Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

Posted on August 30, 2011 by juliadawson

One of the questions I get asked a lot is from pregnan ladies and its this. What is going on with my vaginal discharge during pregnancy? And the answer does somewhat vary but as pregnant women will know it is quite normal for vaginal discharge during pregnancy to increase.

This increased pregnancy vaginal discharge is quite normal and will normally take the form of a odorless or may be mildly smelling clear or slightly white discharge pretty much the same as you had before you were pregnant. The reason for the increase is two fold. 1, estrogen levels are increased during pregnancy and this will lead to increased discharge.

2, There is a much greater blood flow to the vagina during pregnancy and this also has the effect of increasing discharge.

We allknow the reason for normal vaginal discharge and thats to remove unwanted and old cells from the cervix and vagina, as well as bacteria.

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy will increase as the pregnancy progresses. At the start of pregnancy a protective barrier is formed in the cervical canel. It is known as the mucus plug. So as the pregnancy developes and labour nears the cervix opens up (dilates) and some of this mucus will be discharged. This vaginal discharge will look like egg white, it might even be discharge in large lumps and there also may be a slight bit of blood. This mucus discharge is seen at the end of the pregnancy and if you are experiencing it any earlier than 37 weeks you may want to speak to your midwife. If you are getting mucus early or a pink,red,brown this could signify preterm labour so always best to get checked out.

When you are pregnant you are still susceptible to other infections and infact they become more important to diagnose early and treat than if you are not pregant. So if you have a white cottage cheese like vaginal discharge during pregnancy then you may have a yeast infection especially if you have an associated burning feeling or irritation. A yeast infection is not to be confused with bacterial vaginosis. BV’s discharge will be more gray in color and have a fishy smell.

A Green vaginal discharge during pregnancy or at anytime infact could mean a sexually transmitted disease called Trichomoniasis. This will also have a strong odor. This will need treatment as soon as possible.

So if your pregnant what can you do about your vaginal discharge? Well first of all keep clean and have a good hygiene routine. When pregnant you are not to use tampons to soak discharge so stick to pads to absorb.

If in any dout at all about vaginal discharge during pregnancy speak to your healthcare worker or midwife.

Posted in Vaginal Discharge | Tagged bacterial vaginosis, vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge during pregnancy, yeast infection | Comments Off

Clear Vaginal Discharge Facts

Posted on August 8, 2011 by juliadawson

Well I’ve spoken about lots of different types of discharge and we now know that some are worse than others and some need treatment and some do not. All women will experience vaginal discharge and it usually begins just before puberty and ends after the menopause. It is essentially the vaginas own way of keeping itself clean by getting rid of unwanted dead cells and bacteria. The discharge comes from glands in the cervix, and is slightly acidic, which helps to keep infections away. The amount of discharge will change and usually increases before your period, during any kind of sexual arousal and if you are pregnant.

If the vaginal discharge your are experiencing is a clear vaginal discharge then you are among the lucky women who have a perfectly normal vaginal discharge.

clear vaginal discharge

Clear vaginal discharge is the most common form of normal discharge. As long as there is no abnormal smell (depending on the women there may be a slight musty smell which is normal but it shouldn’t be too unpleasant) and the amount of discharge would be considered normal then you have nothing to worry about. The clear vaginal discharge is a sign of a very healthy vaginal state, meaning a well-balanced pH level and a well-balanced bacteria state with a good amount of the ‘good’ bacteria Lactobacillus Acidophilus.

There are many different types of vaginal discharge. Green, yellow, brown and white and all them will need some sort of treatment or medical intervention. A clear vaginal discharge on the other hand will need no treatment. The clear discharge could be watery or more like mucus and stretchy. All you need to do is maintain your healthy lifestyle. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of water.

Here’s to your good health.

Helen Walker

Posted in Clear Vaginal Discharge | Tagged clear vaginal discharge, thick clear vaginal discharge | Comments Off

Normal vaginal Discharge Facts

Posted on August 3, 2011 by juliadawson

Every woman experiences some sort of vaginal discharge and the amount of mucus produced and the odor will vary from women to women. It’s the body’s way of keeping the vagina clean. It is also slightly acidic which will help fight of infections. You will get to know your own body very well and it will be easy to tell a change in your discharge that may need to be checked out. A normal vaginal discharge will be clear or white in color and can vary in consistency to very thin and watery during the middle of the cycle to slight thicker and stretchy at the beginning and end of the cycle.

A normal vaginal discharge can change due to sexual excitement, stress and diet. Be sure to eat well, drink plenty of water and keep your personal hygiene in good order.

So what exactly is a normal vaginal discharge?

Clear stretchy discharge. Will be quite normal especially for women of menstrual age. In fact this type of discharge signifies fertility. It will have the consistency of egg white and looks quite like it. The normal vaginal discharge will have no odor.

