Do You Know You're Body - Females

When it comes to vaginal discharge, everyone wants to know if theirs is normal. Since every woman's vagina has a unique personality, you'll need to learn what's normal for you.

The vaginal mucus has a purpose: it makes it easier for sperm to swim to a woman's egg during ovulation, lubricates the penis during sex, and flushes out harmful microorganisms that can cause infection. It is comprised of shedded cells, healthy bacteria, proteins and mucus.

Vaginal secretions vary in color, appearance, consistency, amount and smell throughout a woman's life. What is normal in your twenties may not be normal in your fifties. Changes occur during the menstrual cycle, menopause, pregnancy and sexual arousal. And certain medications, douches, soaps, medical conditions, allergies, and birth control pills can also affect the characteristics of vaginal secretions.

Any woman who has experienced a vaginal infection knows that it can be unpleasant. If you have bacterial vaginosis, yeast (Candida), trichomoniasis or any other sexually transmitted infection you want to know as soon as possible. Familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of your vaginal discharge on any given day can help you know when things are not right.

So wash your hands, give yourself some good light and explore.

Color
If discharge is clear or milky white, that's normal. It can also look very pale yellow when it's dried. If you are seeing grey, green, yellow, pink or red, that's not. Blood-tinged mucous may be a sign of pregnancy.

Scent
If it has a mild musky scent or none at all, that's normal. If it suddenly smells foul or "fishy", that's not.

Consistency
The texture of discharge will depend if you are ovulating or sexually aroused. If it feels sticky and can be stretched between two fingers during ovulation, or watery other times, that's normal. If it looks clumpy like cottage cheese, or foamy, that's not.

Amount
The amount of discharge is also variable. It will be more voluminous during sexual arousal and during ovulation, less during menopause. Keep an eye out for big changes such as suddenly needing to wear a panty liner every day. It is normal to experience vaginal dryness during menopause, when waning estrogen causes less mucus to be produced.

Feel
Changes in your normal vaginal secretions that are accompanied by itching, redness, soreness, rash, burning or pain can be a sign you have a vaginal infection or an allergy to sperm or spermicidal, or a signal that there is some other medical problem.

Here are some pointers that can help keep your vagina healthy.

• Clean daily using a mild soap and water
• Dry yourself well after bathing or swimming
• Don't douche, use perfumed sprays or talcum powder
• Wear loose clothing at night or go commando
• Avoid constricting clothing
• Avoid panties made with synthetic fibers
• Eat probiotics or take supplements to keep normal bacteria in balance, particularly during a course of antibiotics
• Wipe from front to back to avoid contaminating the vagina with feces