Yellow discharge in women with and without odor

Vaginal discharge is a sign that evaluates the condition of a woman’s reproductive system.

They have their own characteristics, both in a healthy body and in the presence of various diseases and pathological conditions.

In this case, you must pay attention to:

color of discharge in women,
their consistency and inclusions in the secretions
smell.

For example, yellow discharge is extremely common in women, but is not always a cause for concern.

Yellow discharge - normal or pathological

Normally, women always have discharge from the genital tract. This is mucus necessary to moisturize the genital tract. In addition, it has bactericidal properties. Along with the leucorrhoea, old cells of the vaginal mucosa are exfoliated.

The production of secretions is associated with hormonal levels. Little girls do not develop leucorrhoea. The first discharge appears shortly before the start of menstruation.

Normal discharge is produced in small quantities. They are white or slightly yellowish, with a slight sour odor. The structure of normal leucorrhoea is creamy, without any admixture of blood or pus.

In diseases of the female genitourinary system, the discharge becomes abundant and acquires an unpleasant, pungent odor. The color of pathological discharge is yellow, green, brownish.

How to find out what is the cause of yellow vaginal discharge?

To calm your soul, you can first look for answers on forums, in this or another article on medical websites, or in reviews. But a reliable diagnosis can only be made in a doctor’s office. The gynecologist will conduct an examination and take a sample of the secretion, interview the woman, and prescribe the necessary measures. Next, we just have to wait for the test results.

Smear

A small amount of vaginal discharge is examined under a microscope, which allows you to see common bacteria and candida fungi. To detect chlamydia, ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, women's biomaterial is examined using the PCR method, which detects the DNA of intracellular parasites.

The secretions are used for bacterial sowing. This is the germination of bacteria to a large colony in order to conduct antibiotic sensitivity experiments. This analysis allows you to choose the most effective drug.

Ultrasound

Pathologies of a woman’s internal organs are determined using ultrasound. This way you can detect polycystic ovary syndrome, tumor, uterine polyp and other changes.

Blood

The presence of some infections is determined by antibodies in the blood. For example, HIV and hepatitis viruses, syphilis. A general analysis helps identify inflammation in the body. Special tests allow you to evaluate the level of hormones or the qualitative and quantitative composition of the blood.

Hysteroscopy

Sometimes you have to resort to examining the uterus and cervical canal from the inside using a special camera if ultrasound turns out to be insufficiently informative.

Attention! The hysteroscopy procedure requires careful preparation in the form of a number of tests and studies.

Types of discharge

Yellow discharge has different characteristics depending on the disease.

Slight with barely noticeable odor. Such leucorrhoea is the norm. Their number increases slightly during ovulation and a few days before menstruation.
Abundant without an unpleasant pungent odor, yellow or grayish. Indicate nonspecific inflammation of the genital tract.
Abundant with a sharp unpleasant odor, yellow with an admixture of pus or blood. This is a sign of specific inflammation of the genital tract.

The amount of leucorrhoea can be determined if a woman uses panty liners. Normally, so much mucus is secreted that it only covers the middle of the panty liner. If a woman does not have enough one pad for the day, she has profuse leucorrhoea.

In what cases is it better to consult a doctor?

The appearance of yellowish discharge in women raises concerns about the health of the body. When the mucus secreted is normal, a woman does not have to worry about the condition of her genitourinary system. But when the structure, shade and smell of mucus deviate from the norm, you need to consult a gynecologist.

You should seek the help of a doctor in the following cases:

When, along with the yellow mucus secreted, a woman experiences constant itching and burning;
For acute pain, itching and burning sensation when visiting the toilet or having sex;
When emitting yellowish discharge with an unpleasant odor, which does not disappear after compliance with all hygiene conditions;
Frequent urination may also be a condition for consultation with a doctor;
When the color of the discharge changes from light yellow or cream to greenish, light brown or blood red;
There should be no lumps in the secreted mucus. Heterogeneous discharge may raise suspicions about the presence of infections and inflammations;
There should be no white, cheesy-looking discharge or greenish, foamy mucus left on your underwear;
Excessive secretion of mucus mixed with pus is the cause of acute inflammation, so you should also consult a doctor;
Inflammation of the external genitalia and pain in the lumbar region;
If a pregnant woman produces a large amount of yellow-green mucus. In some cases, this indicates the presence of a complex infectious disease, which can lead to fetal death and early miscarriage. If chills or fever appear, or external inflammation appears, you should immediately contact a gynecologist.

