Menopause is a natural part of life that makes up the time between perimenopause and postmenopause. A doctor will determine that you reach menopause once you go 12 months without experiencing a menstrual bleed.
It typically happens after the age of 45, but this varies between individuals.
As you transition through perimenopause, your estrogen levels start to fluctuate, before steadily declining into menopause.
Menopause can cause different symptoms for different people, with the most common being irregular menstrual bleeding as your cycles slow down and stop. Other menopause symptoms include:
Unusual vaginal discharge is the second most common symptom and affects over 26% of people going through menopause.
Here, we explain how discharge can change through menopause and when to speak with a doctor.
Language Matters
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article may use the term “women” when discussing people assigned female at birth to reflect language that appears in source materials. However, gender is solely about how you identify yourself, independent of your physical body.
Learn more about the difference between sex and gender here.
Menopause discharge changes you may experience
Vaginal discharge is a typical occurrence before, during, and after menopause. Before you go through perimenopause or menopause, signs of common and typical vaginal discharge include:
- clear or white in color
- thick or sticky consistency
- no strong or unpleasant odor
- has a mucus-like texture
Various menopause symptoms can cause your vaginal discharge to change, such as:
- Changing vaginal pH: Changing estrogen levels can change the pH of your vagina, causing changes to discharge appearance.
- Vaginal atrophy: Loss of estrogen causes the tissue in your vulva and vaginal lining to thin and become dry. This reduces vaginal discharge.
- Atrophic vaginitis: This is the inflammation of the vaginal lining that causes irritation and redness.
Perimenopause
Changes in discharge can appear differently depending on the stage of menopause you are going through.
During perimenopause, in which your menstrual bleeds start to become irregular, your discharge may change. It can take on a brownish hue and change texture. It may become watery or thicken with soft lumps.
Although uncommon, women going through perimenopause may develop a severe form of vaginitis called desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV). This chronic condition seems to cause certain changes in vaginal discharge, such as:
- pus secretions
- green or gray discharge color
- unusual stickiness
Menopause and postmenopause
During menopause, your body is adjusting to a new vaginal atrophy, and dryness can cause you to experience less discharge than before menopause. Other than the quantity, no color or texture changes other than those you notice during perimenopause should occur.
Postmenopausal discharge should still be clear or white, but there may be less than usual.
You may need to use lubricants to relieve vaginal dryness, yet you should still produce small amounts of discharge, even if you have not menstruated for more than a year.
What are typical changes?
While changes to the color of your discharge may indicate a health condition, texture changes are mostly typical and to be expected. As your estrogen levels fluctuate, especially during perimenopause, the thickness and texture of your discharge will change.
It may become runnier and stickier than usual, or it may occasionally thicken.
What are some vaginal discharge changes to look out for?
Your vaginal discharge can indicate various health conditions, from sexually transmitted diseases or infections to some forms of cancer.
Discharge changes and other symptoms that you should look out for, include:
- yellowing in color
- green or gray hues
- blood in discharge (in postmenopause)
- frothy texture
- burning or tenderness around the vulva
- pelvic pain
- genital rash
- unpleasant odors
- pain during sex
Differing discharge color and texture changes can indicate different infections. For example, yellowish-green discharge with a frothy texture may indicate a yeast infection.
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If you notice any of the above changes to your vaginal discharge, speak with a doctor about receiving tests for infections and other conditions.
Everyone experiences menopause differently, and most people adjust to their changing hormones. But low estrogen — that you experience with menopause — can have long-term health effects, such as osteoporosis and brain fog.
Typical drugs that doctors prescribe for the different menopause stages
Even if you don’t notice severe menopause symptoms, the medications that a doctor can prescribe may help prevent complications.
The most common medical treatment that a doctor will recommend for menopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This replaces reduced estrogen levels that decrease through menopause.
Different types of HRT vary in hormone content and how you take it.
Local estrogen therapy is any medication that you apply to the affected area, so a cream you apply to the vulva and vagina.
Systemic estrogen therapy is any medication that releases estrogen throughout the body. These types of medications typically have higher estrogen doses than local options.
If you have specific vaginal menopausal symptoms, such as dryness, a doctor may suggest a vaginal cream, tablet, or capsule to deliver estrogen directly to the affected vaginal tissue. These include Premarin cream, and estradiol cream (Estrace).
If you have symptoms such as hot flashes and bone weakness, you may need oral tablets or transdermal creams. These include oral Premarin tablets, Femring vaginal ring, and estropipate (Ogen).
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Summary
Vaginal discharge can change in quantity and texture as estrogen levels decrease during perimenopause. As you continue into menopause, discharge typically decreases.
If you experience any unusual symptoms, such as an unpleasant odor or a yellowish-green color to your discharge, speak with a doctor or healthcare professional, as this can indicate an infection.
If you have any questions about menopause or notice any new symptoms, your healthcare team will be able to help you. They can advise on various treatments available to you, including HRT, to prevent further complications and replace low estrogen levels.
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