Vaginal Discharge

Is your vaginal discharge white, yellow, green or brown?

This is not a joke.

If you have a vaginal infection, your discharge will show.

Also known as cervical mucus, this discharge is secreted from glands in your cervix to moisten and lubricate your vagina's internal surface. It also serves to protect your genital tract from infections.

It normally comes out as a white discharge or a slightly milky fuid that leaves a whitish-yellowish patch on your underwear when it is dry.

Your vaginal discharge varies in texture at different times of your menstrual cycle in relation to your changing hormonal levels.

Just before ovulation, your discharge will be wetter, thinner, clearer and stringier, just like egg-white. This type of vaginal discharge or cervical mucus is favourable for the survival of sperms and aids in the fertilization process.

If you find that you are consistently not producing the type of fertile vaginal discharge needed for fertilization, you should let your doctor know about it and he can test if you have an infertility problem.

Two to three days after ovulation, your vaginal discharge will become thicker and dryer and sperms will find it difficult to survive in your body during this time.

Since your vagina is least acidic before and after your period, you will be more prone to infections during these times.

The normal vaginal discharge is colorless or whitish and have little or no odor. If your secretions have an unpleasant smell or cause soreness or itchiness, you may be infected.

Types of Abnormal Discharge:

Any vaginal discharge that causes soreness or irritation, or has an unpleasant smell is likely to be related to an infection somewhere in your genital organs.

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is the most common vaginal infection. It is also called Thrush.

It is caused by a fungus called, Monilia or Candida which are found under normal conditions in your vagina, but kept in check by its acid balance. If the acid balance is upset, the fungus will multiply and cause irritation inside your vagina. It will also cause redness, soreness and itching around your genital area.

This abnormal vaginal discharge is thick and cheesy white in color.

Candidiasis may affect both men and women, but it is rarely transmitted sexually.

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However, if you keep getting a recurring infection and a vaginal itch and discharge with white curd-like deposits, sexual transmission may be to blame.

Trichomoniasis

Trichnomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection, caused by a single-celled parasite found in the vagina and the male urethra.

Symptoms are uncommon in men but in women, Trichomoniasis causes an offensive fishy odor. Vaginitis occurs, with pain and inflammation of the vagina. An infected woman will experience irritation and burning on urination if her bladder is affected.

This abnormal vaginal discharge is frothy, yellow, yellowish-grey or even green in color.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Other sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia or Gonorrhea will also produce an infected vaginal discharge. These STDs can be accompanied by other more obvious physical symptoms like chronic pelvic pain and irregular bleeding. This may indicate an inflammation in your pelvic region, cervix, womb or fallopian tubes.

Other Illnesses

Sometimes you may see a brown vaginal dicharge. This is really decomposed blood. If your brown discharge happens just prior to, or immediately after your period, it is ok because it is most probably caused by the remnant of blood that still trickles down.

However, if it happens at other times, it may be an internal bleeding. If your vagina bleeds, it could be due to an erosion or ulceration of the cervix or an indication of womb cancer.

An abnormal vaginal discharge with blood must always be thoroughly investigated.

When should you consult a doctor?

You should not let an abnormal discharge continue for more than a week before seeing a doctor. Especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever, abdominal pain, chronic pelvic pain, irregular bleeding, pain on passing urine, soreness, irritation or unpleasant smells.

Do seek help immediately from a genito-urinary diseases clinic. You will be checked for any prior coincidental sexual contacts and your contacts may need to be traced. Be assured that such clinics are completely confidential.

Yogurt and Candidiasis

As mentioned earlier, Candidiasis is the most common vaginal infection caused by a yeast or fungus. If you are infected, you must consult a doctor because this condition can also affect other parts of your body.

The cause could be related to antibiotics, birth control pills, pregnancy, diabetes or a weakened immune system.

If your infection is not very serious, just eating yogurt or taking the Lactobacillus Acidophilus tablets will help relieve your discomforts.

Eating yoghurt is very helpful especially when you are on antibiotics. Eat plain yogurt that contains live yogurt cultures.

Antibiotics kill off both the beneficial and harmful bacteria in your body. You have to replenish the good ones after a heavy dose of antibiotics treatment. Eating yougurt can spare you from a itchy and painful episode of Candidiasis infection as you re-introduce the friendly bacteria back into your system. The much needed bacteria will help eat up the yeast and fungus and inhibit their growth.

You can even apply natural unprocessed and unsweetened yogurt directly into your vagina or mix one small container of plain yogurt with an equal amount of water and use it as a douch once or twice daily until you see an improvement.

Cranberry and Urinary Tract Infections

The cranberry juice has the ability to protect your urinary tract against infections by forming a teflon-like layer of protection covering the inside of your urinary tract. Alternatively, you can take cranberry capsules.

General Precautionary Measures

There are many simple precautionary measures you can take in your daily life to protect yourself against getting an infection:

• Wash your private part with your hands rather than using a flannel. A flannel can breed bacteria if it is not properly washed and dried.
• Use cool water to wash yourself thoroughly. Do not douch as there is a risk that an infection is likely to be flushed upwards into your womb rather than being washed out.
• Pat dry, using your own towel.
• Avoid irritating sprays, antiseptic lotions, ointments and scented soaps. These items disturb the balance of healthy germs in your vagina and reduce the natural, protective acidity there.
• >After going to the loo, wipe yourself from front to back to avoid unintentionally introducing bacteria from your anal area into your vagina.
• Beware of the tampon. Tampons sometimes give rise to soreness and discharge, particularly if they are left in for a long time.
• Wear clean cotton panties, materials that allow your skin to breathe.
• Avoid tight jeans, pantyhose, swimming suits, biking shorts or leotards for long periods.
• Drink plenty of water and do not hold your urine for too long so that your genital tract is always flushed.
• Reduce stress, thus increasing your level of immunity against infections.
• Make sure your spouse or partner washes himself before intercourse with you.
• If vaginal lubrication is needed, use sterile, water-soluble jelly, not any other substances.
• Last but not least, avoid having multiple sexual partners.

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