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

Key takeaways:

• Vaginal discharge is natural, and its appearance varies throughout your menstrual cycle.
• Watery vaginal discharge may be normal, but if you also have symptoms like burning, itching, pain, or a foul odor, it may be a sign of infection.
• Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection that causes watery discharge, but it’s not the only potential culprit.

The vagina is naturally damp. Multiple glands provide hydration for delicate tissues and a natural lubrication. Since everybody is different, a personal assessment of vaginal discharge is very subjective. One person’s “watery” might be someone else’s norm.

The consistency of vaginal discharge can be a sign of normal bodily functions, but in some cases, it may indicate infection. Watery discharge is only concerning when it's accompanied by symptoms such as burning, itching, or pain, appears discolored, or has an unpleasant odor.

Is it normal to have watery vaginal discharge?

Yes, it can be normal to have discharge that feels “watery” or thin. Vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea, is perfectly natural. Its consistency can change throughout your menstrual cycle, reflecting hormonal changes. Your hydration levels also affect your discharge consistency, as it can appear thicker when you are dehydrated.

Sexual activity can also cause a clear, watery discharge. It is distinct from normal discharge and usually happens in response to arousal. However, some vaginal infections or conditions can also cause watery discharge alongside symptoms like burning during urination, vaginal itching, or a strong, foul odor.

What is watery vaginal discharge?

Natural vaginal secretions create the discharge you normally see. These secretions come from vaginal and cervical glands:

• Skene’s glands: Paired Skene’s glands are at the top of the vagina on either side of your urethra. They provide lubrication with antibiotic properties to protect the bladder from infection.
• Bartholin glands: A pair of Bartholin’s glands are situated at the bottom of your vagina. These provide lubrication and contribute to moisture during arousal.
• Mucus glands in the cervix: Besides providing lubrication, the mucus from your cervix changes throughout your cycle. Its structure adapts for the easy passage of sperm during ovulation. At other times, it becomes an obstacle to intruders such as bacteria. This is an important gatekeeper because the cervix can be a direct infectious route into your pelvis.
• Secretions through the vaginal walls: This is an exchange of hydration, with water passing from deeper blood vessels.

Common causes of watery vaginal discharge

Whether watery vaginal discharge is abnormal or not depends on what causes it. When other external forces are at work, like an infection or inflammation, the normal consistency will change.

Normal hormonal changes

Normal lubricating, moisturizing, or mucous secretions from vaginal and cervical glands can produce a watery discharge. The water content of cervical mucus rises as you approach ovulation, meaning your discharge may seem more “watery” than normal at certain times in your menstrual cycle.

Watery vaginal discharge associated with bacterial vaginosis

When the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina changes, it can cause bacterial vaginosis (BV). This can mean a change in pH (acidity) or an infection. Clear vaginal discharge may appear thicker, grayish white, and have a fishy odor in this case. No one knows the exact cause of BV, but it can be a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or occur without sexual contact.

Watery vaginal discharge associated with trichomoniasis

A watery vaginal discharge can become frothy or bubbly due to an STI called trichomoniasis, or “trich.” It may be accompanied by burning, itching, and a fish-like odor. It can range in color from clear to yellow to green.

Watery vaginal discharge associated with bacterial infections

Bacterial infections can be due to STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Their discharges are typically different from a normal watery vaginal discharge. Usually, the discharge will turn yellow or green and have an unpleasant smell. These infections also cause severe pelvic pain and may cause long-term complications if left untreated.

Because the anus is close to the vagina, normal rectal bacteria can reach and grow in the vagina. The discharge from rectal Escherichia coli (E. coli) is gray or green and has an unpleasant odor, but may initially appear watery.

Watery vaginal discharge associated with vaginal bleeding

Usually, vaginal blood from menstruation or hormone imbalances will usually be recognized as just that: bleeding. However, if clots sit in the vagina for a length of time, the clear plasma can separate and, being more liquid, leak out as a watery vaginal discharge.

Watery vaginal discharge associated with menopause

Menopause is associated with the end of the ovaries’ hormone production. The absence of estrogen causes the walls of the vagina to become thin. This loss of cells, known as “atrophic vaginitis,” can appear as a watery vaginal discharge. The inflammation causes microscopic bleeding that can turn the clear discharge pink.

