An honest chat about intimate fluids: let’s bust those taboos
By Harpy Mag and Bodyform
Did anyone ever teach you about discharge and sexual fluids while growing up? Have you ever wondered what that clear liquid in your knickers meant?
We Harpies talk about periods, pads, and pants a LOT. Our group chat is a hotbed of sharing and caring about what’s going on with our bodies. But we don’t necessarily know the exact answers.
So we spoke to Bodyform, to get the lowdown on what’s going on down under.
When it comes to female intimate fluids, most of us know about period blood and urine… But somehow everyone falls quiet when it comes to discharge or, heaven forbid, sexual fluids.
Misinformation and lack of knowledge are often the reasons that turn our fluids into a taboo.
Thankfully, period products retailer Bodyform has taken on the mantle of teaching us all about female intimate fluids. They’ve created a simple chart, showing the different colours we may find in our knickers and the meanings behind them.
Join us in this honest chat to take a deeper look at our intimate fluids!
Bloody periods
Sometimes it starts with feeling bloated. Other times, your breasts get so tender that even putting on a bra hurts. And, in other cases, you sit down on the toilet to find a constellation of red dots all over your favourite knickers.
Whether your body gives you warnings before the start of your period, or whether it’s a surprise every time, the outcome is always the same: period blood enters the scene.
For years, we have been served TV ads showing us period products being hit by a stream of blue liquid, as if our vaginas bleed dish soap rather than period blood. This only helped to encourage the stigma surrounding this subject.
But, after years of pushing for real representation, we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In 2017, Bodyform was the first ever brand to feature blood on a sanitary pad.
Red is understandably the first colour that we attribute to period blood. But when we think about it, it can assume many more hues:
Brown/dark red: Either signalling the start or end of your period, pregnancy or lochia.
Black: It could be old blood or a vaginal blockage.
Pink: Period blood mixed with cervical fluid or the sign of a possible unhealthy diet, weight loss or anaemia.
Orange/Grey: Sign of bacterial vaginosis, often accompanied by itching and foul-smelling discharge.
When discussing the full rainbow of periods, we must also think about those struggling with period poverty. To get involved in supporting all people who menstruate, join Freedom4Girls in helping to distribute free period products to thousands of women across the UK.
The true colours of discharge
Cyndi Lauper is not the only one seeing your true colours shining through. We see you too, in all the intricacies of your body. For too long we have been led to believe that talking about what goes on within our genitalia is wrong, shameful even. As a result, there’s little information available around vaginal discharge. However, there’s nothing to be ashamed of as it’s our bodies’ way of keeping our vagina clean and moist, and to protect it from infections.
Vaginal discharge can come in different colours too, and they all have different meanings:
Clear: The sign of a healthy vulva and vagina.
Light cream: Usually normal, unless with abnormal texture or smell, in that case it could be a sign of thrush.
Pink: Sometimes happens with post-sexual activity or when there’s spotting pre-period or during ovulation.
Yellowy green: Sign of a possible infection but could also be caused if you’re taking supplements.
Yellow-cream: Usually normal or it could be a sign of a diet change.
Grey: Happens with bacterial vaginosis, accompanied by itching, irritation and strong odour.
Don’t dismiss what your body is trying to tell you, if you experience any unusual discharge or period blood colour, consult your GP immediately.
Let’s talk about sexual fluids, baby, let’s talk about you and me
One of the biggest taboos (and often most misinterpreted bodily fluids) are the sexual kind. We produce these liquids to make sure that our vaginas are lubricated, to make sexual intercourse as comfortable as possible. Sex wouldn’t be half as enjoyable if we stayed dry, which is why it’s so important that our vaginas are properly aroused before sexual intercourse.
You might have guessed it by now, but yes - even sexual fluids have different colours and meanings:
White: Usually normal, sign of sexual arousal.
Clear: Healthy, could also be a sign of pregnancy or hormonal imbalance.
Pale pink: Could mean that there’s cervical bleeding or vaginal irritation.
Red: If red spotting appears in between periods, it could be a sign of a serious condition.
Glamorous urine
Finally, let’s talk about pee. Did you know that there are around 8,100 Google searches for ‘urine colour’ every month? Showing that there’s still a lot of misunderstanding around this subject.
There are many factors that can contribute to the change in colours, ranging from how hydrated you are to what you eat. So, without further ado, let’s dive into a breakdown of what each colour means:
Pale/medium yellow: This is your typical urine colour.
Orange: A sign of a potential bile duct issue, or of kidney or bladder disease.
Dark yellow: Your clue that you need to hydrate more.
Red/pink: Beetroot or blackberries in your diet or possible haematuria.
Here’s to no more blushing cheeks, because you got wet during sex. No more feeling ashamed of the sight of discharge seeping through your knickers. We spoke to the experts with the aim of bringing an honest chat to our community. We must acknowledge that intimate fluids are just another sign of the thousands of wonderful intricacies of your body.
It’s time to be proud of the resilience of your body and what it does to keep you healthy!
Join our conversations about all things bodily - periods, hair, and wobbly bits - in our Bodies category.
