The Underwear Diaries
Image: Unsplash
I’m not entirely sure when I started noticing the discharge in my underwear, but I know it left me confused. What constantly worried me, however, were the bleached stains on my underwear. Every single one of my underwear bottoms is tie-dye. Although, I never bought them this way. I was relieved when I learned about the acidity of vaginal discharge responsible for the patches in my underwear is entirely normal. Recently, young women on TikTok shared their bleached underwear and found comfort in knowing that they weren’t the only ones with this experience.
A ‘normal’ vaginal pH level varies between 3.8 and 4.5. It can change depending on your age. According to healthline, “an acidic vaginal environment is protective. It creates a barrier that prevents unhealthy bacteria and yeast from multiplying too quickly and causing infection.” However, a high vaginal pH can result in infections such as Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).
“Every single one of my underwear bottoms is tie-dye. Although, I never bought them this way.”
As I’ve mentioned, vaginal discharge isn’t usually a sign of concern. However, being able to identify the differences in your discharge can help monitor atypical vaginal discharge. The following chart from Clue, a period and ovulation tracking app, provides some insight into what to do when you see changes in vaginal discharge:
Image: helloclue.com
However, beyond tracking just your vaginal discharge, learning about our bodies has gotten a lot easier with the internet. Between maintaining caution, making sure not to fall into rabbit holes of information, and knowing when to contact your doctor, having a pulse on sexual health education is always a good idea. Below is a non-exhaustive list of resources on sexual health, including vaginal discharge.
1. Dr. Hina Talib is a New York-based Pediatrician who has published extensively on vaginal discharge in adolescents. While she continues to contribute to the growing literature on vaginal fluids in young people, her online platforms, including Instagram and Twitter, provide an accessible and safe atmosphere to talk and share information on sexual health.
2. Dr. Chimmy is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist who specialized in puberty and periods. Her online platforms are complete with informative swipe information posts. Specific to teens and young adults, Dr. Chimmy’s page is a crucial resource to share with young people and parents to help them approach the questions about their bodies healthily and safely.
3. The Healthily app: Marketed as the world’s “first medically approved self-care app,” the Healthily app contains a vast library on health and sexual health. Their articles on different medical concerns are approved by the medical community. Their accessible and straightforward articles skip the medical jargon and get right to the point. Their article on vaginal discharge is linked to previous blog posts on vaginal hygiene and myths. The app is available on Google Play and the App Store. It is also attached to a website that makes looking up their articles easier on a desktop.
4. The Wow Podcast- Episode: Vaginal Health Ft. Dr. Kavya Chaganti: Last month, I came across this episode on everything vaginas. This episode featuring Dr. Kavya Chaganti, who answers so many and provides essential tips for vaginal health, is a great place to start for anyone who may have any preliminary questions. You can also follow Dr. Kavya Chaganti via Instagram @twoaussiedoctors
5. Samantha Bitty: Based in Toronto, Samantha Bitty is a sexual health and consent educator who continues to make learning about sexual health sexy. Her videos range from everything consent to masturbation and recently have created content specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view her videos through her Youtube channel and follow her on Instagram for more content that challenges society’s views on sex, pleasure and sexual health.
Note: Please contact your GP if you have any concerns about your vaginal discharge. While online sources are a great place to start, talking to your doctors will provide further clarity and concrete steps on how to move forward, if necessary.
