Family Planning Plus

Your menstrual cycle can vary, depending on several factors. Things like stress, medications, illness, hormone fluctuations, and changes in diet, exercise or sleep can all affect the timing of your period. Your period may be a little earlier or later than usual. It may be lighter or heavier than normal.

Vaginal discharge is common, normal and varies within your cycle. Vaginal discharge serves to maintain the vaginal pH and helps to sweep unwanted bacteria out of the vagina. Vaginal discharge may appear yellow on your pad or panties. When you are nearing ovulation time, discharge is usually thin, watery and increased in amount. When you are nearing your period (the time of less fertility), discharge is a thicker, creamier white. Due to higher estrogen levels, young women tend to have more discharge.  During peri-menopause and after menopause,  women tend to have less discharge due to the decrease in estrogen that normally occurs as we age.

Vaginal infections can cause changes in discharge. Bacterial vaginosis can cause a thin, milky, white discharge that has a “fishy” odor. The odor is sometimes more noticeable after intercourse. There may be burning in the vagina or with urination.  BV is treated with antibiotics. Yeast infections are characterized by thick, white, cottage cheese like discharge. There may be intense itching in and around the vaginal area. Yeast infections are treated with anti-fungal medications (Monistat, Clotrimazole). Neither yeast nor bacterial vaginosis is a sexually transmitted infection.

Yellow, green or gray discharge with odor may indicate STD’s like chlamydia or gonorrhea.

If you feel your discharge is abnormal, make an appointment for an infection check. Family Planning Plus clinics offer vaginal exams and birth control for little to no cost, depending on your household size and income.  Free STD screening is available to men and women. Please feel free to schedule an appointment at any of our 4 locations.