ABSTRACT
Patients with vaginitis often complain of vaginal discharge. It is important to understand the characteristics of a healthy vaginal discharge in order to differentiate it from the abnormal. Healthy vaginal discharge is slate gray to white in color. It is homogenous, may be thick or thin, and is odorless. The pH varies from 3.8 to 4.6 (4) . On microscopy, the squamous epithelial cells are mature and clear, WBCs are absent, and the dominant bacterial morphotype is the lactobacilli (5) . The physiologic discharge does not adhere to the vaginal walls and is not usually associated with other symptoms (6) . Vaginal discharge varies over the menstrual cycle. Stress increases the rate of vaginal desquamation and thus the amount of discharge (7) . Hormonal contraception and pregnancy are associated with increased vaginal discharge (8) . Hence the “normal” discharge may vary and it is important to reassure the patient that a discharge, while troublesome, may not be abnormal.
