Dear MsRock,

It's totally normal for healthy girls and women to have a vaginal discharge, also known as leukorrhea. Usually, it is either thick and whitish or slippery and clear. Typical vaginal discharge may have a particular odor — and that's normal, too.

Some girls who have a lot of discharge choose to wear panty liners — which are like thin maxi pads — to keep the discharge off their underwear. Manufacturers of tampons recommend that they be used only for menstruation. Tampons are too absorbent for normal discharge and might lead to uncomfortable vaginal dryness. If panty liners are not enough to handle the amount of discharge you have, you may want to get checked out by your health care provider.

Remember, too, that tampons should be changed every three or four hours. They should not be left in for more than eight hours. Although it is very rare, it is possible that wearing a tampon too long could cause an illness called toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which can occur if bacteria in the vagina grow too much. TSS has also been associated with using "high absorbency" tampons all day and night during a woman's period.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.