Orange Discharge

You may already be familiar with vaginal discharge, what it is, and why it is important for your reproductive health. Put simply, vaginal discharge is a type of mucus that protects your vagina from infection and helps to keep it clean and moist. 

It is completely normal to experience discharge; it can vary throughout your menstrual cycle and is not usually something to worry about.

However, a particular change in color, odor, or even consistency can sometimes signify that something may not be quite right. Keeping an eye on how your discharge changes can be a useful indicator of your overall reproductive health.

In this article, we’ll be discussing orange discharge in particular, what it may mean, when it’s time to see a doctor and general tips and advice on how to best take care of your own vaginal health.

What Causes Orange Discharge?

Menstrual Blood Mixing with Discharge

So, what causes orange discharge? 

There are various factors that can cause your discharge to be orange. One example is when light spotting or leftover period blood mixes with vaginal mucus, resulting in orange menstrual bleeding. If your menstrual blood is orange, this is not usually something to worry about, and your discharge should return to a normal clear or white color in a few days.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

That being said, orange discharge may also suggest that your vaginal or reproductive health is not quite right. 

One cause may be Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), a fairly common bacterial imbalance. An imbalance of vaginal bacteria such as BV can cause abnormal discharge that appears orange, gray, or yellow and may have a fishy odor.

It is not typically a serious health concern, but it may leave you at a heightened risk of contracting an STI, so it is important to seek treatment from your GP if you suspect that you may have BV.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Another potential cause of orange mucus is sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, which can cause orange or yellow-green discharge, often accompanied by irritation or odor.

If you suspect you may have an STI, contact your doctor straight away so you can receive a confirmed diagnosis and the necessary treatment.

Cervical Irritation or Infection

Cervical inflammation, known as cervicitis, which may result from sexual activity or medical procedures, can also cause orange-tinged discharge.

Cervicitis is the medical term for an inflamed cervix, with common symptoms including unusual discharge, spotting during or after sex, and light spotting between your periods. STIs are a common cause of cervicitis, although not always.

Hormonal Changes

While infection, inflammation, and vaginal bacteria can all be potential causes of orange discharge, it is to be noted that hormonal changes can also be the culprit at times.

Hormonal changes brought about by pregnancy, birth control, or perimenopause, for example, can all affect vaginal discharge, sometimes leading to unusual discharge colors.

If you are concerned about whether a change in discharge may be due to hormonal fluctuations, the Mira Hormone Tracker, Mira App and Wands allow you to monitor LH, E3G, PDG, FSH levels, helping you better understand whether there is a link between your hormone patterns and changes to your discharge.

Now, let's talk about some other symptoms and what they might mean for your vaginal health.

Orange Discharge and Other Symptoms: What It Might Indicate

Odorless vs. Foul-Smelling Discharge

You may have heard that discharge with a strong smell may also be an indication of some internal issues.

While odorless discharge, or discharge that does not have an overly strong or foul smell, is more likely related to normal cycle changes, unpleasant-smelling discharge may indicate a potential condition, such as bacterial vaginosis or an STI.

Texture: Watery, Thick, or Frothy

The texture of your discharge is also something you can look out for when trying to keep track of your vaginal health. Remember, it is normal to experience some changes in texture throughout your cycle - it may be thick and sticky at times, and may become slippery, almost like egg-white in texture, when you are ovulating.

Here are some examples of what some discharge textures may indicate:

• Watery or thin discharge can indicate BV or STIs.

• Thick, clumpy discharge may suggest a yeast infection.

• Frothy discharge is often a sign of trichomoniasis.

Associated Symptoms: Itching, Burning, Pain, or Fever

Some changes in discharge are completely normal. You may experience changes in discharge if you have started or switched birth control methods, if you are approaching menopause, or if you are pregnant. These changes are often of little cause for concern.

However, a change in discharge may indicate something more, especially if it presents with unusual symptoms.

Here are some commonly associated symptoms, and what they might mean for your vaginal health:

• Burning or pain during urination or sex could indicate an STI.

• Itching and irritation may suggest a yeast infection or allergic reaction.

• Pelvic pain or fever requires urgent medical attention.

Orange Discharge During Different Phases of Your Cycle

Before or After Your Period

So, we’ve now discussed some of the common causes of an unusual change in your discharge and what it might suggest for your vaginal or hormonal health. But did you know that orange colored mucus may mean different things during different stages of your cycle?

For example, if you experience orange period blood at the start or end of your period, it may be due to early or leftover menstrual blood mixing with cervical mucus, giving it an orange tint.

