Is it normal to leak fluid after sex?

What is post-sex discharge?  

Simply put, post-sex discharge is the fluid you leak from your vagina after you’ve had sex. Your post-sex discharge might differ (in smell, texture and amount) based on the type of sex you’ve had. Usually, it’s comprised of everyday vaginal discharge (which can be disrupted by an upset pH balance), arousal fluid and, in some cases, lube remnants, saliva, your own ejaculation fluid and/or that of your partner.   

Why does post-sex discharge smell weird?  

 Post-sex discharge often smells different from your everyday vaginal discharge, because it’s simply comprised of different things. It’s also common for post-sex discharge to smell a bit ‘weird’ or ‘off’, which is usually due to your vaginal pH being thrown off balance. This can happen quite easily when something foreign (lube, a finger, a sex toy, a tongue, a penis either with or without a condom, sperm, etcetera) enters your vagina.  

How do you avoid weird-smelling discharge after sex?  

Although it’s totally normal for post-sex discharge to smell different from everyday discharge, there are some things you can do to keep your vagina’s pH in balance while you’re having sex.  This can help prevent ‘weird’ scents, as well as vaginal irritation.   

• To avoid infections, make sure that everything that enters your vagina (toys, fingers, penises) is clean.  
• Since sperm has a much higher pH than your vagina, it can easily throw your vagina’s pH off balance. You can avoid that by using a condom (granted you aren’t trying to get pregnant).
• Although inherently handy, some lubes (or lubricated condoms) have a formula that can upset your vagina’s pH, or can otherwise irritate it. This can be especially true for lubes with bright colours, flavours or added sensations. Look out for simple, clean formulas with a pH value below 4.5, aka the highest range of your vagina.
  
• Don’t douche your vagina, use soap internally or use perfumed products on or near your vagina, not after sex, not ever. Your vagina is self-cleaning, and these products only disrupt its pH.
• Although you certainly don’t have to, you can use a panty liner to catch any post-sex fluids. However, perfumed and/or synthetic liners can also upset your vagina’s pH. So use a liner that is perfume-free and natural, like our 100% cotton panty liners. 

When should you see a doctor?  

In most cases, vaginal discharge is completely normal, even strange-seeming discharge that clears up a few hours after you’ve had sex. But it can also tell you a lot about your health. Call your GP if your discharge is yellow, green or grey, smells bad and/or is accompanied by painful sex, itchiness, a burning sensation and/or pelvic pain. This might be a sign of an STD, yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis or another underlying issue.  

If you’re on your period (even on very light days), it’s normal to find blood in your post-sex discharge. But at any other time, it’s worth calling your GP. Bleeding after sex can be the result of too much friction or too little lubrication, but other conditions (like STDs) can be to blame too.