The short explanation
A fishy smell with thin, grey-white discharge is typical of bacterial vaginosis (BV), the commonest cause of unusual discharge in women of reproductive age. BV is an imbalance of the bacteria that normally live in the vagina. It is not a sexually transmitted infection, it happens to women who have never had sex, and it is not a sign of being unclean. It is easily tested for and treated, although it can come back.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- BV is more likely after using vaginal washes, douches or scented products, which upset the natural balance, and sometimes around periods or with a new partner. It usually causes no itching or soreness. Treating it matters more in pregnancy and before some gynaecological procedures.
- Some STIs can also change discharge and smell, so if there is any chance of one, a test covers both.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you whether you have BV, an STI or something else. Smell and colour are clues, and a simple swab gives the answer.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Is this bacterial vaginosis, and can you test for it?
- Should I be tested for anything else at the same time?
- What can I do to make it less likely to come back?
- Does it matter if I am pregnant or planning a procedure?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
- See a clinician within days for unusual discharge with pelvic pain, fever, bleeding between periods or after sex, or any change in discharge during pregnancy.
- Book a routine appointment for a smell or discharge that keeps returning.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Bacterial vaginosis NHS
- Vaginal itching and discharge MedlinePlus (NIH)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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