During Ovulation

If, however, you experience light orangish discharge in the middle of your cycle, such as during ovulation, it may be due to increased cervical mucus mixing with tiny amounts of blood, particularly if you are prone to light spotting between periods.

If you are prone to spotting between periods, be sure to bear this in mind if you ever notice your discharge seeming orange in color, or if you experience orange blood from periods.

In Early Pregnancy

You may also see orange tinted discharge in the early stages of pregnancy, due to implantation bleeding, for example. Implantation bleeding is a form of light bleeding or spotting some women may experience after conceiving (when the fertilized egg latches onto your uterine lining), and can sometimes appear light orange.

Changes in cervical mucus during early pregnancy may also cause certain color variations.

After Sex

Sometimes, post-intercourse irritation or minor bleeding can mix with your normal white or clear vaginal discharge, turning it orange. This should typically subside after a couple of days.

A lot of the above topics we have discussed are rarely an indication of something serious. However, it is important to know when these changes could be linked to potential health concerns, and when to visit your medical professional.

When to See a Doctor

If your orange discharge has a strong odor, unusual texture, or is accompanied by pain or fever, it’s best to seek medical advice. You may have an STI, a bacterial or fungal infection, or another concern that may need treatment.

If you have persistently abnormal discharge, arrange an appointment with your doctor. They may check your discharge with a vaginal swab or STI screening, which will help them identify the potential cause of this unusual change.

If you are unsure about whether your discharge is normal or cause for concern, you could consider trying our Panorama Lab Test to check for hormonal imbalances or underlying conditions. You could then even take these test results and consult our Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility to give you further insight on what these results might mean.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

How Doctors Diagnose Abnormal Discharge

Doctors may diagnose abnormal discharge in several different ways, depending on what they suspect the issue may be. 

For example, they may perform a pelvic exam to check for infections or inflammation, or a swab test for certain conditions such as BV, STIs, or yeast infections. Another diagnosis method is pH testing, which can help determine potential bacterial imbalances.

Although this may seem daunting, particularly if you have not had a professional examine you vaginally in this way before, try to remain calm. Your doctor does this all the time, and it is the best way to take care of your vaginal health and ensure you receive the care and treatment you need.

Treatment Options

Once your doctor has carried out the diagnosis, they can confirm whether you have any conditions or infections that may require treatment. Treatments may vary depending on the issue at hand.

For example: 

• Antibiotics for conditions like BV, or infections like chlamydia, or gonorrhea.

• Antifungal medications for yeast infections.

If you simply have a mild bacterial imbalance, formal medical treatment may not be necessary. Instead, your doctor may recommend incorporating probiotics or lifestyle changes, which can benefit and improve your overall vaginal health. 

Preventing Abnormal Discharge

Best Practices for Vaginal Health

Practicing good habits and hygiene can help you protect and improve your vaginal health and avoid certain unwanted health concerns and imbalances.

Overall, keeping your vagina clean and protected is the main thing to consider here. Avoid using scented products that can disrupt your vaginal pH, and try to wear breathable cotton underwear and avoid staying in wet clothes.

Safe Sex Practices

As STIs and other infections are both common causes of unwanted vaginal issues and imbalances, practicing safe sex can be key when protecting your vaginal health. 

Although hormonal birth control can help protect you from unwanted pregnancies, barrier protection (condoms) is the only birth control method which can help prevent STIs as well. It is therefore recommended to use barrier protection, even if you already use a form of hormonal contraception.

If you are sexually active, we encourage getting regular STI screenings to help keep you safe from contracting STIs, and to also help you receive prompt treatment if you do contract an infection.

Tracking Discharge Changes

You can also track your discharge to help identify any unusual changes. Cycle tracking apps are a useful and convenient way to monitor patterns in vaginal discharge. The Mira Hormone Tracker, Mira App and BBT can also help you stay in touch with your cycle, making it even easier to spot any out of the ordinary changes that could indicate something is wrong.

If you ever experience sudden, unexplained changes in your discharge, talk to your medical professional immediately.

Conclusion

To wrap up, orange discharge is unusual, but not always an indicator that something is wrong. 

It may simply be due to your discharge mixing with old period blood or light spotting, resulting in orangish menstrual blood, but can also suggest that something is not quite right, especially when alongside other symptoms of inflammation or infection.

If you are ever unsure of what a certain change in your discharge might mean, do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor. Even if they tell you that what you are experiencing is not a concern, speaking with a professional can put your mind at ease and offer reassurance, particularly if you are concerned.

As women, it is important to monitor symptoms and maintain your vaginal health. Learning how to identify what is normal for you, and when something may be cause for concern, is key to becoming more in tune and informed with your body, understanding how your reproductive system works, and learning how to best take care of yourself.