White vaginal discharge. A white vaginal discharge will more often than not be perfectly normal especially at the beginning and end of the menstrual cycle. Care must be taken as if the white discharge becomes thicker and cottage cheese like then this could signify a yeast infection will which need treatment.

Brown vaginal discharge. A brown vaginal discharge can again be quite normal. Towards the end of the menstrual cycle you may get a brown discharge and all this will be will old blood. As the blood ages it turns from red to brown.

yellow vaginal discharge. A yellow vaginal discharge can be confusing. A normal vaginal discharge can become yellow when it dries on clothes. This will normally be a pale yellow color. Any bright or deep yellow discharge must be investigated.

The most important thing I can say about whether or not your discharge is normal or not is how you feel yourself. If you feel your discharge is anything but normal then you need to get yourself checked out by your doctor.

White Vaginal Discharge Facts

Posted on July 19, 2011 by juliadawson

Ok so in this post I’m going to share with you everything I know about white vaginal discharge. So should you really be worrying if you have a white vaginal discharge or is it completely normal? Well as we all know all women will have some sort of vaginal discharge and in fact this discharge is essential in keeping the vagina clean and removing unwanted bacteria and dead cells. But what about color and smell?

There are two things to note about a white vaginal discharge. 1. It can be completely normal. 2, it could be a yeast infection.

And it really isn’t that difficult to work out which is which. If you are unlucky enough to have a yeast infection the white vaginal discharge will be very thick almost cottage cheese like, it may have a musty smell and usually you will have some associated itching along with the discharge. Every women’s vagina will have a certain amount of yeast fungus but if it is allowed to grow an there becomes too much of it a yeast infection will be experienced. There are various reasons the yeast fungus develops from staying hot and sweaty for a long time or continuously, being pregnant, having diabetes. Some women will experience repeated yeast infections for no apparent reason at all. One thing to be assured you does not get a yeast infection from a sexual partner.

If you do have a yeast infection there’s no need to worry treatment is usually quick painless taking oral tablets and inserting medication directly in to the vagina. You can insert cream or a tablet via an applicator normally at bedtime for it to work through the night. The treatment usually lasts between 3 and 7 days and you can get over the counter varieties or prescription.

A normal white vaginal discharge will be a cloudy white color if not clear but when dried on clothing it will become yellowish, it will normally be thin and stringy in consistency. There are many things that will effect the vaginal discharge and its color and consistency including sexual arousal (I’m sure you would be aware of this), unwanted stress or emotional changes, pregnancy, your diet (the food you eat) and medication. Basically anything you put in to your body will have an effect on what comes out of it in the way of vaginal discharge.

Including menstrual cycle, emotional stressors, nutritional status, pregnancy, usage of medications – including birth control pills, and sexual arousal.

white vaginal discharge

It’s easy to get confused with your vaginal discharge and start to worry. Nobody will know your own body like you do. Try and be aware of your discharge so it is easy to spot when things change. What ever causes your white vaginal discharge don’t worry.

yeast infection white vaginal discharge

Posted in White Vaginal Discharge | Tagged clumpy white vaginal discharge, creamy white vaginal discharge, milky white vaginal discharge, thick white vaginal discharge, white vaginal discharge, white vaginal discharge pregnancy | Comments Off

Green Vaginal Discharge Facts

Posted on June 30, 2011 by juliadawson

Green vaginal discharge facts

Having a certain amount of vaginal discharge, or fluids that flow out of your vaginal opening, is normal. You can’t expect to never have any discharge, because some discharge is used to help keep your vagina clean. It is usually a clear color or a milky white, and it doesn’t have a foul odor. Do you have a green vaginal discharge?

If you have any discharge that is not a milky white color or clear and it smells bad or it is accompanied with itchiness, pain, or burning this can be a sign of an infection or maybe even a serious disorder.

Green vaginal discharge is usually normally caused by a sexually transmitted infection that is known as Trichomoniasis. It has a very foul odor that is associated with the fluid and it usually ends up becoming a yellowish-greenish color rather than a pure green color. Urination and intercourse both may cause discomfort and your genital area may be itchy as. You can also get pelvic pain from this discharge, but it is very uncommon.

Another possible cause of your green vaginal discharge may be from Gonorrhea or Chlamydia. But if it is because of one of those, the discharge is typically more yellowish than green, and it could also be cloudy as well. If it is associated with bacterial vaginosis, then it is often more white, and the odor is very foul. You may also have this smelly, green discharge if there is a foreign object in your vagina, such as an old tampon that was never properly removed.

The cause of the green vaginal discharge can easily be diagnosed by taking a sample of your discharge. Tests can then be taken for all the sexually transmitted infections, such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and bacterial vaginosis. These are all curable infections as long as you are given the proper antibiotic therapy. If the cause is a foreign body, then it will need to be removed immediately and then antibiotics may need to be used in order to treat any potential infection in the vagina.

