Vaginal discharge is nothing but a fluid made in the glands of the crevices and vagina that carries out bacteria and dead cells preventing you from infections. A clear or a milky white discharge is perfectly normal. However, the pattern and the color of discharge changes slightly during your menstrual cycle, or during your ovulation days, or while breast feeding, or even when you are sexually aroused and during pregnancy. During these times, the discharge might be a little more and with a little odor. However, this does not raise a state of infection. But if you do notice an unusual color or smell in your discharge, or suffer from itching and burning in the vagina, consult a gynecologist. Listed below are a few symptoms, treatments, and preventions that can help you free from vaginal infection.
Cause
There are plenty of reasons why this discharge might happen but the most prominent ones can be as follows
- Regular use of antibiotics and steroids including pills for birth control.
- Bacterial infection called bacterial vaginosis which may occur due to intercourse with multiple partners.
- Cervical cancer and diabetes.
- Constant use of bubble baths and chemical based soaps.
- Yeast infections.
Symptoms
If you think your vaginal discharge is unusual you need to look out for the following symptoms:
1. A blood red or a brown discharge with irregular menses, abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain can be symptoms of cervical or endometrial cancer.
2. Gonorrhea can include symptoms like cloudy or yellow discharge with bleeding in between periods and urinary incontinence
3. Pain and itching while urinating, a frothy green or yellow discharge with bad smell can be because of trichomoniasis
4. Lochia is shedding of uterine lining after giving birth to a baby; it includes a pink color discharge.
5. A yeast infection has symptoms like thick, white or cheesy discharge with swelling and pain around the vulva and also painful intercourse.
6. White, gray or yellow discharge with a fishy odor and itching, burning, redness and swelling in the vagina or vulva are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.
Diagnosis
When you visit the gynecologist, she would first take down your history of health. She may ask a few questions like:
- When was the abnormal discharge first seen?
- The color of the discharge?
- Does it smell?
- Are there any skin itches, pains, or other issues near the vagina?
- Do you keep changing sexual partners?
- Do you douche?
A Pap test may be done of the discharge taken from you to check the cells.
Treatments
If you notice any of the above listed abnormalities in your discharge, you have to consult your gynecologist. The treatment depends on the symptom and the problem related. For example, if you are suffering from yeast infection, you can be treated with gels and creams that have anti fungal medication which needs to be applied inside the vagina. Antibiotic pills and creams can cure bacterial vaginosis. However, your gynecologist will be the best expert to recommend the correct treatment.
Prevention
It is always said that prevention is better than cure. Follow these preventions as a routine:
1. Always keep your vagina clean. Use warm water and a mild soap to clean your vagina.
2. Do not use scented soaps, feminine sprays, douche and bubble baths for your vagina.
3. Wipe yourself well with a clean towel to avoid any bacteria into your vagina causing infections.
4. Use fresh and clean panties. Cotton panties are the best as they absorb the perspiration keeping your vagina clean and dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the main causes of vaginal problems and infections?
Vaginal infections and problems can be due to unhygienic habits, using public toilets, having sex from multiple partners, infecting through sexually transmitted diseases from partners, using scented soaps, lotions and sprays, etc.