Last updated on October 20, 2020
Question:
I am in no way involved in anything sexual besides kissing, but I get discharge from my vagina when I get “aroused”. It is a thick gooey clear substance that sometimes smells. Why is my body doing this?
Answer:
The lining of your vagina constantly produces mucus that keeps the lining moist and aids in keeping things like dust and germs out of your vagina. The mucus traps the particles and as it flows toward the opening, it sweeps them out.
Generally, the amount is small, but some women have heavier flows than other women. One cause is the amount of progesterone that you produce. The more progesterone you have, the heavier the vagina fluids are produced. If a woman is taking birth control pills, these can produce heavier flows because progesterone is one of the ingredients in the pills. The amount also varies throughout the month in accordance with your hormone levels. And the consistency will change from thin to thick.
In addition to hormonal causes, being sexually aroused will also cause an increase in the amount of flow that you experience. This increase is to prepare the body for sexual intercourse. The increased mucus provides the needed lubrication for sexual intercourse.
A healthy discharge from the vagina is usually whitish in color, though it will dry yellow on panties. It has an odor that varies with your monthly cycle, but it should not be noticeable if you bathe regularly.
However, if you have itching, burning, or soreness in the vaginal area, or if there is a noticeable increase in your discharge, or the smell of the discharge becomes strong, then it is possible that you picked up an infection. Any change in the color of the discharge should also send you to the doctor for a checkup.