If your green vaginal discharge is associated with a high fever (anything above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, change in mental status, confusion, severe nausea, vomiting, severe adnominal pain, severe pelvic pain, or a weak pulse, you need to seek immediate medical attention to solve the issue. Otherwise, see your doctor on what to do about the discharge.

green vaginal discharge

Posted in Green vaginal Discharge | Tagged green vaginal discharge, green vaginal discharge pregnancy, light green vaginal discharge, thick green vaginal discharge, yellow green vaginal discharge | Comments Off

Dark Brown Vaginal Discharge

Posted on June 28, 2011 by juliadawson

Brown Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal discharge is a very common process occurring in women after she reaches adoloscent stage. It is a natural process which helps to discharge the excess secretions from the secretory glands of cervix to protect the women from infection and shed off odd cells. The color, odour and amount of discharge varies with the menstruation and reproductive cycle of a woman. But what about a brown vaginal discharge?

White or red vaginal discharge is quite common but a dark brown vaginal discharge can be a matter of concern. It is a old blood that is left in the vaginal walls or due to the transformation of the red cells into brown due to delay in their discharge. Also if the discharge is accompanied with pain, vaginal dryness, itching , rash, burning, hot to touch, loss of appetite, pain with intercourse, frequent urination, infertility and others then its recommended to consult a doctor. A check up with the doctor is always recommended.

Causes And Symptoms Of Discharge

Ø Vulvovaginitis is a vaginal infection that causes painful urination and burning sensation. Fungal and yeast infection occuring due to unhygenic conditions or lifestyles can result in vulvovagnitis.

Ø Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the bacteria that cause brownish vaginal discharge but may not have PID. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a bacterial infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries caused by the spread of these two viruses.

Ø Genital warts is a STD causing soft warts also causes a brownish vaginal discharge along with vaginal bleeding. Human papilloma virus (HPV) causes so.

Ø If two conditions combine together like HPV and herpes then it ups the odds for cervical cancer. A continuous watery brown, pink, bloody discharge with a foul smell may indicate cervical cancer.

Ø Pill-related infections can cause such discharges too. Perimenopause or menopause can also contribute to it.

Ø Little inflamed spot on the cervix known as cervical erosion can also cause so and doctor should be seen in such cases.

Ø Any infection, hormonal imbalance, some disease, vaginal injury or vaginal disorder or rough sexual lovemaking can also cause the complications of brown vaginal discharge.

Effective treatments can be prescription and visit to a doctor, medication, surgery, dietary supplements, a pap smear and other medical testing can be carried out by th doctor of vaginal health clinic.

What I will say is try not to worry, assess the color, smell and consistency of the discharge to try to determine the cause. There are good treatments available for all vaginal health complaints and if you take the right steps you will quickly be on the road to a healthy vagina.

Posted in Brown Vaginal Discharge | Tagged brown vaginal discharge, brown vaginal discharge pregnancy, dark brown vaginal discharge, light brown vaginal discharge, red brown vaginal discharge | Comments Off

Yellow Vaginal Discharge Facts

Posted on June 11, 2011 by juliadawson

Yellow vaginal discharge as with any other vaginal discharge should be identified as soon as possible. Try to distinguish the color, consistency and odor of the discharge. Is it really a yellow discharge Vaginal discharge. Is it bright yellow or is it thick or watery, does it have a strong of fishy odor. These are all questions you should ask yourself to determine what the causes of the problem could be. Yellow vaginal discharge is not necessarily a bad thing but you must make the right decisions on treatments.

As you will already know it is important for the vagina to keep clean and secreting unwanted fluids is one way of doing this. The color, type and smell of the discharge will determine your response. A normal vaginal discharge would be clear may be a little white depending on the time of month, it becomes more white and a little bit thicker at the beginning and end of your menstral cycle.

yellow vaginal discharge

So my number one tip is to identify the vaginal discharge by its color, consistency and odor as soon as you can.

So you have identified a yellow vaginal discharge what next. Well there are a few main causes of yellow vaginal discharge. One is Gonorrhoea caused by the gonococcus bacterium. The normal symptoms for Gonorrhoea are a bad smelling yellow or sometime greenish discharge maybe some discomfort during sexual intercourse and occasionally lower abdominal pain. It must be noted though that some women will have no symptoms at all so it can be difficult to diagnose. The problem with Gonorrhoea is that left untreated it can spread in to the Fallopian tubes and cause infertility problems. I am not trying to worry you here and Gonorrhoea is not the only cause of a yellow vaginal discharge. Sometimes diagnosing over the internet is not the best thing to do and it can get you worried unnecessarily.

