Not all discharges are bad
VAGINAL: SOME CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL, BUT OTHERS MAY REQUIRE TREATMENT
A yellow or green discharge, especially when it’s thick or smelly, is not normal.
Vaginal discharge can be a normal and regular occurrence. However, there are certain types of discharge that can indicate an infection. Abnormal discharge may be yellow or green, chunky in consistency, or have a foul smell. Abnormal discharge is usually caused by fungal or bacterial infection.
Some types of discharge are normal, but others may indicate an underlying condition that requires treatment.
A bit of white discharge, especially at the beginning or end of your menstrual cycle, is normal. However, if the discharge is accompanied by itching and has a thick, cottage cheese-like consistency or appearance, it’s not normal and needs treatment.
This type of discharge may be a sign of a yeast infection. A clear and watery discharge is perfectly normal and can occur at any time of the month. It may be especially heavy after exercise. Ovulation can be accompanied by discharge as well which is clear but stretchy and mucous-like, rather than watery. This is a normal type of discharge.
You may also experience a small amount of bloody discharge in between periods, which is called spotting. If spotting occurs during the normal time of your period and you have recently had sex without protection, this could be a sign of pregnancy.
Spotting during an early phase of pregnancy can be a sign of miscarriage, so it should be discussed with your gynaecologist. In rare cases, brown or bloody discharge can be a sign of advanced cervical cancer. This is why it’s important to get a yearly pelvic exam and Pap smear.
A yellow or green discharge, especially when it’s thick, chunky, or accompanied by a bad smell, is not normal. This type of discharge may be a sign of the infection trichomoniasis, which is a sexually transmitted infection.
If you have unusual discharge with other symptoms such as a fever, pain in the abdomen, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or increased urination, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor may want to take a scraping from your cervix to check for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) or cervical cancer. Your discharge may also be examined under a microscope to pinpoint an infectious agent.
Causes of vaginal discharge
Normal vaginal discharge is a healthy bodily function, and it’s your body’s way of cleaning and protecting the vagina. It’s normal for discharge to increase with exercise, sexual arousal, ovulation, birth control pill use, and emotional stress. Abnormal vaginal discharge, however, is usually caused by an infection.
Bacterial Vaginosis
This is a bacterial infection and is quite common. This infection causes increased vaginal discharge that has a strong, foul, and sometimes fishy odour, although it produces no symptoms in some cases. Women who receive oral sex or who have multiple sexual partners have an increased risk
of acquiring this infection.
Trichomoniasis
This is another type of infection, but a protozoan (a single-celled organism) causes it. The infection is usually spread by sexual contact, but it can also be contracted by sharing towels or bathing suits. This infection results in a yellow or green discharge that has a foul odour. Pain, inflammation, and itching are also common symptoms, although some people don’t experience any symptoms.
Yeast Infection
A yeast infection is a fungal infection that produces white, cottage cheese-like discharge in addition to burning and itching sensations. The presence of yeast in the vagina is normal, but its growth can multiply out of control in certain situations. The following may increase your likelihood of yeast infections: stress, diabetes, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, overuse of antibiotics.
A healthy vagina has bacteria and some yeast cells. But when the balance of bacteria and yeast changes, the yeast cells can multiply. This causes intense itching, swelling, and irritation. Treating a vaginal yeast infection can relieve symptoms within a few days.
Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia
These sexually transmitted infections can produce an abnormal discharge, which is often yellow, greenish, or cloudy.
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria.
People who have chlamydia often do not have outward symptoms in the early stages.
That might make you think you shouldn’t worry. However, chlamydia can cause health problems in the later stages, including preventing women from getting pregnant or even endangering their pregnancies.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
This is an infection that is often spread by sexual contact.
It occurs when bacteria spreads up the vagina and into other reproductive organs. It may produce a heavy, foul-smelling discharge.
HPV or Cervical Cancer
The infection, which is spread by sexual contact, can lead to cervical cancer. While there may be no symptoms, this type of cancer can produce a bloody, brown or watery discharge with a bad odour. Cervical cancer can easily be prevented or found with yearly Pap smears and HPV testing.
Home care for vaginal discharge
To prevent infections, you should practice good hygiene and wear breathable cotton underwear.
Don’t use douches because they can make discharge worse by removing useful bacteria. You should also practice safe sex and use protection to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
To decrease the likelihood of yeast infections when taking antibiotics, eat yoghurt that contains live and active cultures.