White vaginal discharge - symptoms, treatment and causes of whiteness

White vaginal discharge

is a common condition that causes great anxiety in women. But is it always worth sounding the alarm and how dangerous is this symptom? Absolutely every girl experiences discharge from time to time, but in some cases such a symptom may indicate serious illness. Therefore, it is very important to be able to recognize your conditions and be able to distinguish pathology from a normal natural process in the body. Leucorrhoea can be either with or without an unpleasant odor, and have different shades (from reddish-brown to yellow).

The consistency of the discharge also varies: it can be curd-like

,
liquid
,
foamy or jelly-like
. To determine the diagnosis, the presence or absence of symptoms accompanying the discharge is important: itching and burning in the intimate area, irritation or redness of the external genital organs. Read this article to find out if you should be concerned about your discharge. If the symptoms indicate danger, we will help solve your problem. Sometimes white discharge is unthinkingly associated with the presence of thrush. You should not make such mistakes; it is important to find out about the reliable causes of discharge in order to prevent complications. Symptoms of thrush include leucorrhoea, but not all leucorrhoea indicates thrush.

When white vaginal discharge is not dangerous

As mentioned above, vaginal discharge is common to all women from time to time. What symptoms of vaginal discharge may indicate normal processes in the body:

• Transparent color - colorless or transparent white discharge
• Liquid or jelly-like - consistency similar to water or mucus
• Unsystematic discharge - if you notice strange discharge, sometimes you should not sound the alarm in the first hours. However, if they last longer than two days, you should be wary.
• With discharge there are no accompanying symptoms - heat, redness of the genitals, itching and burning sensation in the vagina
• Small amount of discharge - if only a small amount of discharge is produced, in many cases you can breathe easy. But remember that the small volume must be combined with other signs of the absence of pathologies.

In a healthy woman, the periodic presence of mucous transparent discharge is normal. They are secreted to clean the internal cavity of the vagina and protect it from infection. Also, in many respects, the presence or absence of discharge depends on the general health of the woman, and most importantly on her female condition - the menstrual cycle and the period of pregnancy, especially during the period of ovulation. During pregnancy, girls experience an increased amount of liquid discharge. Similar discharge can be observed with strong sexual arousal.

Treatment

Help before diagnosis

To reduce itching and other uncomfortable sensations, it is recommended to regularly carry out hygiene procedures and use pads. Local baths with antiseptic solutions and decoctions of medicinal herbs are effective, which are aimed at stopping the inflammatory process and reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria. For severe pain, take analgesics from the NSAID group and antispasmodics. If you experience foul-smelling leucorrhoea, discharge with a sour odor, or bloody vaginal discharge, you should urgently visit a doctor to determine the cause of the disorder.

Conservative therapy

The treatment regimen is selected individually after determining the cause of leucorrhoea and assessing the condition of the patient’s reproductive system. The main one is etiopathogenetic therapy, supplemented by symptomatic agents. Drug treatment is combined with local and physiotherapeutic methods. If discharge with a noticeably unpleasant odor is caused by genital infections, simultaneous treatment of both sexual partners is advisable. The following groups of drugs are used in clinical practice:

• Antibacterial agents
  . For sexually transmitted diseases and other purulent genital pathologies, properly selected antibiotics ensure the eradication of pathogenic microorganisms. Depending on the cause of the discharge, antiprotozoal and anthelmintic medications are sometimes prescribed.
• Antihistamines
  . Eliminate itching and discomfort in the perineum, quickly reduce the amount of inflammatory mediators in the affected area. To enhance the effect, medications are usually combined with anti-inflammatory drugs, which have an analgesic effect.
• Local medications
  . Vaginal suppositories with lactobacilli acidophilus are intended to restore normal microflora in the vagina. To eliminate the cause of discharge, odor, and other unpleasant symptoms, suspensions with tetracyclines and intravaginal suppositories with other antibiotics and antimycotics are used.

Surgery

Accumulation of pus in the uterine cavity or fallopian tubes, suppuration of cysts, abscesses of the Bartholin glands are indications for sanitation and drainage of pathological foci. When fistulas form, they are excised and repaired to preserve the anatomical structure of the genital tract. In the case of benign neoplasms, it is necessary to remove the tumor within healthy tissue; in the case of a malignant process, oophorectomy and amputation of the uterus are usually recommended. To treat endometriosis, altered areas of tissue are removed, followed by cauterization.

Thrush

Let us immediately note that the most common cause of profuse white vaginal discharge is still thrush or, as this disease is scientifically called, vaginal candidiasis. Its cause is a fungus of the genus Candida, which is part of the normal microflora of the female reproductive system, but for some reason it begins to multiply incredibly quickly, which leads to pathology. In this case, leucorrhoea has a cheesy consistency, it is very abundant and all this, as a rule, is accompanied by terrible itching in the pelvic area.

Do not panic, because the symptoms of this disease are quite easy to get rid of using specialized vaginal suppositories and ointments, such as, for example, clotrimazole. However, relieving symptoms does not guarantee that the disease will not manifest itself again after a few days, and therefore, in order to find out the exact causes and avoid relapses of candidiasis outbreaks, we recommend that you undergo a consultation and examination with a gynecologist. You can read more about thrush in this article.

