3 Reasons You Might Have Vaginal Discharge After Working Out
Exercise practically goes hand-in-hand with wetness. For one, there could be sweat everywhere, including crotch sweat. But maybe you also look at your underwear after a workout and think, “Is there some discharge there?”
Here’s what might be going on.
The first thing to know is that vaginal discharge throughout the day — no matter what you’re doing — is totally normal. This fluid is made up of mostly water plus some microorganisms, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Some people with vaginas say they notice an increase in clear, watery discharge when they work out, says Jodie Horton, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn in New Orleans, Louisiana.
If this is the case, and you don’t have any other symptoms, then it’s likely nothing at all to worry about — just your body doing what bodies do.
You may notice more clear or whitish discharge after exercise depending on where you are in your cycle, with secretions ramping up around ovulation. This increase isn’t necessarily connected to working out, but you may notice more fluid in your underwear at that time.
Healthy discharge is clear or white, and it doesn't have a strong odor, according to ACOG. As long as your discharge looks like this and it’s normal for you, there’s no need to worry.
A change in your body’s normal discharge is always something to pay attention to, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.
One of the more-common reasons for extra discharge during or after exercise is an infection.
“There are many women who will develop a yeast infection by working out a lot,” Dr. Minkin says. That’s due to spending excess time in sweaty workout clothes, because warm, damp environments allow yeast a chance to grow.
Symptoms of a yeast infection include discharge that looks thick and white like cottage cheese, according to Cleveland Clinic.
With a yeast infection, you may also notice vaginal itching and soreness or pain from peeing or during sex, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Itching is usually externally located in the vulva,” Minkin says.
If you think you have a yeast infection, it’s important to visit your gynecologist to verify the infection before treating it yourself with over-the-counter yeast-infection creams. That’s because the symptoms can look similar to other vaginal infections and some sexually transmitted infections (STIs). So, you want to make sure you’re using the right treatment.
Yeast infections are not fun (to say the least). If you’re prone to these infections and think your workouts might be setting the stage for a fungal infection to thrive, try a few preventive measures that Minkin recommends:
Go for white cotton undies or sweat-wicking underwear made for working out. Avoid tight underwear and workout clothes.
Rather than hanging out in your sweaty leggings, change out of them and shower off.
If your vaginal area is irritated, don’t rub a towel down there to dry off — instead, gently pat yourself dry. Using a hair dryer on a low heat setting is a gentler way to remove excess moisture.
Make sure your vaginal area is completely dry before you put on clothes to prevent further irritation or infections.
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