After a thorough examination, the doctor will establish an accurate diagnosis based on the test results. Based on the results, drug treatment is prescribed, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

While taking medications, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a gynecologist. Without your doctor's permission, you should not take medications on your own or stop taking prescribed medications.

Possible reasons

Yellow discharge in women, odorless and light, is normal. Physiological reasons for the increase in leucorrhoea:

hormonal changes during menstruation, ovulation;
change of sexual partner - while the vaginal microflora undergoes changes;
during pregnancy and after childbirth.

The causes of odor-bearing discharge in women are various inflammatory diseases. Inflammation causes increased mucus production by the epithelium of the genital tract. If the inflammation is caused by bacterial flora, pus is mixed with the mucus.

Diseases that cause discharge, burning and itching in the vagina:

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by a disruption of the normal microflora of the vagina. The number of lactobacilli decreases, the content of coccal flora increases. The discharge is abundant, yellow-gray in color, with a specific fishy odor.
Colpitis is an inflammation of the vaginal walls, most often caused by nonspecific bacterial flora. The disease is accompanied by discomfort and burning in the vagina. Discharge in women is yellow, with a sour odor, and abundant.
Inflammation of the ovaries and tubes also usually has a nonspecific origin. Characterized by severe pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and high fever. A lot of yellow-green discharge mixed with blood appears.
Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis are genitourinary infections transmitted primarily through sexual contact. It is extremely rare that infection occurs when using common hygiene items, linen, and towels. It is asymptomatic or with signs of vaginal inflammation. Chlamydia is the main cause of rotten-smelling discharge in women.
Candidiasis infection, or thrush. A common disease caused by fungi of the genus Candida. In this case, the woman experiences white or yellow, odorless, curd-like discharge. I am concerned about intense itching in the vagina and burning sensation when urinating.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by gonococci. Transmitted sexually. Accompanied by burning and itching during urination, pain during sexual intercourse. Leucorrhoea is yellow-green in color, with a distinct purulent odor.

Increased mucus production occurs during bacterial and fungal infections. Viral diseases of the reproductive system do not cause excessive mucus production.

Physiological causes of yellow, itchy, odorless secretion

The appearance of atypical leucorrhoea occurs during normal physiological processes or immediately before the disease.

Hormonal imbalance

Changes in hormonal levels provoke discharge of varying intensity and consistency. With insufficient production of sex hormones or disturbances in their synthesis, diseases of the reproductive organs occur. They are characterized by: yellow, pink and creamy extractions, sometimes accompanied by itching and burning.

Taking birth control pills

The use of hormonal drugs disrupts the usual balance of female hormones. In the first two months of use, the body tries to adapt to increased doses of sex hormones. Because of this, it is observed:

engorgement of the mammary glands;
pain in the lower abdomen;
increased irritability;
discharge of watery, mucous yellow or pink secretion (does not have a bright color or odor).

Conception

Successful implantation of the fertilized egg is a normal physiological phenomenon when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. During the implantation of the zygote, the capillaries of the endometrium are damaged, and a red or yellow smear appears.

The appearance of atypical discharge occurs during pregnancy, while the woman is not aware of its occurrence. This is due to increased levels of progesterone. An indirect sign of conception is yellow discharge instead of menstruation, however, secretion is rarely accompanied by itching.

Breastfeeding and the early period after childbirth

Immediately after the birth of a child, the body begins to cleanse the genitals - by releasing lochia. Closer to their completion (5-8 weeks), they acquire a yellowish liquid character. Throughout the entire period of breastfeeding, faint, yellowish leucorrhoea may also be present. They change under the influence of other hormones that stimulate milk production. However, yellowish discharge with discomfort, odorless, but itching indicates the development of a pathological process.

