grayish discharge, then it is likely bacterial vaginosis. You should let your doctor know. If untreated, BV may increase your risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and other STIs. You can read more from the World Health Organization (WHO) bacterial vaginosis fact sheet.

Avoid douching and perfumed products inside the vagina, as these can make BV more likely or make it come back.

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Trichomoniasis (Trich)

Trichomoniasis, also called trich, is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause yellow smelly mucus from your vagina. It is caused by a parasite (Trichomonas vaginalis).

Trich infection symptoms are:

• Vaginal pain during sexual intercourse

• Vulva itching, redness or soreness

• Pain in the lower abdomen

• Yellow or yellow-green mucus discharge that is foul smelling, sometimes frothy

What to do?

If you have yellow mucus coming out with a bad smell, itching or pain, it is time to let your doctor know about your symptoms. Trichomonas infection can be treated with antibiotics (tablets). Your partner will also need treatment. You can learn more from the CDC page on trichomoniasis.

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Pelvic inflammatory disease

Untreated vaginal infection due to chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis and gonorrhea can cause ascending infection affecting the uterus, fallopian tubes and abdomen. This more serious infection is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

In severe cases, women may complain of severe abdomen pain and fever due to infection in the pelvis or even an abscess (collection of pus) within the abdomen.

Symptoms of PID are:

• Yellow mucus discharge that is foul smelling

• Sometimes pus-like discharge from your vagina

• Pain during intercourse

• Spotting or bleeding between periods

• Fever or feeling very unwell

• Pain while urinating

• Moderate to severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain

What to do?

Inform your doctor early for testing and treatment if you have any of these symptoms. This will help prevent PID complications such as:

• Ectopic pregnancy if there is damage to your Fallopian tubes

• Infertility

• Chronic pelvic pain

• Problems in future pregnancy

You can read more about PID from womenshealth.gov.

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Other causes and irritation

Sometimes yellowish discharge can also be related to irritation or other vaginal problems, such as:

• Reactions to perfumed soaps, pads, wipes or sprays

• Atrophic vaginitis in women after menopause

• Mixed infections (for example BV together with another infection)

Because many conditions can look similar, it is safer to be examined if you notice a new yellow, green, or foul-smelling discharge. ACOG has a patient FAQ on vaginitis that explains these conditions in simple language.

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10 Reasons to worry about yellow mucus discharge

You should be concerned and see a doctor or sexual health clinic if:

• You have vagina pain during sexual intercourse

• Your vagina smells like fish or has a strong bad odor

• You have pain while urinating

• You feel pain in the lower part of your abdomen or pelvis

• You constantly have fever or high body temperature

• Your vulva is sore and painful

• Your vagina is itching

• You’ve had unprotected intercourse and now have yellow mucus discharge

• You are spotting or bleeding before period or after sex

• You are pregnant with yellow discharge

If you have severe lower abdominal pain, high fever, feel faint, or cannot keep fluids down, you should seek urgent or emergency care.

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FAQs about yellow mucus discharge

These are some commonly asked yellow mucus discharge questions. Let us know below if your question were not answered.

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What causes yellow mucus discharge before period?

Yellow mucus discharge before period is sometimes due to the uterus removing old endometrial tissue before your next period. Old endometrial tissue could also come out as dark or black period blood on the first day of period or brown mucus discharge before period in some women.

However, infection (like chlamydia, gonorrhea, BV or trich) can also cause yellow discharge around this time.

If your yellow mucus discharge is itching, painful, or with smell, then you should let your doctor know and get tested for infections.

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How can yellow mucus discharge be prevented?

• Stop vaginal douching

• Do not use detergents or soap to wash the inside of your vagina

• Get your partners (male or female) tested for STDs if you have an infection

• Abstain or use a condom during sex

• Treat any infection early and complete your medications

• Practice good general hygiene and avoid perfumed products inside the vagina

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What causes yellow mucus discharge early pregnancy

Normal vaginal discharge during pregnancy is usually clear or white discharge without smell or itching. Pregnancy hormones can increase the amount of normal discharge.

If you have a yellow discharge during pregnancy, especially if it is smelly, itchy or painful, you should inform your doctor or midwife to rule out any infection. Vaginal infections in pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm delivery or a miscarriage if not treated.

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Now its your turn. Do you have a yellow mucus discharge that is smelly or painful? Let us know if we could help.