What Causes Colored Vaginal Discharge?

Colored vaginal discharge can have various causes, just like most other symptoms. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose colored vaginal discharge, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "colored vaginal discharge" as a symptom. For example, vaginitis/vaginal infection.

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

'fishy' vaginal discharge odor

suspected bacterial vaginosis

vaginal burning

chronic vaginal yeast infection

bacterial vaginosis

painful shallow penetration with sex

vulvar pain

painful deep penetration during sex

... and so on

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of colored vaginal discharge.

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate slight abnormal vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal discharge or constant abnormal vaginal discharge, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

If there is a discharge other than blood, can you tell what color it is? If necessary, you can add a note to describe.

Possible responses:

→ Only blood / clear / other color / don't know
→ White / whitish
→ Gray / grayish
→ Green / greenish
→ Yellow / yellowish

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate white vaginal discharge, grayish vaginal discharge, greenish vaginal discharge or yellowish vaginal discharge, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as Vaginitis/Vaginal Infection. When Bacterial Vaginosis does show symptoms, there may be a thin grayish-white discharge, often more noticeable after sexual intercourse.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™