What the colours can mean
A pale yellow discharge without other symptoms can sometimes be normal, especially as discharge dries or around your period. But a deeper yellow or green discharge, particularly if it's thick, frothy, or has a strong smell, more often points to an infection that needs treatment.
Colour alone doesn't diagnose the cause — the smell, texture and any other symptoms all matter — but yellow or green is worth taking seriously.
Possible causes
Green or yellow-green frothy discharge with itching or a strong odour can be caused by trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection. Other STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea can also change discharge, sometimes with little else to notice. Bacterial vaginosis typically causes a thin grey-white discharge with a fishy smell, but colours can overlap.
Because several of these need specific treatment (and some are STIs that a partner may also need treated), getting the right diagnosis matters.
When to see a GP
See a GP if you have yellow or green discharge, especially with a strong odour, itching, burning, pain, or bleeding. Testing usually involves a simple swab or urine test, which a GP can arrange at a collection centre near you, with results reviewed privately.
There's no need to feel embarrassed — this is common and treatable. A telehealth consult is a discreet way to get assessed and organise testing and treatment.
Related condition
Vaginal & vulval health →References & sources
- 1.Vaginal thrush — healthdirect
- 2.Vaginal thrush — Better Health Channel
- 3.Bacterial vaginosis — Better Health Channel
- 4.Vulva and vagina — Jean Hailes for Women's Health
This content is general information and not a substitute for individual medical advice. Please consult a GP for your personal situation.
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