6 causes of green discharge, from an STI to leaving a tampon in for too long
- Green discharge can be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis, a condition that may require an antibiotic.
- It may also be a sign of sexually transmitted infections like trichomonas, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
- Leaving a tampon in for too long may cause inflammation that leads to abnormal discharge.
Green discharge
Having vaginal discharge is normal, but normal discharge is usually clear, white, or slightly yellow. If you have green discharge, this can be a sign that you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or another serious infection like pelvic inflammatory disease.
Here are six reasons why you might have green discharge and how you can tell what's causing it.
1. Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common STI caused by the trichomonas parasite. In some cases, you may not have any symptoms with trichomoniasis, but if you have a vulva, you're likely to have symptoms like:
- Genital itching or pain
- Pain while urinating
- Pain during sex
- Foul-smelling discharge that can be white, gray, yellow, or green
How to treat it: To treat trichomoniasis, you'll need to see your doctor, who can prescribe antibiotics like metronidazole (Flagyl) and tinidazole (Tindamax).
This is important, because if it's left untreated, trichomoniasis can form scar tissue in your fallopian tubes, causing infertility.
2. Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a painful infection that affects reproductive organs like your uterus and fallopian tubes.
PID can result from surgeries or childbirth, but it's most often caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia, says Felice Gersh, MD, an OB-GYN and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine.
"Symptoms of PID can come on quickly in some people," says Jennifer Wider, MD, a women's health expert. This can include:
- Pain and tenderness in your lower belly
- Green or yellow discharge that may have a foul odor
- Pain during sex or urination
- Fever and chills
- Nausea and vomiting
How to treat it: Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics and treat any underlying sexually transmitted infections. You may also want to abstain from sex for a while if it's causing severe pain.
"If someone experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to see a health care provider ASAP," Wider says, to avoid serious complications like pelvic scarring and infertility issues.
3. Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that you can get from having unprotected sex.
Gonorrhea can cause thick green or yellowish discharge, Wider says, along with other symptoms like:
- Pain when urinating
- Bleeding in between periods
However, "it's important to note that some people experience no symptoms at all," Wider says.
How to treat it: To treat gonorrhea, your doctor can give you an injection of an antibiotic called ceftriaxone, along with an oral dose of azithromycin (Zithromax).
4. Chlamydia
Chlamydia is another bacterial STI that can cause green discharge, though more often, the discharge is white, yellow, or gray, Wider says.
Like gonorrhea, chlamydia can develop without any symptoms, but in other cases, you may experience:
- Bleeding in between periods
- Pain during urination
- Pain during sex
- Abdominal pain
How to treat it: Your doctor can treat chlamydia using a single dose of antibiotics or a seven-day course, depending on your age and whether or not you're pregnant. Your partner also needs to get tested for chlamydia and treated if they test positive.
5. Bacterial vaginosis
According to Gersh, bacterial vaginosis typically happens for two reasons:
- An overgrowth of bacteria that don't belong in the vagina.
- An overgrowth of certain normal vaginal bacteria, creating an imbalanced environment.
You're more likely to have bacterial overgrowth if you douche, use scented soaps on your vulva, or have unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Bacterial vaginosis causes symptoms like:
- A fishy or foul odor
- Itching
- Burning during urination
- Watery discharge that can be gray, white, or green
How to treat it: If you think you have bacterial vaginosis, you'll need to see a doctor or OB-GYN for treatment. Your doctor will generally prescribe an antibiotic, either as a pill or a cream to put inside your vagina.
6. Leaving in a tampon too long
Leaving a tampon in for too long — especially after your period ends — can create green discharge and eventually lead to serious complications.
Note: You should change your tampon every four to eight hours to prevent infection.
"The blood in the tampon provides the perfect food for bacteria, and the tampon provides the perfect material to grow bacteria," Gersh says.
Bacteria can multiply quickly and cause inflammation, "resulting in a heavy green discharge and a typically horrible odor," says Gersh.
Leaving in a tampon too long can also trigger a life-threatening, rare condition called toxic shock syndrome that can lead to organ failure.
How to treat it: If you have any unusual symptoms after leaving a tampon in, contact your doctor or get medical attention as soon as possible to get treatment.
Most often, you'll need antibiotics from your doctor, but in more severe cases, you may need IV fluids or treatment for organ damage.
Insider's takeaway
"Green discharge is always abnormal," Gersh says, and may come from sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic inflammatory disease, or leaving in a tampon too long.
Any time you have a foul odor, green discharge, a fever, or pain, it's best to see your doctor as soon as possible.
"Most infections can be easily treated — the earlier they are diagnosed the better!" Wider says.