STD Vaginal Discharge | Yellow STD Discharge

Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD on March 12, 2020. Written by Karen Eisenbraun. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

Table of contents

• What does discharge look like?
• The vaginal microflora and STDs
• STDs and vaginal discharges
• What should you do if you notice an unusual discharge?
• How to avoid STDs
• Related content

As any woman knows first-hand, vaginal discharges are a pretty common occurrence. And, most of the time, a normal vaginal discharge is nothing to be alarmed about. For one, discharges help keep the vagina clean and free of harmful pathogens.

But maybe you’ve noticed something…different…about your vaginal discharge. Perhaps there’s an unusual odor—or the color of the discharge isn’t the translucent white or clear color that it normally is. Maybe you even have flu-like symptoms, painful urination, or vaginal itching. You don’t know if it’s a urinary tract infection, a yeast infection, or something else.

If that’s something you’re experiencing, it may be time to get tested for STDs (also known as sexually transmitted infections or STIs).

Test For STDs From Home

Here’s the reason why you might want to look into STD testing: a number of STDs can cause distinct changes in vaginal discharges—altering the color, scent, and more. That’s because several STDs can affect something called the “vaginal microflora.”

Several STDs can negatively affect something called the “vaginal microflora,” a community of good, helpful bacteria. This can result in a distinct vaginal discharge. Whether it’s a frothy discharge or a green, chunky discharge, it’ll probably be easy to see that your vaginal discharge isn’t what it’s typically like. In this guide, we’ll explain the difference between normal discharge and discharges caused by a sexually transmitted disease so you can take next steps if necessary—like testing and treatment.

What does discharge look like?

Vaginal discharge is the result of the cervix cleaning and maintaining itself to stay healthy. During this process, the cervix sheds vaginal cells, cervical mucus, and vaginal fluids which results in a white, opaque substance. Women who haven’t yet reached menopause typically experience discharge because it’s a natural part of the body’s functions.

What color is discharge and what is it supposed to look like?

The answer to that will vary from person-to-person, but most women have a white vaginal discharge. As soon as a women’s menstrual cycle ends, her discharge will be minimal. By the time of ovulation during her cycle, many will notice a stringy discharge and it may even begin to thicken.

However, it’s important to note that women on oral contraceptives may have a reduced amount of discharge, making it harder to identify what “normal” is for you. However, if you are experiencing a yellow, brown discharge or even an orange discharge color, it may mean you have a sexually transmitted infection. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis infections can all cause changes in a woman’s discharge. (Related: Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test)

The vaginal microflora and STDs

You may have heard that the gut is full of friendly bacteria. The vagina, it turns out, is also inhabited by a community of good, helpful bacteria—a community known as the vaginal microflora. Scientists believe that some types of vaginal bacteria actually protect the health of your reproductive system.

These bacteria, it is thought, produce lactic acid—making the vagina a less hospitable place for germs. This, in turn, helps ward off infections of the reproductive system. However, despite this, infections can still occur.

Case in point: STDs.

Some STDs—though not all—can change the vagina’s microflora community by populating it with an army of hostile pathogens (“pathogen” simply refers to very tiny organisms, like bacteria or viruses, that cause disease). If that’s happened, then you might notice that your vagina’s discharges—which largely consist of vaginal bacteria—are a little different than usual. Maybe the color of the discharge is yellow or green. There could be an odd smell, too. These are all signs of an STD discharge.

These changes can cause orange vaginal discharge, chunky yellow discharge, and other abnormal discharges. A change in how your discharge smells—such as having a foul odor—is another sign your abnormal discharge might be due to an STD. So, if that’s what your discharges have been like lately, it could be because you’ve got an STD lurking in your vaginal microflora.

But abnormal vaginal discharges aren’t only associated with STDs. In fact, there are quite a number of possible reasons why your discharge might seem unusual—in terms of its color, scent, texture, or volume. That being said, though, you can look for clues in your discharge—clues which hint at the possibility of an STD.

