To think this just isn't normal?

[alphabetplum8982]

Extremely sorry in advance if this is tmi... I am in my early twenties and for as long as I can remember I have had a lot of discharge. Like...a lot. I know we all it get it and I know that it changes depending on your cycle (thickness, colour etc) and I think I know what to look out for in regards to abnormal discharge (anything green or like cottage cheese?!) The majority of the time my discharge is very 'normal' looking...clear, white or yellowish. But the amount I get is my main concern.

I have to wear panty liners every day and I change them multiple times throughout the day just to feel marginally comfortable. When I change my panty liner there is almost always a wet/damp patch in my pants where the discharge has gone through the panty liner. (By the way, I'm not using cheap liners, I tend to use Always or Carefree). There have been a few times when I haven't worn a liner and my jeans have gotten damp on the outside, meaning it's gone straight through my underwear and thick denim!

I don't tend to wear them around the house, I stick to pyjama bottoms or baggy/comfortable bottoms with no underwear and the problem is no better. I (sorry) just absolutely soil them. There is just so much. It seeps down the inner parts of my thighs and it's so uncomfortable when I sit down. I go to the toilet even when I don't need a wee, I go to simply wipe away the excess discharge.

This has been happening for as long as I remember. Throughout my teenage years I used to feel so embarrassed of my parents seeing my pyjama bottoms / pants in the laundry because they were always soiled.

I've approached the subject in the past with a few different friends, some completely horrified that I even had to wear panty liners everyday, and some saying that they too get a fair amount but I was always too embarrassed to dig deeper and see if they really did get THIS much.

I guess I am wondering - aibu to think this amount just isn't normal? Is this normal? Is this happening to every female, we just don't talk about it? And if not, is there anything I can do? In my more desperate times a few years ago I remember even googling 'medication that reduces discharge' which is just ridiculous, but this really is affecting my everyday life. I am so uncomfortable all of the time and I am sick of spending a fortune on panty liners!

Wow I am overwhelmed by all of these posts! This is my first time posting here and it's something that's been bothering me for so many years and I'm so glad I posted this, thank you so much.

A cervical extropian was mentioned - I was actually diagnosed with this when I was about 16/17 years old after I had abnormal bleeding. I wasn't aware there was any treatment for this, they told me it would clear up on its own? I remember I brought up the discharge during the gyno apt for the ectropian and she just told me to shave less (I hardly ever shave, I just keep tidy) because shaving can make you produce more discharge.

I'm not old enough for smears yet but I'm going to go and see my GP asap. It seems this definitely isn't something that all ladies deal with.

Thank you so very much everyone! Each and every comment/post has been really helpful.

OP, a GUM clinic might be a much better place for you.

They are much better equipped for this.

Mine can be quite heavy, get a week or so of it being quite bad. Yours does seem quite extreme so should get it checked out to be on safe side.

I have a lot of discharge that I need to wear a panty liner nearly everyday. If I don't I feel wet and icky. Something's I can even discharge through to my pants. I have had every test going and i just have a lot of discharge. Still glad I had the tests thought to rule out other things but just want to say it can be normal and nothing to worry about. It's a pain but I just make sure I have showers twice a day

Doesn't happen to me.

I'll bet anything it's the ectropian then!

they told me it would clear up on its own?

Sometimes - not sure how often, but I bet you still have it and it's grown.

Treatment options are freezing or burning it off. Bit uncomfortable but it really did mean less discharge for me, for a good few years (and now it's regrown again, grrr, so will go back for more!)

I remember I brought up the discharge during the gyno apt for the ectropian and she just told me to shave less (I hardly ever shave, I just keep tidy) because shaving can make you produce more discharge

A gynaecologist told you this? What a load of bollocks! (I work in the field) Shaving your external genitalia has no impact whatsoever on your cervix - the neck of your womb.

Your GP will do a speculum exam to see if she can spot it, will probably do swabs too whilst she's up there! Then you'll get a referral probably for a hospital gynae, for treatment.

I was 25 when first treated - I do think they tend to fob younger women off with excuses, with this sort of thing.

Do emphasise to the GP that you are experiencing continuous excessive discharge which is affecting you in x y z ways.

Agree with everyone else that you should see your gp.

In terms of pantyliners not being enough... how about reusable sanitary pads/liners? The reusable liners from Cheekywipes are really absorbent but also really comfortable and soft. I'd much rather be wearing them daily than be wearing a disposable liner or pad. Simple to wash just add to your usual laundry.

Sounds like me when I get bacterial vaginosis, which I do fairly often. It's 'normal' discharge just an abnormal amount! I'd pretty much always been like this and it was picked up in pregnancy and treated and then a few times after when having other issues, so I realised that although I didn't have all the 'classic' symptoms, that this was 'my' symptom. I do think you need to visit a nurse or Dr and have a swab done and have everything else checked out too to be on the safe side. Treatment for me is pretty easy, a gel you insert at night with a syringe. Little tip, fill the syringe and hold it in your hands for a while so it's room temp, cold gel up your fanjo isn't much fun

I have cervical ectropian (sp?) and have known about it for about fifteen years. It caused me a couple of issues in both pregnancies (bleeding) but I don't have any problems with discharge.

I would get it checked out properly, I have suffered recurring thrush for pretty much my whole adult life and have never once had 'cottage cheese' discharge - sometimes symptoms can vary from person to person so you need to rule out infection.