Why do I have green discharge coming out of my genitals?

Green discharge is usually a sign of an infection. The NHS links green, yellow or frothy vaginal discharge with Trichomonas, and Gonorrhoea can also cause a yellow or green discharge from the vagina or penis.

Other infections can change your discharge too, so you can’t tell the cause from the colour alone. Look at your other symptoms, and get tested.

Some vaginal discharge is normal. It’s usually clear or white and changes during your menstrual cycle, so the thing to look out for is a change that isn’t usual for you.

Trichomonas

Trichomonas can cause a yellow or green vaginal discharge that may be frothy or smell fishy, along with itching, soreness and pain when you pee or have sex. In men, it can cause discharge from the penis and pain when peeing. In women it infects the vagina and urethra, and in men it usually infects the urethra, the tube you pee through. Many people have no symptoms. Read more in “The truth about Trichomoniasis”

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea can cause a yellow or green discharge from the vagina or penis, a burning pain when you pee and, in women, bleeding between periods. Men often notice symptoms within 2 to 5 days of infection, but for other people symptoms usually appear within about 2 weeks, and many women have none.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia often causes no symptoms. When it does, it can cause vaginal discharge that isn’t normal for you, or a white, cloudy or watery discharge from the penis, with burning when you pee. Discharge with pelvic pain or bleeding can be a sign of Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea.

Unusual discharge isn’t always caused by an STI:

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV): a thin, watery, white or grey discharge with a strong fishy smell, often worse after sex. BV isn’t an STI and doesn’t usually cause itching or soreness. It isn’t caused by poor hygiene, and douching and perfumed products can make it more likely.
• Thrush: a thick white discharge, like cottage cheese, that doesn’t usually smell, with itching and soreness.
• A tampon left in by mistake: this can cause a strong smell and unusual discharge.
• In men, thrush can cause a white discharge under the foreskin, and balanitis, a swollen and sore head of the penis, can also cause discharge.

Read more in “What STIs cause yellow discharge?”

Green discharge on its own isn’t usually an emergency, but book a test soon and avoid sex until you know the cause. Get urgent medical care if you also have:

• severe or sudden pain in your lower tummy or pelvis, or pelvic pain with heavy bleeding from your vagina
• a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
• feeling faint or being sick
• sudden or severe pain in a testicle

If you’re pregnant and notice unusual discharge or pelvic pain, see a doctor quickly.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are tested with a vaginal swab you can take yourself, or a urine sample if you have a penis. Trichomonas, BV and thrush are usually checked with a swab. Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can take about 2 weeks to show up on a test, so if you test sooner than that, test again later.

Trichomonas, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and BV are treated with antibiotics, and thrush with antifungal medicine. If you have an STI, avoid sex until you and your partners have finished treatment, and tell your recent partners so they can get tested.

Better2Know offers:

• Comfort Screen: a urine test for anyone with discomfort or unusual discharge. It tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas, Gardnerella, Herpes 1, Herpes 2, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma, from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days (3 days for the home test). You can book it at one of our clinics or order a Comfort Screen home test.
• Bacterial Vaginosis: a vaginal swab test for BV at our clinics, with results in 4 days.
• Platinum Screen: our most comprehensive STI screen. It tests for 12 infections, including HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C as well as the 8 infections in the Comfort Screen, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days. If you test before 45 days, a negative HIV result needs a repeat test.

These tests don’t check for thrush. Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Is green discharge from the penis an emergency?

Not usually, but get it checked soon. Get urgent medical care if you also have sudden or severe pain in a testicle. Read more in “Penis Discharge: Do I have an STI?”

Can green discharge go away on its own?

Symptoms can settle down while an infection is still there, so don’t wait for it to go away. Get tested, even if the discharge stops.

Should I stop having sex if I notice green discharge?

Yes. Avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex until you’ve been tested and, if you need it, finished treatment.

Can you test negative and still have discharge?

Yes. Discharge can be caused by things that aren’t STIs, such as BV or thrush, or you may have tested too soon after sex. Read more in “I tested negative for STIs but I still have discharge. What is it?”

Green discharge is usually a sign of an infection, most often Trichomonas or Gonorrhoea, and it’s worth getting checked quickly. BV and thrush can also change your discharge, but they don’t usually turn it green.

If you notice green discharge, avoid sex and get tested. Book a Comfort Screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 26 January 2025 and was last updated on 30 September 2026.

Medical review. This article was medically reviewed by Dr Steve Chapman, Doctor with a wealth of clinical experience in the field of STIs, on 2 October 2025. It is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

1. NHS, Vaginal discharge, reviewed 15 February 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-discharge/
2. NHS, Trichomoniasis, reviewed 16 July 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trichomoniasis/
3. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK national guideline on the management of Trichomonas vaginalis, 2021. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/resources/tv_2021.pdf
4. NHS, Gonorrhoea, reviewed 16 December 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/
5. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, National guideline for the management of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, April 2025. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/gc_guideline_2025_final.pdf
6. NHS, Chlamydia, reviewed 24 October 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/
7. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK national guideline for the management of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, July 2026. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/bashh_chlamydia_guideline_july_2026.pdf
8. NHS, Bacterial vaginosis, reviewed 19 June 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/
9. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK national guideline for the management of bacterial vaginosis, 2012. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/resources/bv_2012.pdf
10. NHS, Thrush in men and women, reviewed 28 July 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thrush-in-men-and-women/
11. NHS, Balanitis, reviewed 30 May 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/balanitis/
12. NHS, Urethritis, reviewed 10 May 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-gonococcal-urethritis/
13. NHS inform, Stuck or lost tampon, updated 22 February 2024. https://nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/girls-and-young-women-puberty-to-around-25/periods-and-menstrual-health/stuck-or-lost-tampon
14. NHS, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), reviewed 17 December 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid/
15. NHS, Testicle pain, reviewed 26 June 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/testicle-pain/
16. Brook, STI testing: FAQs, updated 28 November 2024. https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/getting-tested-for-stis/