So read on to find out more about STD symptoms and discharges—including what STD-related discharges look like—to help you decide if it’s time to get tested.

STDs and vaginal discharges

Only some STDs are known to noticeably affect vaginal discharges. There are 3 such STDs to be exact: trichomoniasis (or “trich”), chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

Let’s consider each of these STDs in turn—and the effects they can have on vaginal discharges.

Trichomoniasis and vaginal discharges

If you’ve recently been infected with trichomoniasis, then your discharge might be yellow-greenish in color—or, perhaps, just yellow. Your discharge could be frothy—or filled with tiny bubbles—and may have a distinct odor as well (which is often described as “fishy”). Additionally, you may experience a heavier discharge than normal—particularly as you near your menstrual cycle.

This picture changes a bit if you’re experiencing a chronic, long-term trich infection—in which case, you might see mucus mixed in with your discharge.

According to the CDC, approximately 70% of people infected with trichomoniasis do not show any symptoms. So you can still have trich even if you don’t have any abnormal discharges! Further, it’s impossible to diagnose trichomoniasis solely on the basis of external symptoms. Thus, if you suspect you have a trich infection, it’s a good idea to take a trichomoniasis test or get tested for STDs—something you can now do with a convenient, at-home female STD test kit.

Check For Common STDs Today!

Chlamydia and vaginal discharge

Any woman who is sexually active can get a chlamydial infection. You’re especially at risk if your age falls between 20 and 24.

Chlamydia is one sneaky—but common—STD because it rarely comes with any obvious symptoms (in fact, up to 80% of women infected with chlamydia do not have STD symptoms, according to one study).

That’s not the only thing that makes chlamydia an insidious STD, either: left untreated, a chlamydial infection can seriously hurt a woman’s reproductive system—which can result in infertility—or cause an ectopic pregnancy (also known as an extrauterine pregnancy). Chlamydia in women can also result in pelvic inflammatory disease—leading to chronic pelvic pain.

The good news is that, once detected, chlamydia can be effectively treated. So, because chlamydia presents a real danger to a woman’s health—and because it is a curable bacterial infection—the CDC recommends that women under 25 get an annual screening for chlamydia.

Chlamydia infections do occasionally present with symptoms—like mucus- and pus-containing cervical discharges, which can come out as an abnormal vaginal discharge in some women. So, what does a chlamydia discharge look like? A chlamydia discharge is often yellow in color and has a strong odor. A symptom that frequently co-occurs with this discharge is painful urination that often has a burning sensation in the genital area.

Gonorrhea and vaginal discharges

Like chlamydia, gonorrhea doesn’t always make itself known with immediately obvious symptoms. And also like chlamydia, gonorrhea discharges are frequently filled with mucus and pus—and commonly has a cloudy appearance—and can range from white to yellow to green in color.

Another symptom you might experience if you have gonorrhea is vaginal bleeding—even when you’re not menstruating.

What should you do if you notice an unusual discharge?

If you are experiencing abnormal discharge and think it could be because of an STD, the best time to take action is now because of the long-term health consequences of untreated STDs. Talk with your healthcare provider and consider getting tested.

Regular STD testing is key: the CDC recommends that sexually active women under 25 get tested annually for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Buy At-home STD Testing

You can test for STDs from the privacy of home with the Everlywell STD test kit—which includes a free phone consultation with a physician if you test positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and/or trichomoniasis.

How to avoid STDs

To aid STD prevention, make sure you and/or your partner always use protection (like a latex condom) during sexual intercourse. Regular STD testing is another key step to take: while this won’t directly prevent STDs, it will let you know your status so you can get treatment for a sexually transmitted infection before it harms your health.

Conclusion

If you notice an unusual vaginal discharge, consult with your healthcare provider so they can evaluate your signs and symptoms and provide an accurate diagnosis.

While particular STDs can lead to abnormal vaginal discharges, a reliable diagnosis requires the use of laboratory testing techniques. But that doesn’t mean you have to personally go to a lab!