Because it is associated with low or no estrogen, it is sometimes seen during breastfeeding, when estrogen is diminished. In menopause, a watery vaginal discharge is normal. It may cause itching, burning, and loss of vaginal tone, leading to urinary incontinence. Even though atrophic vaginitis can cause an innocent pink discoloration, any bleeding makes it necessary to rule out the possibility of cancer.

What watery vaginal discharge can mean based on your menstrual cycle

Your cervical mucus has an important role in protecting you. It has a microscopic infrastructure that changes throughout your menstrual cycle. This means discharge consistency and color may vary depending on your phases. Normally, it obstructs your cervix, keeping bacteria and fungi from reaching your uterus and bladder.

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

Although the nature of a vaginal discharge depends on what’s normal for you and varies from person to person, what you observe may provide some clues as to what’s going on.

• Clear, watery vaginal discharge: Normal leukorrhea, leukorrhea during ovulation, or discharge during menopause or during breastfeeding.
• Bloody, watery vaginal discharge: Normal leukorrhea with cervicitis.
• Heavy watery vaginal discharge: Likely urine from incontinence.
• Watery vaginal discharge accompanied by itching: Trichomoniasis, BV, or yeast.
• Watery vaginal discharge after sex: Possibly semen, but more likely lubrication from arousal or, rarely, urine from incontinence.
• Watery vaginal discharge during pregnancy: This could be urine from incontinence, but leaking membranes or rupture of membranes must be ruled out due to extreme danger to the pregnancy.

Read our guides on vaginal discharge colors, types, and odors for more.

When you should see a doctor about watery vaginal discharge

While a watery vaginal discharge may just be normal leukorrhea as it changes throughout your menstrual cycle, a proper medical evaluation is necessary when certain symptoms accompany it.

You should see a doctor if:

Consult a healthcare professional if you experience watery vaginal discharge:

• With bleeding, cramping, burning, itching, pain, or a foul odor
• Whose consistency is frothy, bubbly, or foamy
• That’s yellow, gray, red, brown, green, or black
• That developed after a new sexual contact
• That developed after taking a new medication
• And you have an intrauterine device (IUD)
• And you are pregnant or think you may be

You should go to the emergency room if:

If your vaginal discharge is accompanied by:

• Fever
• Heavy bleeding
• Pelvic, abdominal, or back pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pregnancy or menopause

Questions to ask your doctor about watery vaginal discharge

• Is my watery discharge normal or a sign of infection?
• How will this be diagnosed and treated?
• How will I know if the treatment was successful?
• Should I inform my partner of my diagnosis?

How to get rid of or treat watery vaginal discharge

Watery vaginal discharge may be normal for you if there are no other symptoms. However, even an excess of normal moisture can become inconvenient. And if there’s an infection, it can become dangerous, prompting the following:

Antibiotics

Doctors prescribe these to treat trichomoniasis, BV, bacterial infections, STIs, and mixed infections.

Antifungal medication

These can be useful in treating yeast infections alone or as part of a mixed infection.

Birth control pills

You may use these to mask your normal cycle if a watery discharge becomes inconvenient, especially around ovulation.

Hormonal replacement therapy

This may help if watery vaginal discharge affects your quality of life during menopause. It should only be done after ruling out any risk of cancer.

Frequently asked questions: watery vaginal discharge

Common questions on this topic include the following:

Is watery vaginal discharge unhealthy?

Not if it’s part of your normal cycle. In excess, however, it can increase your risk of yeast infections. During pregnancy or menopause, medical evaluation is recommended. And if it’s due to an infection, it may jeopardize your partner, fertility, pregnancy, or even your life.

Is it normal to have watery discharge for weeks or months?

No. Even the normal leukorrhea of your menstrual cycle will come and go and not remain for long periods of time. Abnormal discharge should be evaluated before allowing it to continue for any length of time.

Is watery vaginal discharge a sign of pregnancy?

Hormonal changes that come with pregnancy can alter your normal discharge. Nevertheless, better safe than sorry: report any change to your doctor.

Final thoughts on watery vaginal discharge

Watery vaginal discharge can be normal, especially around ovulation and during menopause. However, you should be suspicious of watery discharge that comes with symptoms like burning, itching, pain, an unusual odor, or a change of color or consistency. When in doubt, it’s always better to consult your doctor to learn what steps to take next.

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. Pallabi Sanyal-Dey, MD.

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