Every woman needs to have self-care and self-awareness in this busy modern world. Vaginal discharge or white discharge is currently one of the most common issues for women. You don’t need to panic because it is a very normal happening. Every woman worries whether the vaginal discharge is normal and safe. Thereby, we are discussing vaginal discharge in depth in this blog to address your concern
What is vaginal discharge?
Let’s first understand the vagina before learning about vaginal discharge. Vagina refers to the elastic muscular canal that connects the uterus to the outside of the body. It is also called the birth canal because the baby usually emerges through it. It refers to fluid or mucus that comes out from the vagina. Physiological discharge (normal) and pathological discharge (abnormal) are two different types of vaginal discharge.
Physiological vaginal discharge
The uterus naturally includes a defence system called lactobacillus that stops any infection and the invasion of foreign microbes. The vaginal and cervical epithelium secretes a fluid that cleanses old, dead cells and bacteria, serving as the uterus’s housekeeping system. When both systems are strong and working properly, then the uterus is healthy.
Abnormal discharge occurs if there is a violation of the mentioned systems’ activity. A daily discharge of 2 to 5 ml is considered to be pretty normal. It varies from woman to woman depending on their body nature, stress, exercise, and hormone changes. It is common after puberty. The features of the discharge can be used to determine its normality. A normal discharge can be
*Colorless or pale white
*Stretchable or sticky
*Has no smell, but occasionally has a salty smell
If you experience symptoms other than this, then your discharge is abnormal. An increased discharge may be present before periods, during ovulation, or pregnancy.
Abnormal vaginal discharge:
If a woman experiences a change in discharge patterns like profuse or frothy discharge, yellow, green, or grey color discharge with an unpleasant smell associated with pain, itching, burning sensation, or difficulty in urination, then she is said to have Abnormal Vaginal Discharge (AVD). In extremely rare cases, abnormal discharge may be a symptom of uterine cancer.
* Bacterial Vaginosis is the common reason for AVD. There is an overgrowth of anaerobic microbes which replace the normal commensal bacteria.
*Another cause of AVD is yeast infection brought on by the vaginal fungus. It’s known as candidiasis. Along with discharge, there is irritation and severe itching.
*Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydiae, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, are a major additional cause of AVD. Chlamydiae infection may be asymptomatic but can cause devastating sequelae. Trichomoniasis and Gonorrhea infection cause foul-smelling discharge with itching and painful urination. Giving treatment to the partner in case of STI is very crucial.
Complications
Any of the following consequences can arise from carelessness or a delay in receiving treatment for AVD:
*Pelvic Inflammatory diseases(PID)
*Endometritis
*Tubal blockage and infertility
Treatment
Consult your gynaecologist as soon as symptoms of abnormal vaginal discharge first appear and get the right care to avoid complications.
To sum up
Get in the habit of using some preventive techniques in your routine to avoid getting abnormal vaginal discharge. Infection can be avoided with good perineal cleanliness and safe sexual behaviour.