Why? Because you can test for STDs from the privacy of home with the Everlywell STD female test kit—which includes a free phone consultation with a doctor if you test positive.

Give your sexual health the care it deserves by testing with our easy-to-use, at-home STD test.

Check For STDs At Home!

How do you know if you have an STD? Female STD symptoms to look out for

Abnormal vaginal discharge: common causes, types, and treatments

STD vs. yeast infection: 4 differences in symptoms

References

1. Unraveling the Dynamics of the Human Vaginal Microbiome. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5045142/. Published 2016. Accessed March 12, 2020.

2. Spence D, Melville C. Vaginal discharge. BMJ. 2007;335(7630):1147-1151. doi:10.1136/bmj.39378.633287.80

3. Trichomoniasis – CDC Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.htm. Accessed March 12, 2020.

4. Witkin SS, Minis E, Athanasiou A, Leizer J, Linhares IM. Chlamydia trachomatis: the Persistent Pathogen. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2017;24(10):e00203-17. doi:10.1128/CVI.00203-17

5. Chlamydia – CDC Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm. Accessed March 12, 2020.

6. Gonorrhea – CDC Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm. Accessed March 12, 2020.

7. Chlamydia Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stats.htm. Accessed March 12, 2020.

Sexually Transmitted Infection Symptoms You Should Know

STIs are very common and can come with a variety of symptoms. Although some people might not experience symptoms at all, it’s still worthwhile to know what signs to look out for.

If left untreated, some STIs can cause serious damage to the body and be transmitted to other people through sexual contact.

STI symptoms can range from mild to severe — and they can affect different parts of the body.

After an initial infection, it can take days, weeks, months, or even years for symptoms to appear.

But it’s also common for some STIs, like chlamydia and hepatitis B, to be asymptomatic. This means people may not even realize they have it.

Here are the main symptoms to be aware of:

• Pain when urinating or having sex can be a sign of everything from chlamydia and gonorrhea to genital herpes.
• Dark urine can occur with hepatitis B.
• Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus can appear with chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.
• Itchiness around the genitals may be seen with the likes of genital herpes and pubic lice.
• Bleeding between periods or after sex is one of the most common chlamydia symptoms.
• Pelvic and testicular pain can also occur with chlamydia.
• Joint and muscle pain can also occur with hepatitis B.
• Small blisters or sores around the genitals are potential symptoms of syphilis and genital herpes.

Even flu-like symptoms and rashes can be associated with STIs like HIV and syphilis.

On that note, it’s important to realize that most of these can be symptoms of other conditions and can also easily be mistaken for other health concerns.

Consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you suspect that you’ve been exposed to an STI.

STDs vs. STIs

Did you know there’s a difference between an STI and a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

STDs always begin as an STI. The initial infection occurs when bacteria, viruses, or parasites infiltrate the body.

A STI can become a disease if the foreign bodies begin to disrupt normal processes —this usually means symptoms start appearing.

Examples of STDs include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which results from an untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infection, and cervical cancer, which can be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Remember, not all STIs will become an STD, even if they are left untreated.

Was this helpful?

The major causes of STIs are:

• bacteria, such as chlamydia or syphilis
• viruses, such as HPV or HIV
• parasites, such as Trichomonas vaginalis

These causes are primarily transmitted through bodily fluids during sexual activity. This includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex.

But some can be transmitted from person to person via skin contact — for example, if you touch your partner’s genitals with yours.

Although anyone can contract an STI, data shows that young people and men who have sex with men (MSM) are at the greatest risk.

On the whole, an infection is classed as an STI if it’s mainly transmitted through sexual contact.

However, there are a few exceptions. For example, cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be transmitted through sexual activity, but it’s not considered an STI as it can be transmitted in a number of other ways, too.

Some STIs are much more common than others. HPV is the most common STI in the United States, with chlamydia and gonorrhea also heavily reported.

