The ManicaPost
Dr Tendai Zuze
VAGINAL discharge serves an important housekeeping function in the female reproductive system.
Fluid made by glands inside the vagina and cervix carries away dead cells and bacteria. This keeps the vagina clean and helps prevent infection. Clear or white mucus like vaginal discharge is usually normal.
The amount, consistency and sometimes colour of vaginal discharge varies throughout your menstrual cycle.Healthy discharge does not have a strong smell or colour. You may feel an uncomfortable wetness, but you should not have any itching or soreness around your vagina.
So when is a vaginal discharge unhealthy? Any sudden change to your discharge may indicate a problem. You should be aware of how your discharge naturally varies throughout your cycle and what is not normal, but obvious warning signs of infection are:
a change in colour or consistency
a sudden bad smell
an unusually large amount of discharge
another symptom alongside the discharge, such as itching outside your vagina or pain in your pelvis or tummy
unexpected bleeding from the vagina
There are many possible causes of abnormal vaginal discharge, but it is usually a sign of infection. The infection is often caused by something that upsets the natural balance of bacteria or yeast in your vagina, such as washing inside the vagina, or it may be sexually transmitted.
It’s always important to see your doctor if you are worried about any discharge, but below are some of the common forms of abnormal discharge and their causes.
Watery or white vaginal discharge with intense itchiness: If your discharge is thin and watery or thick and white (like sour milk), you may have thrush. This common fungal infection causes intense itchiness and soreness around your vagina. The discharge may smell slightly yeasty, but does not have a strong smell.
Almost all women get thrush from time to time and it is not sexually transmitted as such. It is easily treated with antifungal creams or tablets some of which can be bought over the counter from a chemist. It is important to get your husband or other sexual contacts treated as well otherwise the problem will not go away.
White or grey fishy-smelling discharge: If your vaginal discharge is grey or develops a strong fishy smell, particularly after sexual intercourse, you could have bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is an imbalance in the normal bacteria found in your vagina. It does not usually cause itching or irritation. Like thrush, BV is very common and is not sexually transmitted. It is easily treated with antibiotics which require a prescription from your doctor.
Green, yellow or frothy discharge: This could be trichomoniasis which is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a tiny parasite. It can make your vaginal discharge frothy, yellow or green. You may have a lot of discharge, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell. Other possible symptoms are soreness, swelling and itching around the vagina, and pain when passing urine.
Trichomoniasis is easily treated with an antibiotic called metronidazole, which your doctor will prescribe. It is also important to get your sexual contacts treated. Your doctor will also do tests to exclude other STIs and HIV as these commonly co-exist with trichomoniasis.
Pink discharge: is common after childbirth from shedding of the uterine lining and is really nothing to worry about.
Pain or bleeding: If your vaginal discharge is abnormal and you have pain in your pelvis or when you urinate, or you bleed between periods or after sex, you may have chlamydia or gonorrhoea which are both STIs. Gonorrhoea can make your discharge turn green, cloudy or yellow although often the pain or bleeding is more noticeable.
You doctor will use antibiotics to treat you and your contacts. Untreated gonorrhoea or chlamydia may spread upwards and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection of the womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries.
Blisters around the genitals: Genital herpes can cause painful, red blisters or sores to appear around your genitals, as well as an abnormal vaginal discharge. You may be offered a course of antiviral tablets, which will stop the herpes virus multiplying, but the symptoms may have a tendency to return.
Young girls and post-menopausal women should not usually have abnormal vaginal discharges. If you have gone through menopause and suddenly notice an abnormal vaginal discharge see your doctor as soon as possible to rule out, especially, cervical and endometrial cancer.
Here are some tips for preventing vaginal infections that can lead to abnormal discharge:
Keep the vagina clean by washing regularly with a gentle, mild soap and warm water.
Never use scented soaps and feminine products or douche. Also avoid feminine sprays and bubble baths.
After going to the bathroom, always wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from getting into the vagina and causing an infection.
Wear 100 percent cotton underpants, and avoid overly tight clothing.
If you are worried about a vaginal discharge, please visit your doctor.