Menopause period

With its onset, the level of sex hormones slowly decreases, and all systems and organs adapt. Your period does not stop suddenly; this process can take 3-5 years. This is why yellow secretion may appear. Without accompanying symptoms, it is normal.

Allergic reaction to underwear, hygiene products

Allergies are characterized by copious discharge of transparent, white and yellow color, liquid and mucous consistency. When histamine increases in the tissues, itching appears.

Discharge during pregnancy

Pregnant women undergo hormonal changes. This leads to increased mucus formation. The greatest number of leucorrhoea appears in the first trimester. Normally, they are transparent or milky white, odorless, with a uniform creamy consistency. The cause of mucous discharge in a woman during pregnancy is the action of progesterone.

The mucus plug blocks the cervical canal, protecting the fetus from infection from the genital tract. In the middle of pregnancy, mucus production slows down, and 1-2 weeks before birth it increases again.

Yellow-green discharge during pregnancy is a pathological symptom. They indicate the active proliferation of bacterial microflora and suppression of lactobacilli. Purulent mucus indicates diseases such as chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, and gonorrhea.

Preventive measures

In addition to regularly visiting a doctor and observing all the rules of intimate hygiene, it is necessary to carry out disease prevention.

Main preventive measures:

A woman needs to visit a gynecologist regularly - at least twice a year;
Moderate physical activity allows you to maintain strong immunity of the body and normalize hormonal levels;
The main cause of inflammatory and infectious diseases is sex without contraception. When having sex, you need to use barrier contraceptives. Some hormonal contraceptives can also cause heavy discharge.
Poor nutrition also affects the health of the genitourinary system. A woman’s diet should be balanced, it should include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, meat and fish, and dairy products. You should not oversaturate your body with an abundance of flour sweets, salty and fried foods.
To maintain hygiene of the genital area, you need to use only proven products. In some situations, you can use folk remedies - decoctions of medicinal herbs and flowers.
To avoid an allergic reaction to the materials from which underwear is made, it is better to choose clothes made from natural materials. Cotton and linen underwear sets allow you to maintain healthy genitals. The underwear should be comfortable and loose, without putting pressure on the body.
It is better to maintain sexual relations with a permanent, trusted partner. Constantly changing men can lead to serious sexually transmitted diseases.
Pregnant women should monitor their health and observe intimate hygiene more carefully.

By adhering to these rules, women can avoid problems with the functioning of the genitourinary system and not be subject to infections and inflammation.

Discharge during menopause

Menopause is another stage accompanied by hormonal changes in the female body. At this time, the effect of estrogen stops, which is what causes the main symptoms of menopause - hot flashes, irritability, vaginal dryness. The menstrual cycle is disrupted and gradually stops. After a year of complete absence of menstruation, a diagnosis of menopause is established.

At the beginning of menopause, the discharge continues. If there are no genitourinary infections, they are transparent or white and do not smell. If there is a genitourinary infection, a woman’s discharge is yellow and has an odor.

After menstruation stops, mucus production slows down. A small amount of vaginal secretion leads to dryness and discomfort during sexual intercourse. The protective function of mucus is disrupted and the woman becomes more susceptible to infection. During this period, you need to especially carefully monitor your health. After 50 years, the risk of malignant diseases of the uterus and its appendages increases. A symptom that indicates the presence of a tumor of the reproductive system is spotting during menopause.

Brown vaginal discharge - what to be afraid of?

Not all brown vaginal discharge is cause for concern. Very often, this type of spot appears just before the start of menstruation. Vaginal discharge can also occur during ovulation or during the first stage of pregnancy when the embryo implants into the uterine lining.

However, sometimes brown vaginal discharge can be a sign of health problems if it is a symptom of bacterial vaginosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.

Brown spots may appear after taking birth control pills. In general, this is not a cause for concern - the body reacts to hormones in this way. However, if the problem persists for more than 2-3 days, you should seek help from a doctor, who will determine whether the vaginal discharge is a symptom of a more serious condition.

Self-medication for any type of discharge is prohibited, as you can do more harm to the body than good.