Other common STIs include genital herpes, with more than 1 in 6 people ages 14 to 49 developing it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Syphilis is much rarer, but there has been a resurgence in cases in recent years, primarily among MSM.

HIV infections, on the other hand, have greatly declined since the 1980s, with almost 35,000 new cases occurring in the United States in 2019.

If treated promptly, most STIs are unlikely to become an STD. However, if left untreated for some time, the risk of an STD becomes greater.

Not all STIs can be cured. HPV is one example. Some HPV strains can lead to cancer, so getting regularly screened for abnormal cell changes is key to early diagnosis.

A doctor or other healthcare professional can perform tests and examinations to help figure out whether you have an STI or a different condition altogether.

These may include:

• rapid fingerprick tests
• fluid samples from the vagina, penis, anus, or any sores that have appeared
• blood tests
• urine samples
• pelvic and physical examinations

It’s important to get tested regularly if you are sexually active and to consult a healthcare professional as soon as you develop any symptoms.

Early diagnosis means you can get treatment earlier and decrease the risk of complications.

In some cases, untreated STIs can lead to serious health problems.

They can:

• increase the risk of infertility
• cause certain types of cancer
• make a person more susceptible to contracting HIV
• lead to organ damage and even death

Pregnant people should be aware that STIs can affect an unborn baby and the overall pregnancy, too.

Some STIs can be passed to the baby before and during birth, potentially leading to:

• infections
• pneumonia
• meningitis
• blindness
• deafness
• brain damage
• stillbirth

Premature labor is also a risk of having an untreated STI.

This is further complicated as some treatments may not be safe during pregnancy. A doctor or other healthcare professional will be able to recommend a treatment and delivery plan that will reduce the risk to you and your baby.

As some STIs are asymptomatic, all of the above makes it even more important to get screened on a regular basis.

Doctors can treat certain STIs:

• Chlamydia and trichomoniasis are cured with antibiotics.
• Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. However, some drug-resistant strains of the bacteria have emerged that don’t respond to traditional treatments and may be more difficult to cure.
• Syphilis can also be cured with antibiotics. The medication your clinician chooses depends on the stage of syphilis.
• Acute hepatitis B usually doesn’t require treatment. If the virus doesn’t clear on its own, antiviral medications are used to treat chronic hepatitis B.

Some conditions aren’t curable, but treatments can help reduce their symptoms. Herpes, HPV, and HIV fall into this category.

For herpes, clinicians will prescribe medications known as antivirals to shorten an outbreak. Some people take these medications on a daily basis to help reduce the likelihood of an outbreak.

Daily antivirals are also used to treat HIV and stop the virus from replicating in the body. Within 6 months of treatment, the virus will become undetectable in most people.

Clinicians don’t have specific treatments for genital warts caused by HPV. However, they may prescribe topical medications or perform procedures to help shrink or remove the lesions.

Remember that even if you’ve been treated and no longer have an STI, you can contract the STI again.

The only 100 percent effective way to prevent STIs is to abstain from any sexual activity.

But there are ways to reduce the risk of both contracting an STI and developing complications:

• Use condoms and other barrier methods correctly to reduce the risk of coming into contact with bodily fluids.
• Get tested regularly and encourage partners to as well. Note that STI screening isn’t a part of a standard health exam, so it’s important to ask for specific testing to get your results.
• Have open conversations with sexual partners about your sexual history and test results.
• Consider getting vaccinated against hepatitis B and HPV.
• If you’re at a higher risk of contracting HIV, speak with a healthcare professional about a preventive treatment called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Most STIs can be treated, if not cured. The key is prevention where possible and regular screening to ensure that any infections are promptly treated.

If you experience any symptoms, no matter how minor, it’s important to seek medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Lauren Sharkey is a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in women’s issues. When she isn’t trying to discover a way to banish migraines, she can be found uncovering the answers to your lurking health questions. She has also written a book profiling young female activists across the globe and is currently building a community of such resisters. Catch her on Twitter.

