The facts you need to know about your vaginal discharge.
Ladies (and curious gentlemen), our topic today is maybe not
the sexiest topic, but nonetheless, an important and healthy one: vaginal
discharge. Vaginal discharge is a topic that many women are curious about and
want to discuss, but feel nervous or weird bringing it up to even their closest
friends. Here’s what we have to say: vaginal discharge is normal and every
female has it. It is not gross and it is not something to be ashamed of. After
all, it is part of the female body whether you like it or not.
What is vaginal discharge? Essentially, it is just a mix of
cervical mucus and vaginal secretions. “Normal” vaginal discharge looks and
feels different for many women. Most of the time, you have nothing to worry
about, because your vaginal discharge is normal. However, there are certain
types that are abnormal and could be a sign of an infection.
To get the real lowdown, we reached out to an Obstetrics and Gynecology to further discuss vaginal discharge.
What is vaginal discharge?
Let’s jump right in. Tell us about vaginal discharge and
what the different characteristics mean.
In general, discharge generally comes from the vagina and
cervical mucus. What that means is that the skin inside the vagina and the
cervix are always going to produce some kind of discharge. What I, as a
pharmacist, consider discharge to be, is a normal or physiological bodily
function that helps keep the vagina healthy. However, sometimes the discharge
can have certain colors, odors, or textures that can be a sign of either physiologic
changes or an infection.
Can you dive more into what you mean by normal vaginal
discharge?
Normal, or “physiologic” discharge is healthy and something
that you would expect to have every day. You’ll typically notice a clear or
whitish discharge without any foul odor. The texture may vary and be thin,
watery, or stringy, and this can depend on the time of the month. The volume
might change as well - you might have a little bit every day, or nothing on
some days and a lot on other days. Basically, there is a wide range of what is
normal but it is important to know what is normal for your body.
What is your process for understanding vaginal discharge
if a patient comes in concerned?
There are a few things that I generally do as a future
doctor to understand whether vaginal discharge is normal or abnormal, Certain
factors, such as color, can be very important. Some of the other facts I need
to know beforehand are:
- Is the
female patient premenopausal or postmenopausal?
- Is she
pregnant?
- Does
she have any other complaints along with the discharge, such as fever or
abdominal pain?
- Has
she had any itching?
- Does
it have a foul or fishy odor?
- Has
she had a fever?
- Does
she feel anything funny down there like a bump or a rash?
- Is
this vaginal discharge only occurring during intercourse?
- Has
she had any unprotected sex or any new sexual partners?
- How
long has she been having this?
There are several other questions that I need to know that
qualify the discharge to know that even despite the color, if it is normal or
abnormal.
Discharge color and types
What are the types of vaginal discharge and what does the
color of vaginal discharge mean?
There are a lot of various types of vaginal discharge. These
types are grouped based on their color and consistency. A few types of vaginal
discharge are normal, but others may be a sign of an underlying condition that
needs to be treated. What the color signifies really depends on the situation.
It’s hard to isolate the color alone, as even white discharge can be abnormal,
depending on what else is happening with the patient. There’s no way to make a
diagnosis based on the color alone, but you would have to take into account
certain factors like a patient’s age, behaviors, menstrual cycle, and other
symptoms. But basically, the colors can mean the following:
White discharge
Not necessarily abnormal. A little bit of white discharge,
particularly at the start or end of your menstrual cycle, is normal. However,
if the discharge is followed by itching and if it has a thick consistency with
a cottage cheese texture, it could mean there is a yeast infection. I would say
a milky white discharge can be anything from normal to suggestive of an
infection depending on if there is anything else going on, such as itching,
odor, or pelvic pain. If there are any of these other symptoms, it could be a
sign of bacterial vaginosis or an STI.
Clear and Watery
Sometimes a woman may experience a clear and watery
discharge. This is completely normal and can happen at any time of the month.
It may be particularly heavy after walkouts.
Clear and Stretchy
When your discharge is clear and stretchy or looks like
mucous instead of water, it is a sign that you are possibly ovulating. This is
a healthy and perfectly normal discharge.
