I have vaginal discharge between periods. I know this is natural, but it feels uncomfortable and wet and smells bad. Are there any remedies?

--D.

I had a vaginal discharge, clear in color, mucuslike in texture. There was no smell. This happened two weeks after my period. What is this? Is it normal?

--Jay

Does having a continuous discharge mean there is something wrong with me?

--Anne

It's funny how often things come in threes, including questions on a similar topic in a single week!

Vaginal secretions are as individual as the women who have them. Some women are moist all the time, while others are as dry as the proverbial bone. Age, hormone fluctuations, medications, sexual activity and infection are a few of the things that may affect vaginal discharge. Women on the Pill, for example, often have less discharge, as one of the effects of the Pill is to thicken cervical mucus so sperm cannot penetrate it. Some women notice an increase in discharge in the middle of their menstrual cycle, when they are ovulating. This midcycle discharge is often described as being like egg whites -- clear, stringy and plentiful. This type of cervical mucus is easy for sperm to swim through.

Discharge can be clear or white, or even slightly yellow. It should not, however, have an unpleasant odor or be associated with itching or burning. Those symptoms usually mean infection and should be evaluated by a medical professional. Not all vaginal infections are due to sexually transmitted diseases, although these certainly should be ruled out. The most common infections -- bacterial vaginosis (or gardnerella) and yeast -- are not STDs, but most often result from an imbalance in the complex vaginal environment. Most infections are fairly easy to treat and cure once properly diagnosed. I do recommend seeing a health-care provider before using over-the-counter remedies for an infection -- not all discharge is yeast, and improper treatment will not help.