Urethritis in STDs – symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

• Urethritis is an inflammatory process of the urethra that can occur in both men and women. The cause of urethritis, as a rule, is chronic inflammation of the organs of the genitourinary system, infectious diseases of other organs, sexually transmitted diseases, injuries of the urethra (during medical procedures, such as catheterization). Primary urethritis is the most common type of pathology and is characterized by a direct infection in the urethra. In the secondary inflammatory process, the infection enters the urethra from the focus of inflammation in other organs.

  Causative agents of urethritis

  Most cases of primary urethritis are transmitted through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person. Pathogens that provoke the appearance of urethritis are divided into specific and non-specific:

  • non-specific pathogens include: Escherichia coli, streptococcus, staphylococcus, yeast, gardnerella.
  • specific pathogens are: herpes type 2, chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus, Trichomonas, gonococci.

  Symptoms of urethritis in STDs

  In men, due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure (narrower and longer urethra), symptoms of urethritis appear much earlier. The course of the disease is more acute and more noticeable than in women. Depending on the type of provocateur of the disease, the signs of urethritis may differ:

  • Slight itching, discomfort at the beginning of urination, more abundant mucous discharge are observed in the presence of a bacterial infection and yeast-like fungi.
  • Gonorrhea urethritis is characterized by gray or yellow discharge with a thick consistency. The course of the pathology is accompanied by sharp pain during emptying of the bladder, febrile body temperature, nausea and vomiting.
  • Trichomonas urethritis occurs with moderate itching, discomfort when urinating. The discharge from the urethra is white and foamy.
  • In chlamydia, urethritis has a slow course. It is characterized by the presence of itching and painful urination, blood in the urine, scanty mucous or purulent discharge.

  Diagnosis of urethritis in STDs

  Laboratory studies play the main role in the detection of the causative agent of the inflammatory process in the urethra:

  • microscopy of a smear from the urethra;
  • smear culture;
  • PCR diagnostics;
  • enzyme immunoassay;
  • blood test to detect antibodies;
  • bacteriological examination of urine.

  Also, a urologist may prescribe an ultrasound scan of the genitourinary system to exclude the spread of the inflammatory process. Based on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor of the clinic will prescribe an effective treatment.

Licenses

Reviews

all questions.

Your name:

Phone number:*

* I agree with the rules for processing personal data set out in the privacy policy

Fields marked with “*” are required.

×

Ask a doctor a question

Your name

Your e-mail “*”

Message

* I agree with the rules for processing personal data set out in the privacy policy

900 07 Fields marked with “*” are required for filling.

×

Order hospitalization

Your name:

Phone number:*

Comment:

Fields marked with “*” are mandatory.

×

Leave a comment

×

Send an email

Your name

Your e-mail

Subject
9000 8

Message

* I agree with the rules for processing personal data set out in the privacy policy

×

Take the first step – make an appointment

Leave your contacts and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Your name:

Phone number or e-mail:*

Select date:

Note:

007 Fields marked with “*” required to fill out.

×

Appointment

×

Appointment

terologyGynecologyDermatovenereologyFemale infertilityCardiologyMammologyMedical book (LMK)NeurologyGeneral manipulations and proceduresPregnancy determinationOtorhinolaryngology (ENT)OphthalmologyAbortion of pregnancy Medical examinationsPsychiatry, psychotherapy, narcologyX-ray examinationsTherapyTraumatologyUltrasound of patency Fallopian tubes Ultrasound diagnostics Urology Fluorography Surgery0003

* I agree with the rules for processing personal data set out in the privacy policy

×

Hidden infections in gynecology – articles from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Burnaeva Yulia Alexandrovna

Reproductologist

Clinic “Mother and Child” South-West, Clinic “Mother and Child” Butovo

Mycoplasma, ureaplasma, chlamydia, trichomonas belong to the “hidden” sexual infections. With these infections, the disease proceeds with scant symptoms, sometimes for several years, and their manifestations can be noticed only when complications develop.