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Consequences in the absence of timely treatment

A careless attitude towards one’s own health and untimely consultation with a doctor lead to chronic inflammatory diseases and the development of complications. Treatment of chronic inflammation is complex and not always successful.

Inflammatory processes in the pelvis lead to the formation of adhesions between organs. As a result, their function is impaired. If the fallopian tubes and ovaries are damaged, a woman cannot become pregnant.

Constant inflammation of the cervix creates conditions for the occurrence of malignant tumors.

Treatment

Treatment of the causes of odor-bearing discharge in women is carried out by a doctor. Diagnostics consists of the following stages:

gynecological examination;
taking a smear from the vagina;
sowing vaginal mucus on nutrient media to determine pathogenic microorganisms;
blood test for antibodies to chlamydia, mycoplasma;
PCR test for chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma.

If complications develop, an ultrasound of the pelvic organs is performed.

Treatment is prescribed in accordance with the established diagnosis:

for candidiasis infection, antifungal drugs are indicated;
for bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed;
To restore normal microflora, probiotics are prescribed orally and in the form of vaginal suppositories.

Adhesions in the pelvis can only be removed surgically.

As a non-drug treatment, it is recommended to adhere to a balanced diet including fermented milk products, fresh vegetables and fruits. Daily thorough hygiene is required. During treatment, it is necessary to discard panty liners, as they create conditions for the growth of bacteria.

What is vaginal candidiasis? Causes of the disease

Vaginal candidiasis is an inflammatory disease of the genitourinary tract caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida.

In most cases, the cause of vaginal candidiasis is Candida Albicans. It can reproduce successfully in an oxygen-free environment and grows especially well on tissues that contain large amounts of glycogen, including the mucous membrane of the female genitalia. Recently, doctors are increasingly discovering other pathogens of the Candida genus, but the overall frequency of their occurrence does not exceed 15-30%.

Internal risk factors for the development of vaginal candidiasis include endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, obesity, thyroid pathology, etc.), underlying gynecological diseases, disorders of local immunity; to external risk factors - taking antibacterial, glucocorticosteroid, cytostatic drugs, immunosuppressants, radiation therapy; wearing tight clothing, underwear made of synthetic fabrics, regular use of sanitary pads, prolonged use of intrauterine devices, vaginal diaphragms, douching, use of spermicides.

Prevention

Prevention includes the following points:

maintaining personal hygiene;
using only your own hygiene items and linen;
limiting sexual contacts with different partners;
using condoms.

Taking care of the health of the reproductive system reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases and infertility. The appearance of pathological leucorrhoea in combination with factors predisposing to the development of an infectious process is an indication for consultation with a gynecologist. Timely detected pathology has a greater chance of cure.

Womenfirst

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THERAPY OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS - Marushkina O.I. – 2021 – Medical advice / No. 7, 2019
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RUS2132958 from 03/27/2020

Common mistakes women make with pathological discharge

How often can you hear from gynecologist patients that they have been treating banal thrush for years. Today medicine copes well with infections and inflammatory diseases. All you need to do is do everything correctly, but women themselves make standard mistakes:

Douche before visiting a gynecologist. Once all the secretions are washed away, how can the analysis show a reliable picture? Before the examination, it is enough to wash the external genitalia.
Having been treated once by a doctor using the standard method, they continue to use it for any change in the secretion. It may seem to us that the symptoms are similar, but in reality the reason for what is happening is completely different.
Only traditional medicine is recognized. It is impossible to destroy gonococcus or trichomonas, treponema with any herbs. As a result of self-medication, the woman’s disease will simply enter the chronic stage.
They do not attach importance to therapy for the sexual partner. Even thrush is treated mutually by the couple, otherwise the man will again introduce candida into the vagina.
They trust the doctor unconditionally. Yes, sometimes it is better to check your health with another specialist. Therefore, it is so important to understand a little about medical concepts and terms in order to notice the illiteracy and negligence of the doctor, which also happens.

Interesting fact! Some provincial consultations still make diagnoses based on an initial examination and interview of women without tests, which significantly increases the number of chronic diseases and complications.