[acj578]

So I am a 17 year old healthy girl who has had a history of incontinence in the past (from ages 9-13) but all symptoms stopped when I got my first period and haven't had any issues since. But recently I have had a couple of strange things happen. Over this past month I have seemingly been leaking something gradually and without me knowing or having any feeling at all that it is happening at random, usually happening a week or 2 apart. It's happened about 3-4 times. The first I noticed my shorts were very damp, not dripping, just damp through everything with a clear fluid not strong smelling. The second time it happened I noticed, changed clothes, laid down and then 10 minutes later felt my shorts were very damp and wet through again. The last time happened when I was on my period, I was wearing a tampon which didn't appear to leak, and noticed that my shorts were wet again but left brownish stains as if from poor or bloody urine (or vaginal fluid) in my underwear and through my clothes. The first times it barely smelled of anything, last time it smelled strongly of urine. I'm worried and find this so strange that I feel absolutely nothing when this happens and it get's my clothes so obviously wet, still not dripping but very very damp. Everything else has been normal including how often and what my urine looks like. I don't know if this is a kind of incontinence, or a UTI, or vaginal discharge. Please any help is appreciated! ((This my be too personal but oh well, I am a virgin but I do masturbate regularly not always just with my clitoris but with penetration as well, sorry for the TMI but it could be necessary))

[DoulaLC]

Hi acj578,

It is very possible to have vaginal discharge and not notice it until you are feeling wetness or dampness. This can be more prevalent in the teen years due to hormonal changes, and also due to arousal. Some women will also sweat more than others which can cause dampness or wetness.

Since it is mostly clear is a good sign, and that you are a virgin is also a good sign as that will rule out the possibility of certain sexually transmitted diseases as a possible cause.

With having a history of incontinence, that may play into it as well, especially since you did smell urine, so there could be a combination of reasons.

I don't know if you've tried this already or not, but many women will find that they are more comfortable when they use a panty liner or light pad on a daily basis.

If it continues to cause you concern, or you feel that it is excessive, consider seeing your doctor.

[joypulv]

It's possible that you have more than one thing happening. Some women (not many) secrete quite a bit of clear, odorless liquid out of glands on either side of the opening of the vagina. See Bartholin's or Skene's Glands.
Another, of course, is urine, if you smell urine! Leaking urine is rare in young women unless you have a UTI. In older women it's common and a result of weaker muscles. BUT you have a history, so you really need to follow up on that with your doctor. I've never heard of incontinence being associated with hormonal changes, but I suppose it's possible. You may get nowhere with doctors, because it isn't worth expensive testing.
A third is mid-cycle fluid that is often spotted with blood, but may be clear. I think when I was your age, I had some clear leaking mid-month.