Many problems in the female genital area are associated with inflammatory diseases, and they are the main causes of non-hormonal infertility.

Women with STDs experience vaginal leucorrhea, itching, burning, discomfort, redness, sores in the genital area, painful, frequent urination, unusual bloody discharge from the genital tract.

Be attentive to the first manifestations of the disease. The sooner an infection is detected, the less losses you will get rid of them.

Due to the absence of symptoms of infection, sexual partners do not know about the infection, so it is necessary to have sex with a condom, to undergo regular medical examinations.

Modern methods for diagnosing genital infections are 70-95% reliable.

This is polymerase chain reaction method (PCR), immunofluorescent method (PIF), enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), culture method .

There is a myth about the incurability of STDs, although with the use of international standards for the treatment of sexual infections, the success of treatment is 85-90%, but the duration of treatment for a chronic disease reaches 1 month or more. Sometimes STD therapy is cheaper than diagnosis.

The question often arises in patients about the need to treat a “latent” infection.

Chlamydia, trichomonas, mycoplasma inflammatory diseases are subject to mandatory treatment, even if the infection is detected in only one sexual partner.

Candidiasis is treated with antifungals if there are signs of inflammation. When “thrush” is detected in laboratory tests, treatment is not always carried out. “Thrush” is not an STD, because. infection does not occur during intercourse. The reason for its development is a decrease in local and general immunity.

Often gardnerellosis is combined with STDs. In women, gardnerellosis (bacterial vaginosis) indicates a violation of the biocenosis in the vagina. In men, gardnerella infection is manifested by balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans penis of the foreskin).

Sexual partners should only be treated if infection occurs in both partners. If a man is healthy, then his preventive treatment does not reduce the frequency of relapses of gardnerellosis in a woman.

The reason for the failure of STD treatment is not using a condom during treatment of a married couple, lack of treatment of a partner, new sexual relations during treatment, inadequate selection of antibacterial drugs, non-compliance with treatment recommendations by patients, resistance of the pathogen to this drug.

Often symptoms of the disease after treatment of STDs can persist for several months when cured according to laboratory data.

The control of the cure of latent STDs is carried out in a month after the withdrawal of antibacterial drugs. Only after that, with negative results, sexual intercourse without a condom is possible.

Ryzhkova L.A., Head obstetric-observational department, doctor of the highest category

Make an appointment

to the doctor – Burnaeva Yulia Alexandrovna

Clinic “Mother and Child” South-WestClinic “Mother and Child” Butovo

HydrosonographyDonor programs and surrogacyEgg donationWomen’s infertilityISIIMSIContracts ECOCryobank of spermCryoconservation of embryos, eggs, spermMethods of PGDMMyths about ARTExaminations and Diagnosis of latest generation PGD: NGSPIX methodPregnancy planningIndications for PGDPreimplantation genetic diagnosisPreservation of fertilityCenter for innovative reproductive technologiesWhat is IVF? IVF IVF with a decrease in ovarian reserve In vitro fertilization (IVF) IVF stages

By clicking on the send button, I consent to the processing of personal data

Attention! Prices for services in different clinics may vary. To clarify the current cost, select the clinic

The administration of the clinic takes all measures to update the prices for programs in a timely manner, however, in order to avoid possible misunderstandings, we recommend that you check the cost of services by phone / with the managers of the clinic

Clinical Hospital MD GROUPClinical Hospital Lapino-1 “Mother and Child”Clinic KG “Lapino” in Odintsovo (branch)Clinic “Mother and Child” Khodynskoye PoleClinic “Mother and Child” KuntsevoClinic “Mother and Child” Savelovskaya Clinic “Mother and Child” » South-WestClinic “Mother and Child” NovogireevoClinic “Mother and Child” Lefortovo

All areasSpecialist consultations (adults)Specialist consultations (children)Laboratory of molecular geneticsGeneral clinical studiesProcedure roomTherapeutic studiesUltrasound examinations for adults

01.