Not every intimate health question has to wait for a gynaecologist. In Australia you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free health advice, or Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak with a maternal child health nurse, as the healthdirect pelvic floor guide points out.
Below are some of the most googled OB/GYN questions, the kind Australians usually take to a GP or gynaecologist, answered from healthdirect's own pages.
Quick answer: The most googled OB/GYN questions usually come down to what's normal. Discharge that is clear or white without an unpleasant smell is healthy, there's no need to douche, everyone can benefit from pelvic floor exercises, and fertility awareness takes 3 to 6 cycles to learn. Anything that looks or smells different deserves a visit to your doctor.
What does normal discharge look like?
Healthy discharge is usually clear or white and shouldn't smell unpleasant, according to healthdirect's vaginal discharge page. It is a mix of cells, mucus, bacteria and fluid from the vagina and cervix; it keeps the genital area moist, and its slightly acidic pH helps guard against infection. It also shifts with your hormones:
- just after your period there may be little discharge, or it may look thicker;
- as ovulation approaches, rising oestrogen brings more discharge that is clear, stretchy and slippery;
- after ovulation it becomes thicker again;
- after menopause there is less, because oestrogen levels are lower.
Sexual arousal increases the amount, too.
Is it a good idea to clean inside the vagina?
No. healthdirect advises against douching and against scented soaps and harsh products. The everyday habits it does suggest are cotton underwear and looser clothing, wiping from front to back after the toilet, changing promptly out of wet swimmers or gym gear, and practising safe sex to lower your risk of STIs.
What does the pelvic floor do, and how do I exercise it?
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support your bladder, uterus and bowel, stretching like a sling from the pubic bone to the tailbone. healthdirect says everyone can benefit from exercising it, during pregnancy, after childbirth and throughout life. To find the muscles, relax your thighs, buttocks and stomach and squeeze around your back passage as if stopping wind. Then contract, hold and relax, working towards harder and longer holds, in lying, sitting and standing positions. Aim for every day, and squeeze when you cough, sneeze or lift something heavy.
Can fertility awareness work as contraception?
It can be reliable if used correctly, healthdirect's fertility awareness page says, but you are more likely to become pregnant than with other contraceptive methods. It rests on timing: sperm can live for up to 5 days and an egg survives 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, so the fertile window is the 5 days before ovulation plus ovulation day. Approaches include the symptothermal, cervical mucus (Billings), temperature and rhythm methods. It isn't suitable if you have just stopped a hormonal contraceptive such as the pill, have irregular periods, are approaching menopause or have a partner who doesn't agree to it.
Planning a screening visit? See our companion list of questions every gynaecologist should be able to answer.
When to see a doctor
healthdirect suggests seeing your doctor if:
- your discharge looks or smells different from usual, or is thick and white like cottage cheese, fishy, green, yellow or frothy;
- you have itching, pain during sex, bleeding after sex or between periods, lower abdominal or back pain, or a fever;
- you are pregnant and notice a strong smell, blood, itching or pain;
- you have bladder or bowel problems that need assessing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn fertility awareness?
healthdirect says it can take between 3 and 6 cycles to learn to identify your fertile days correctly. The method also gives no protection against sexually transmitted infections, so healthdirect recommends condoms or other methods for that. It isn't suitable straight after stopping a hormonal contraceptive such as the pill.
When can I start pelvic floor exercises after giving birth?
Gentle pelvic floor exercises can often restart from 48 hours after birth, healthdirect says, but check with your doctor or midwife first. Pelvic floor function often recovers within the first year after childbirth, though recovery may take longer after a large baby, prolonged pushing or an assisted birth.
Why do I have less discharge after menopause?
Lower oestrogen after menopause means less discharge, according to healthdirect. Hormones shape discharge throughout life, which is also why it changes across each menstrual cycle. If discharge after menopause starts to look or smell different from what you usually have, or you notice itching or pain, check in with your doctor.
Who can help if I can't feel my pelvic floor muscles?
Some women find it difficult to feel or squeeze these muscles, healthdirect notes. A pelvic floor physiotherapist or continence nurse can help; your doctor can refer you, or you can use healthdirect's Service Finder to locate one nearby. The Continence Health Australia website and the National Continence Helpline are other places to turn.
Choosing a reusable period product? The Lunette period cup comes in Size 1 for a light to medium flow and Size 2 for a heavier flow, and both hold more than 2 to 3 tampons' worth of fluid. Find your fit with the menstrual cup size guide.
This article is general health information only. For advice about your own body, see your GP or call healthdirect.
