What Does Green Vaginal Discharge Mean? Causes & What to Do

Key takeaways:

• Green vaginal discharge is almost always a sign of infection.
• Bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea are all common infections that may cause green discharge.
• Consult a doctor as soon as possible if you experience green vaginal discharge.

While a discoloration of a vaginal discharge from vaginal glands can be normal, the color green is never innocent. Normal vaginal moisture, known as leukorrhea, can sometimes appear yellowish-green due to dehydration.

But in most cases, green vaginal discharge is a sign of infection, especially when it comes with burning, itching, a foul odor, or pain. If you’re experiencing green vaginal discharge, it’s best to consult a medical professional. Even if your discharge isn’t due to infection, it could indicate other health issues that warrant professional care.

Is it normal to have green vaginal discharge?

No, it’s not considered normal to have green vaginal discharge. Any vaginal discharge that is green or gray should prompt you to seek medical attention. You can assume that this type of discoloration is always a sign of infection unless proven otherwise. It should never be ignored.

What is green vaginal discharge?

Green vaginal discharge is almost always the result of changes in the vaginal environment caused by an infection. Infections may cause cell death or immune responses like inflammation.

When cells die, their vital cellular processes stop, and they deteriorate. Death and deterioration cause discoloration and typically a foul odor. So, a green color in vaginal secretions may be due to the lack of oxygen in cells that were once alive. Alternatively, the green color may be an overconcentration of white blood cells mixed with bacteria–what is called “pus,” or purulent discharge.

Common causes of green vaginal discharge

Assuming that green discharge is due to infection, the underlying cause of your symptoms is a pathogen or foreign body. Different types of pathogens may cause different kinds of symptoms.

Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of your vaginal bacteria. It happens when unhealthy or harmful bacteria become more numerous than the healthy lactobacilli in the vagina.

The discharge of bacterial vaginosis can be green or, as it progresses and the discharge gets older, gray. It also usually comes with a fish-like odor. This smell is thought to be due to a product of abnormal bacteria’s metabolism, trimethylamine.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomonas is a protozoan, or a one-celled parasite, that spreads through sexual contact. Exposure to this pathogen can lead to trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Trichomoniasis results in a frothy, sometimes bubbly discharge that can be green. Like bacterial vaginosis, it can also be accompanied by a fish-like smell.

Other bacterial infections

The main bacterial infections to consider when it comes to green discharge are gonorrhea and chlamydia, two common STIs. While chlamydia can often cause a pus-filled, green discharge, some people with the infection experience no symptoms at all. Gonorrhea, on the other hand, tends to cause symptoms more frequently in people assigned female at birth (AFAB). It can cause pus-like, yellow-green discharge as well as a foul odor and fever.

Other infections can take hold even without sex. E. coli is a common and normal bacteria that is present in the rectum and may cause bacterial infections, including bacterial vaginosis.

Foreign body

Sometimes, green or unusual discharge accompanied by a foul odor is not the result of infection but a forgotten or “lost” tampon.

A foreign body does not coexist happily inside body cavities, and it becomes an anchor for colonizing bacteria. These, in turn, can multiply enough to produce a green discharge.

What a green discharge may mean based on appearance, texture, or another symptom or condition

No green discharge is normal, but not all of them are the same. They can differ based on appearance, texture, smell, volume, or associated pain, burning, or itching.

• Green discharge with no odor: Likely bacterial infection.
• Green discharge with a foul odor: Likely bacterial infection or foreign body.
• Green discharge with a fishy odor: May indicate trichomoniasis.
• Bright or lime green discharge: A mix of both a yellow and green discharge; possible bacterial infection.
• Thick green discharge: Likely bacterial infection or foreign body.
• Green discharge and vaginal itching: Probable bacterial infection; less likely, yeast.
• Green discharge while pregnant: Likely bacterial infection.

You can read more on vaginal discharge colors and vaginal discharge odors for more.

When you should see a doctor about green vaginal discharge

You should always consult a healthcare professional if you experience green vaginal discharge. However, severe symptoms may require immediate medical attention.

You should see a doctor if:

You experience any yellow, yellow-green, green, or gray discharge accompanied by symptoms of pain, burning, itching, or vaginal bleeding. Even if you’re not sure whether your discharge is normal, it’s better to check with your doctor.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You experience any yellow, yellow-green, or green discharge accompanied by fever.
• You experience pain that rises into your pelvis or abdomen.
• You experience green discharge accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

Questions to ask your doctor about green vaginal discharge

• Is my discharge a sign of a bacterial infection? Is it sexually transmitted?
• How will you make an accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, confirm any infection has been adequately treated?
• Should I ensure my partner is evaluated and, if necessary, treated along with me?
• Could this impact my ability to get pregnant?

How to get rid of or treat green vaginal discharge

Getting rid of a green vaginal discharge is all about what’s causing it and treating that cause adequately.

If it’s bacterial vaginosis

• Use a pH (acid) stabilizer, such as a boric acid suppository.
• Attempt to rebalance the bacterial population with normal lactobacilli using a culture suppository or even yogurt in the vagina.
• A more aggressive approach–and the best–is to take antibiotics, e.g., metronidazole or clindamycin.

If it’s trichomoniasis

• Take antibiotics to eradicate the protozoan, e.g., metronidazole, tinidazole, or others.
• Since many infections are sexually acquired, they are also sexually exchanged. This leads to two important considerations:
  • Your partner must also be treated at the same time, accompanied by sexual abstinence during the treatment period.
  • After a full course of treatment, a re-evaluation is necessary to confirm eradication. This is called a “test of cure,” either by re-culture or microscopic reappraisal of the vaginal cavity.

If it’s a bacterial infection

Gonorrhea and chlamydia both require antibiotic treatment. In severe cases, intravenous antibiotic treatment may be necessary, particularly if pelvic infection is suspected or if there is a fever.

Foreign body

Simply removing the tampon or other foreign body is all that’s required.

Frequently asked questions: green vaginal discharge

Here are some answers to a few more commonly asked questions about green vaginal discharge that may offer further guidance:

Does cancer cause green vaginal discharge?

Cancer may cause green vaginal discharge if there is cell death. However, this is a very late stage of cancer, which is more likely to be diagnosed from other clues before discharge presents.

What if you have green discharge but no history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

You may have green discharge caused by an infection that does not require sexual transmission, such as bacterial vaginosis. However, unless you’ve never had sexual intercourse before, you cannot guarantee you’ve never been exposed to an STI.

Final thoughts on green vaginal discharge

When it comes to vaginal discharge, green is the color of infection, perhaps a serious infection. It’s always best to consult a doctor if you notice green vaginal discharge so that you can promptly treat its underlying cause.

Even if your discharge isn’t due to an infection, it’s likely a sign that another health condition may be affecting your vaginal health. If your discharge comes with severe pain or a high fever, seek medical attention immediately. Otherwise, make an appointment to speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Lane Thaut, DO.

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