Diagnostics

The presence of a woman with copious white secretions coming from the vagina, especially with a noticeable sour odor, is an indication for visiting an obstetrician-gynecologist. A diagnostic search involves a comprehensive physical and instrumental examination of the genital tract to determine the cause that provoked the white discharge, as well as clarifying laboratory methods. The most informative ones are:

• Gynecological examination.
  The technique is aimed at studying the condition of the mucous membrane of the reproductive organs; during the examination, areas of hyperemia or destruction of the epithelium, a dense cheesy coating surrounded by an inflammatory border are determined. The speculum examination is necessarily complemented by a digital vaginal examination.
• Endoscopic methods
  . Detailed visualization of the epithelium of the cervical mucosa during colposcopy makes it possible to detect erosions and other suspicious changes. To clarify the cause of the discharge, it is necessary to conduct a Schiller test and a vinegar test. If there is possible damage to the uterus, hysteroscopy is required.
• Sonography
  . Ultrasound of the pelvic organs is a standard non-invasive method that effectively detects signs of inflammation of the uterus and appendages, and large tumors. In doubtful cases, diagnostic laparoscopy may be prescribed.
• Lab tests
  . As a screening, an analysis of vaginal microflora and bacteriological culture of discharge is recommended. If there is a cheesy discharge with a distinct acidic odor, the smear is examined under a microscope to detect candida. If there is a probable tuberculosis infection, specific tests for mycobacteria are done.

A comprehensive gynecological examination includes determining the level of estrogen and progesterone in the blood on different days of the menstrual cycle. If there are difficulties in diagnosis, X-ray visualization of the internal organs of the reproductive system with contrast is performed - hysterosalpingography. According to indications, consultations with other specialized specialists are prescribed.

Which vaginal leucorrhoea is dangerous?

We have determined how to distinguish healthy discharge, now we need to understand the signs of problems. In many ways, these points directly follow from the previous point - those leucorrhoea that do not have the listed signs of healthy processes in the body usually indicate the presence of problems. In some cases, the presence of a symptom immediately indicates pathology. If you notice one of these symptoms in combination with white discharge, seek help from your gynecologist as soon as possible:

1. An unpleasant smell of discharge is one of the main symptoms of unhealthy leucorrhoea. Healthy discharge usually does not have a distinct odor. The smell may resemble rot, fish, or mustiness. These are obvious symptoms of the disease.
2. Unpleasant sensations in the vaginal area - itching, burning and dryness in the intimate area, coupled with white discharge, also indicate pathology.
3. Redness and sores on the external genitalia - changes in the appearance of the vagina and labia do not occur without a reason, especially in combination with leucorrhoea.
4. The color of the discharge - in normal health, the discharge has a transparent color and the consistency resembles a thick liquid or mucus. Accordingly, yellow, red, brownish discharge indicates pathology

Prevention

A healthy lifestyle is a prevention against many diseases, and those that cause pathological discharge from the urethra are no exception. That is why preventive measures in this case are as follows:

• A balanced diet, minimizing the consumption of fatty and spicy foods, preservatives and carcinogens, which create a serious burden on the kidneys and bladder;
• Eliminating the risk of body hypothermia by wearing warm, comfortable clothing that reliably protects the lower body during the cold season;
• Elimination of stressful situations and excessive physical activity;
• Quitting consumption of alcoholic beverages and smoking;
• Compliance with personal hygiene rules;
• Refusal to wear underwear made of synthetic materials that can cause an allergic reaction.

Contact the specialists of the CELT clinic when the first symptoms of the disease appear: your treatment will be even faster and more successful if it is started in a timely manner. Save yourself the discomfort: contact CELT!

Make an appointment through the application or by calling +7 +7 We work every day:

• Monday—Friday: 8.00—20.00
• Saturday: 8.00–18.00
• Sunday is a day off

The nearest metro and MCC stations to the clinic:

• Highway of Enthusiasts or Perovo
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Driving directions

We determine the disease by the color of the discharge. Symptoms

It is impossible to determine one hundred percent the cause of leucorrhoea based on its symptoms - there can be more than a hundred of them. You can make assumptions based on patient statistics, but it is simply necessary to contact a gynecologist and undergo diagnostics. When it comes to health, it's always better to be sure.

• Clear, foamy leucorrhoea
  may indicate the presence of
  chlamydia
• A gray tint in vaginal discharge
  coupled with a fishy odor may indicate the presence of
  bacterial vaginosis.
• A yellowish tint to the leucorrhoea
  may be a sign of
  trichomoniasis.
• A greenish tint
  to the discharge indicates purulent inflammatory processes. The stronger the inflammation, the more pronounced the green color will be in the leucorrhoea.

Allergy as a cause of white vaginal discharge

Quite often, the cause of all kinds of vaginal leucorrhoea is also an allergy. There can be a lot of reasons, but among them, as a rule, the following are the most common:

• Allergy to hygiene products, in particular those that have pronounced alkalinity, for example, laundry soap.
• Allergy to a condom, or more precisely to latex, which is the main component of this barrier contraceptive.
• Allergy to lubricants - products that are used as additional hydration before sexual intercourse.
• Rarely, women are allergic to the sperm of their sexual partner.

What other diseases may be associated with the presence of leucorrhoea?

1. Krauroses of various etymologies. Read a detailed article about how to treat kraurosis of the vulva
2. Vaginitis. The treatment of vaginitis is also described in detail. Being aware of the signs of disease is one of the most important guarantees of intimate health.

Gynecological plasma lifting has proven itself to be effective against chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis and purulent inflammation. If you have at least one of the symptoms listed above, contact your gynecologist. If you live in Moscow, you can do this at one of our Doktorru/Invitro medical clinics.