Is it normal for a 12 year old to have white discharge?

Author: Ms. Verla Hills  |  Last update: Sunday, November 16, 2025

What is that white stuff in my underwear? (AKA: Vaginal Discharge) About a year after breast buds appear girls will notice a white, cream colored or yellow substance on their underwear. This substance is called vaginal discharge and most often appears six months to one year before menstruation begins.

Is white discharge normal at 12?

Is that normal? About 6 months to 1 year before a girl gets her first period, her body may start to make vaginal discharge. This is normal and due to changing hormone levels. The discharge helps keep the vagina healthy.

Can a 12 year old have white discharge?

Normal Vaginal Discharge in Teens

A normal discharge usually begins in girls when they start breast development and puberty. It is due to increased estrogen (hormone) levels. The discharge is clear or whitish, thin and small in amount. These secretions are like tears in the eyes or saliva in the mouth.

Does discharge mean your period is coming?

On average, it's common for women to experience changes in vaginal discharge for a few days leading up to their period. This timeframe can range from 1-3 days, while other women may notice changes in discharge for up to a week before menstruation begins.

What age is normal for girls to have discharge?

You can get vaginal discharge at any age. The amount of discharge varies. You usually get heavier discharge during pregnancy, if you're sexually active or if you're using birth control. It's often slippery and wet for a few days between your periods (when you ovulate).

Vaginal Discharge: Everything You Need To Know

Why does my 12 year old have so much discharge?

Common causes of vaginal itching and discharge in young girls include: Chemicals such as perfumes and dyes in detergents, fabric softeners, creams, ointments, and sprays may irritate the vagina or the skin around the vagina. Vaginal yeast infection. Vaginitis.

What age do girls start puberty?

Most females will start puberty when they're 8 to 13 years old, and most males will start between 9 and 14. But it can also be normal to start earlier or later. Hormones from the brain trigger the start of puberty. Hormones are chemical messengers that tell the body what to do.

Does discharge mean your first period is coming?

A good sign you're getting close to the time when your first period will arrive is if you notice a discharge coming from your vagina. It might be thin and slightly sticky or thick and gooey, and can be clear to white or off-white in color. Usually, this happens about 6 months before you get your first period.

Why am I having white discharge but no period?

White vaginal discharge, cramping and a missed period are all signs of pregnancy, although they can also be symptoms of a late period or other conditions. Stomach pain and cramping during pregnancy usually feel different to pain and cramps you experience during your period.

How to tell if a girl is on her period?

What are common symptoms of menstruation?
  1. Tender breasts.
  2. Bloating, fluid retention.
  3. Muscle aches.
  4. Joint pain.
  5. Headaches.
  6. Acne.
  7. Abdominal cramps.
  8. Diarrhea or constipation.

How long does a first period last for a 12 year old?

How long will my first period last? Your first period might not last very long, as it can take your body some months to get into a regular pattern. As a general rule, once they're settled, you'll have a period every 23 to 35 days and it will last 2 to 7 days.

Can a 12 year old get a yeast infection?

Yeast infections are not an STD (sexually transmitted disease). Young girls who haven't gone through puberty yet are less likely to get yeast infections, but they can happen. So if your young daughter complains of itching or discomfort in her vaginal area, it's important to talk with her doctor.

Why is my daughter's private part hurt?

Soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, tight clothing, wet diapers or swimsuits, or sand can bother this area, leading to vaginitis. Vaginitis can happen when girls don't clean themselves well after using the toilet. Getting a little piece of toilet paper or something else stuck in the vagina also can cause it.

Why am I always wet down there and smelly?

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common causes of a smelly vagina, affecting 15% to 50% of women of reproductive age. 'It's a condition where there's an imbalance in the vaginal flora,' Dr Rosén explains. 'The first symptom is often a fishy smell, which can progress to a frothy, grey or green-ish discharge.

When a girl gets wet, what is the liquid called?

Vaginal discharge describes the fluids that come from the cervix, uterus, and vagina that help protect the vagina from infection. On the other hand, arousal fluid, a natural lubricant, usually increases in production when you're aroused. These fluids aid in lubricating the vagina during penetrative sex.

Why does my 10 year old have white discharge?

About a year after breast buds appear girls will notice a white, cream colored or yellow substance on their underwear. This substance is called vaginal discharge and most often appears six months to one year before menstruation begins. Vaginal discharge has the important job of keeping the vagina clean.

What is a ghost period?

October 27, 2022 | by drseckin.com. Periods without actual flow, also known as phantom periods or phantom flow, have symptoms that are very similar to those of a normal periods except that there is no actual blood release. Phantom periods can occur due to a variety of reasons including stress and endometriosis.

Where do you touch to feel if you are pregnant?

Sore (and swollen) breasts: Your breasts can become tender to the touch during pregnancy. The soreness may be similar to the way your breasts feel before a period, only more so. Your areolas (the area around your nipple) might also begin to darken and enlarge.

At what age do girls get discharge?

Vaginal/cervical fluid

Sometimes after your breasts start to grow, you may notice some fluid on your underwear. Your vagina may also feel a bit wetter than before (15). Some people will notice this about 6–12 months before their first period (16). The liquid is normal vaginal discharge.

How to tell if your daughter is going to start her period?

There isn't one right age for a girl to get her period. But signs to watch for include: breasts starting to develop (periods usually start about 2 years after this) hair growing under a girl's arms and in her private parts.

Do you have to be 100 pounds to start your period?

Most girls get their periods somewhere between the ages of 9 and 16. But it's not unheard of for a girl's period to start before age 9. Rather than age, you can look for signals in your body. Most girls don't get their period until they weigh at least 100 pounds and have started developing breasts.

When do girls stop growing boobs?

Generally, breasts continue to grow until the age of 17-18. However, they may keep developing until your early or mid-20s. The growth rate and the time when they stop developing differ from person to person, largely due to genetic and hormonal factors.

Is 12 years old early for puberty?

But it's perfectly normal for puberty to begin at any point between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys. There's not usually any need to worry if puberty does not start around the average age, but it's a good idea to speak to your GP for advice if it starts before 8 or has not started by around 14.

What are the 5 stages of girl puberty?

Understanding the Five Tanner Stages of Puberty
  • Tanner stage 1, when hormones are hard at work behind the scenes.
  • Tanner stage 2, when the first physical signs of puberty occur.
  • Tanner stage 3, the growth spurt stage.
  • Tanner stage 4, the continuation of development.
  • Tanner stage 5, the final stage.

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