
Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones that is responsible for the amount of discharge a woman’s vagina produces. During the menstrual cycle, the levels of these two hormones rise and fall at regular times during reproductive years. However, the estrogen level during perimenopause become erratic causing to rise and fall at random times as it transitions into menopause. This causes the vaginal discharge to change.
What does vaginal discharge look like during perimenopause?
Before perimenopause vaginal discharge may look like:
- Clear
- Watery
- Mild odor
- Mucus-like
- Sticky
- White
During perimenopause vaginal discharge may look like:
- Brownish tint
- Thin and watery
- Thick and clumpy
Women who are perimenopausal may experience desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV) and is recommended to see a doctor or other healthcare provider when discharge looks like:
- Yellow
- Gray
- Green
- Unusually sticky
Want to know more about perimenopause, symptoms and how to manage them? Join the It’sFetch Perimenopause community for more conversations on the topic, polls, recommendations and talks.

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-Written by Karen Manalac
This was a great article. Always wondered how these changes over time. If there was a way to see a guide with color would be awesome!