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What is that white fluid that came from my vagina?

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Anonymous asks:

I was wondering what is it called when a white creamy colored liquid comes out of the female during sex. My boyfriend stopped having sex with me because that color of liquid came out and he also said it was smelly, like bad.

Heather Corinna replies:

It really depends, because there are a few possibilities, and it could be any one or all of them.

Most commonly, that'd just be a woman's usual vaginal discharges.

At nearly any given time, we have vaginal discharges and cervical mucus which are part of our monthly fertility cycle, and also the way the vagina cleans itself. Discharges during phases of the fertility cycle vary, based on the phase that we're in. During one part, they may be thicker, creamier and white, while during others, that mucus is thinner, more clear and more fluid. because the vagina is a self-cleaning organ -- neat, huh? -- we also have discharges which keep everything in balance so that we don't wind up with an infection.

Too, when women become sexually aroused, the vagina often self-lubricates. That fluids tends to be thin and watery, but it also gets mixed with whatever our discharge at a given time is. So, if for instance, you were in the phase of your cycle where your discharge was whiter or creamier, when that got mixed with your self-lubrication, it can appear as a more fluid, whitish discharge.

None of those fluids should smell bad. They have a scent, sure, just like male ejaculate has a scent or sweat has a scent, and that scent can be a little musty, as body fluids tend to be, but not bad.

On the other hand, some vaginal or sexually transmitted infections can also create different discharges which really can smell pretty funky. The discharge due to a yeast infection -- which tends to be white and thick, but also a bit curdly -- for instance, will often smell like yeasty, baking bread. Discharge from a bacterial infection -- which is also whitish and runny, but sometimes is a bit more grey -- tends to smell fishy or metallic. Discharge from certain STIs can also smell different than your normal discharges. So, if you're not up-to-date with your yearly (or more often) pelvic/GYN exams, pap smears and STI tests, you always want to get current with those, even if your discharges look otherwise normal. If you do find, for yourself, that your vaginal discharge starts to smell or look very different than what you're used to, it's always smart to check in with your sexual healthcare provider, even if you HAVE recently had an exam and STI testing.

More possibilities are obviously semen running out of your vagina, if your partner was not wearing a condom, or lubricant mixed in with your vaginal discharges. As well, some women do ejaculate, but that fluid tends to be very clear and very thin, not whitish.

I'm willing to bet that what was most likely was just that your partner was a bit ignorant when it came to women's bodies and vaginal fluids. If that's the case, that obviously is HIS problem, and it's pretty unfortunate he made it about you, or made you feel bad because of it.

But all male partners aren't that ignorant, and now that you know the scoop, should you wind up with one who is, you can fill him in!

Here's an additional page for you with more about vaginal discharges: Honorably Discharged: A Guide to Vaginal Secretions.

written 30 Sep 2007 . updated 27 Jan 2014

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