Let's talk about something almost every woman notices and almost nobody talks about: the white mark in your underwear. The reassuring part first: most of the time, it is simply your body doing its job.
In one line
Healthy discharge is white or clear, with no strong smell, and comes without itching, redness, swelling or pain. It changes across the month, and that is normal too. A change in colour, smell or texture, especially with itching or pain, is a good reason to see your doctor.
Why it is there
Normal discharge is a mix of cells, mucus, fluid and friendly bacteria, made by the vagina and the cervix. These bacteria, called lactobacilli, keep the vagina slightly acidic. Discharge keeps the area moist, clean and healthy, carries away old cells and helps protect against infection. In other words, the vagina cleans itself, beautifully.
Your month, in discharge
Just after your period there may be very little. Then it becomes white or creamy. Around ovulation it turns clear, wetter and stretchy, a little like raw egg white, and there is more of it. After ovulation, in the second half of the cycle, it thickens again and can look cloudier until your next period.
Puberty, pregnancy, arousal and some contraceptives change the amount too, and it often decreases after menopause, as oestrogen levels fall. A light yellow mark as it dries? Normal as well.
When to listen more closely
Your body usually tells you when something has changed. Book a visit with your doctor if you notice:
Thin grey or white discharge with a fishy smell, often stronger after intercourse.
Thick white discharge, a little like cottage cheese, with itching, burning or redness.
Green, yellow or frothy discharge, sometimes with a smell.
Pelvic pain, bleeding between periods or after intercourse, pain when urinating, or a fever: these need care without waiting.
Different causes can look alike, so it is better not to guess with over the counter products. During pregnancy, mention any change to your doctor.
Gentle habits
Wash only the outside, the vulva, with warm water or a mild unperfumed cleanser. Never wash inside: douching upsets the natural balance. Skip perfumed soaps, intimate deodorants and scented wipes. Choose cotton underwear, avoid very tight clothing, change out of wet swimwear or gym clothes quickly, change pads and liners regularly, and wipe from front to back.
Where we come in
For the outside, the Baûbo Intimate Cleansing Bar is soap free at pH 5.5, made for intimate skin. Curious about your balance? The pH Test Kit shows your vaginal pH at home in minutes: not a diagnosis, but a good start for a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist.
Vaginal probiotics such as Ultimate V, with four vaginal Lactobacillus strains, and pH Hero, with five strains and 20 billion live cultures per capsule, support a balanced vaginal microbiome as part of everyday care. They do not replace a check up when something feels different. Everything is in our vaginal health collection.
Your questions
Is it normal to have discharge every day?
Yes. Most women do. What matters is a change from what is usual for you.
Why is there more at some times of the month?
Because hormone levels rise and fall across the cycle. There is more around ovulation, and often during pregnancy.
Should I use an intimate wash inside?
No. The vagina cleans itself. Only the outside needs gentle care.
Written with care by Banat Nareng. It does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Sources: NHS, Cleveland Clinic, healthdirect Australia, Singapore Medical Journal (2020).