Brown or bloody discharge
If a woman has brown discharge while she is menstruating or
towards the tail end of a period; it may be normal. A late discharge at the end
of your period can look brown instead of red. This is probably just some blood
in the discharge. You may as well witness a tiny bloody discharge between your
periods. Depending on when it happens, it could even be spotting in
between periods. If you experience spotting the normal time of your period and
you have not long had unprotected sex, it could be an indication that you are
pregnant. Spotting at an early phase of pregnancy can be a sign
of miscarriage.
So, if this happens you should see a doctor, but it may not
necessarily be a sign of infection or miscarriage. However, if a patient is
postmenopausal, this could raise concern for a potential cancer of the female
organs. In uncommon occasions, brown or bloody discharge could be a signal of
advanced cervical cancer. This is why it’s significant to get yourself
checked every year. Go for routine pelvic exam and Pap smear, so that your
gynecologist will examine you for cervical abnormalities.
Yellow Discharge
This can also be normal, but could potentially be a sign of
an infection. Generally, when a yellow discharge is thick, chunky, or when it
has a bad smell is abnormal. This form of discharge may be an indication of the
infection known as trichomoniasis, which is frequently transmitted through
sexual intercourse. Although many women with chlamydia or gonorrhea have no
symptoms at all, those that do may experience this type of discharge.
Green Discharge
I would say this is usually abnormal and suggestive of an
infection. A yellow or green thick, chunky foul smelly discharge is not
normal but could be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease like trichomoniasis.
Other factors
I think there is nothing specific about these 4 colors that
are scary in and of themselves, but you would have to take into account certain
factors like where the patient currently is in her reproductive cycle.
Does your vaginal discharge change depending on where you
are in your menstrual cycle?
Yes. In some cases, ovulation will cause a little bleeding,
which when mixed into normal vaginal secretions causes a brown discharge.
Causes of vaginal discharge, normal and abnormal
Normal vaginal discharge is a healthy bodily function. It is
mostly the means taken by your body system to clean and protect the vagina.
When you work out or engage in other physical activities, the tendency is for
your discharge to increase. Also, you would tend to experience additional
discharge of sexual arousal, and ovulation, when you use birth control pills, and when
you are suffering from emotional stress.
On the other hand, the major cause of abnormal vaginal
discharge is infection.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is a common bacterial infection.
This infection can result to excessive or a boost in your vaginal discharge. It
usually comes in a strong, foul-smelly, and occasionally fish-like odor. In some
instances, however, it doesn’t have any significant symptoms. Women who commonly
receive oral sex or who have many sexual partners tend to have more of this
type of infection.
Trichomoniasis
This is the second type of infection. It is usually caused by a
single-celled organism known as protozoan. The infection is normally contracted
during sexual interactions, but it can also be transmitted by sharing towels
or bathing suits. This infection usually comes in a yellow or green color and
has a foul smelly odor. It can also result in pain, inflammation, and
itching. However, a few people would not experience any symptoms.
Yeast Infection
A yeast infection is a fungal infection that results to
white, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge. It also results in burning and
itching sensations. It is normal to have yeast in your vagina but, if it grows
out of hand it could result in yeast infections. This type of condition
frequently occurs when you are having any of the conditions below:
- when
you suffer from stress
- when
you suffer from a diabetic condition
- when
you are making use of a birth control pill
- It can
occur when you are pregnant
- when
you are under antibiotic medication particularly if you have used it for
more than 10 days
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually
transmitted infections. They can create an abnormal discharge, which is
frequently yellow, greenish, or cloudy in color.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection that is
frequently transmitted through sexual contact. It exists when bacteria
disperse around the vagina and into other parts of the woman’s reproductive
system. It may result in a heavy and distasteful-smelling discharge.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) or Cervical Cancer
The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a cancer of the cervix. It is normally transmitted through sexual contact. It can result in cervical cancer. Although it may not come with symptoms, this type of cancer can result in a bloody, brown, and/or watery discharge with a bad odor. Cervical cancer can readily be prevented or discovered when you go for normal annual pap smears routine checks and through HPV testing.