Egg white discharge: What does it mean?

Have you ever looked in your underwear and noticed a clear, stringy discharge slightly resembling egg whites? Your vaginal discharge might only look like this some of the time, and fear not, it’s actually pretty typical at certain points in your cycle. 

Admittedly, “egg white discharge” is kind of a weird phrase, but “in medicine, we often use food analogies, because they’re common and familiar to patients,” says Dr. Jenna Beckham, obstetrician, gynecologist, and family planning specialist, WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, North Carolina, US.

Makes sense. So let’s back up. What is egg white discharge, why is it important, and when should you speak to your doctor about discharge? With Dr. Beckham’s help, let’s talk about it.

Key takeaways

• Egg white discharge means vaginal discharge that is clear, slippery, and stretchy, resembling raw egg whites. 
• It’s usually a sign that ovulation (the point in your cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg) is near. This is the most fertile point. And while we often use the catchall term vaginal “discharge” to describe any fluid from your vagina, this is actually technically cervical mucus, produced in the cervix to help sperm swim up your vagina. Clever, eh? 
• You may notice egg white discharge in your underwear or on toilet paper around the time you’re ovulating. In most cases, it’s a totally normal part of your menstrual cycle. But if it smells bad or is accompanied by any uncomfortable vaginal symptoms, you should see a health care professional.

What is egg white discharge? 

You might have noticed that your discharge looks slightly different before your period, afterward, and around the time that you might be ovulating. One type you might be familiar with is “egg white discharge.” This is a kind of vaginal discharge that’s clear, slippery, and stretchy, similar to the consistency of raw egg whites. You may notice your discharge looks and feels like this around the point in your cycle when ovulation happens. 

Whether it’s thick and creamy or slippery and wet, often we describe most fluids that come from the vagina as discharge, but egg white discharge is usually cervical mucus. If you’re wondering about the difference between discharge and cervical mucus: Vaginal discharge is an umbrella term for various fluids that come out of your vagina, and cervical mucus is just a specific type. 

Why you might have egg white discharge 

You may be well versed in the different ways your discharge can look and feel, but egg white discharge can signify that a pretty big event in your cycle is about to happen. 

Let’s backtrack a second to talk about your cycle as a whole. Your cycle is split into two phases: the follicular phase and the luteal phase. In between these two phases is ovulation, the point in your cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg to be potentially fertilized by a sperm. 

Ovulation, your period, and the different phases of your cycle are all driven by the rise and fall of your sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen plays an important role in supporting you as you have your period and potentially prepare for pregnancy, and these fluctuations can impact the way your discharge looks and feels. 

Egg white discharge is usually a sign that ovulation is near. In other words, your ovary is due to release an egg into your fallopian tube, and you’re at the most fertile time in your cycle (your fertile window).

When you should pay attention to egg white-like discharge

Abnormal discharge is rarely associated with serious diseases, but an egg white-like discharge that seems atypical could be a sign that you have (or are getting) an infection.

But how can you tell if your vaginal discharge is abnormal? 

Color and smell are the two key aspects to pay attention to. A change in one or both of these could indicate that something is going on:

• A yellow-greenish discharge may be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection.
• Vaginal discharge that’s grayish in color could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis.
• Pinkish discharge can be a sign of vaginal irritation, cervical bleeding, or implantation bleeding.
• An unpleasant smell could indicate bacterial vaginosis or a sexually transmitted infection.

In addition to changes in vaginal discharge, some people also experience symptoms like vaginal itching, pelvic pain, and vaginal burning.  

An egg white-like discharge that’s clear and odorless or has a mild sour odor is completely normal. But if you notice that your vaginal discharge has changed in color or smell, and is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a health care provider. While it can be tempting to self-medicate or ignore the symptoms and hope they will disappear, doing so can cause complications.​

Your best bet is to consult a health care provider who can determine what’s happening and advise you on the best course of action.

In the lead-up to ovulation, your cervical mucus changes from a white, creamy texture to “egg white”: clear, slippery, and stretchy. How long it stays like this can differ from person to person. And there’s a good reason for this change.

“The change is to make it easier for sperm to penetrate and, by extension, for you to get pregnant,” explains Dr. Beckham. “The stretchiness also means that sperm can survive in this discharge for up to 72 hours, increasing your chance [of getting pregnant] further.” 

If you want to better understand your cycle and when you might be ovulating, then there are changes you can look out for alongside egg white discharge. They include: 

• Your body’s basal temperature — its temperature at rest — will often rise slightly around ovulation, which you can monitor with a basal thermometer. 
• Some people also notice tender boobs and light cramping or spotting around this time.

That said, lots of people won’t have ovulation symptoms, and discharge changes might go unnoticed, too. So if you want a more reliable idea of when you’re ovulating, it can help to use a cycle-tracking app like Flo.

Flo uses your personal cycle data to predict your most fertile days, plus your specific day of ovulation, each month. You can also log changes in your discharge and basal temperature to help you better understand your body’s signals. 

How to check your discharge for ovulation

If you’re ovulating, you may see egg white discharge in your underwear or on toilet paper after you wipe. But if you want to check with your hands, you can feel inside your vagina, making sure your finger is clean. 

“Once you have some discharge or mucus, stretch it between your thumb and index finger,” says Dr. Beckham. “The mucus indicates your most fertile period when it stretches for about 4 to 5 inches before it ‘breaks.’” (Fun fact: Among medical experts, the stuff is “also referred to as ‘spinnbarkeit,’ a German word that means ‘stretchable,’” Dr. Beckham says.)

Types of discharge 

The way your discharge looks and feels can change in lots of different ways throughout each cycle. Knowing what’s typical for you can help you better understand your body. 

• White or creamy: You might notice a thick, white discharge earlier in your cycle, after your period, and then a similar type toward the end of your cycle (shortly before your next period).
• Clear, slippery, or stretchy like raw egg whites: As we’ve covered, this may be ovulation discharge (or cervical mucus, if you want to give it its proper name).
• Sticky: Sticky discharge is normal throughout your cycle and might be white, clear, creamy, or pasty. Lots of people see a notably stickier discharge after ovulation.

There are reasons why your discharge might look and feel different. They include:

• Your period: Just before — or after — your period, you may notice discharge that is tinged with red, pink, or brown. This is just discharge mixed with a bit of period blood and usually nothing to worry about.
• Using hormonal birth control: If you’re on, for example, the pill, you might notice heavier and/or more frequent discharge. However, not everyone will experience this side effect.
• Reaching menopause: Around menopause or your last ever period, you’ll typically see altogether less discharge. This is because as you transition toward menopause (this is known as perimenopause) your estrogen levels drop, which impacts how much discharge your body produces. 
• An infection: Common infections, like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections, can cause abnormal discharge.

When to see a doctor

In most cases, egg white discharge is a natural part of your menstrual cycle. It’s a pretty cool indicator that you might be entering your fertile window. But if it smells bad or is accompanied by other bothersome symptoms like itching, pain, or irritation, you should make an appointment with a health care professional. 

In general, any types of vaginal discharge that are uncomfortable or don’t feel normal for you are worth flagging with a doctor. But otherwise, discharge is very normal and healthy.