The second possibility is Trichomoniasis, this is not that common but can produce a yellow discharge and make the vulva sensitive, itchy and some what sore

Another likely cause of a yellow vaginal discharge is Bacterial Vaginosis. Although BV is more commonly linked to a grayish watery discharge it can also at times be yellow. This will come along with a fishy odor that is at its strongest after sexual intercourse. Sometimes burning, itching and general irritation occur.

Other lesser causes of a yellow vaginal discharge are Cervicitis, Vulvovaginitis and Chlamydia.

As you can see deciding the exact cause of the yellow vaginal discharge can be tricky and as always a trip to the doctors may be your best bet. I have added some general advice to bear in mind to keep your vagina as healthy as possible below.

Change your sanitary pads, towels or tampons regularly during your period. After using the toilet always wipe from front to back this will stop the spread of bacteria. Salt water baths work wonders, salt is a natural healer. Add salt to your bath water or just bath your vagina in salted water. Do not use strong scented bubble bath, shower gel or soap. These can cause extra irritation as can any for of disinfectant in the bath. Stick to unscented and soaps labelled for sensitive skin. Do not use any type of deodorant around the vagina. Do not douche, the vagina doesn’t require cleaning inside it is perfectly good at doing that by itself. Do not wear overly tight or nylon underwear, try to stick to natural fibers such as cotton and where practical wear nothing at all to allow your vagina to breath.

A visit to the doctor for a check over is always a good idea. Even if you think there’s not too much to worry about. Getting a quick check over can put your mind at rest and you never know that discharge may be caused by an underlying problem that you hadn’t thought about or realised.

The examination will consist of the doctor asking you a number of questions about your general health and sexual activity. Usually the doctor will then have a look at your vagina/vulva. They will insert a speculum which is a small plastic hollow tube in to the vagina to enable them to see inside and take a swab of the yellow vaginal discharge. Most sexual health clinics can provide results there and then after examination under a microscope. Your local GP doctor will more than likely have to send and samples of to the labs which may take a few days to get the results back.

What ever the cause of your yellow vaginal discharge please do not worry. Get yourself checked out by a doctor and get yourself on the road to recovery.

Good Luck.

Posted in Yellow Vaginal Discharge | Tagged bright yellow vaginal discharge, thick yellow vaginal discharge, yellow vaginal discharge, yellow vaginal discharge pregnancy | Comments Off

Causes Of Vaginal Discharge

Posted on May 23, 2011 by juliadawson

vaginal discharge

Vaginal discharge is entirely natural, and in most cases it’s a sign of healthy body. Normal vaginal discharge is usually clear or milky white and doesn’t have a noticeable odor, but it’s when these normalities change that you are likely to need to arrange a trip to your doctor.

The glands inside your vagina and cervix make small amounts of fluid every day, and this fluid flows out of the vagina, carrying with it old cells that have lined the vagina. This process cleans your body, keeping your vagina balanced and healthy.

Slight changes in vaginal discharge are also entirely normal, with it likely to fluctuate in thickness and quantity every month. For example, discharge is usually thicker and more like an egg-white consistency when you ovulate, breastfeed or get sexually aroused.

One thing that isn’t normal, however, is a sudden change in smell or color. For example, a sign of a yeast infection is for your vaginal discharge to start to smell bad, increase in quantity and become like a white ‘cottage cheese’ consistency. Usually this particular symptom is also accompanied by itchiness and a red or inflamed vulva.

vaginal discharge info

The sudden change in your vagina’s health occurs if the healthy balance of bacteria is disturbed. This disruption can be caused by a number of factors, from sexually transmitted infections to feminine hygiene, like scented sprays, soaps, bubble baths and douching, as well as antibiotics, pregnancy or diabetes.

Bacterial vaginosis usually presents symptoms such as a white, gray or yellow vaginal discharge that smells bad. The cause is unknown, but using soaps, sprays, bubble baths and antibiotics are the main noticeable contributory factors, much as it is with a Yeast Infection (commonly known as Thrush).

A bubbly, watery, yellow vaginal discharge or green vaginal discharge is usually associated with Trichomoniasis – an infection usually caught during unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. Symptoms can take a while to develop, but it is easily treated with antibiotics.

Brown vaginal discharge is usually a form of blood discharge, and can be relatively common amongst women, especially if it follows a period. It can also be a sign of ovulation, or can follow sexual intercourse or childbirth. However, brown vaginal discharge can also be symptomatic of cervical erosion, infection (such as pelvic inflammatory disease, genital warts, gonorrhea and chlamydia), and even cervical cancer. For all of these more serious causes it’s likely the brown or bloody vaginal discharge will be prolonged, and if this is the case then you need to get yourself down to your doctor asap.
Lastly, clear vaginal discharge is usually normal, but if it is suddenly very watery then it could be a sign that you’re pregnant. Cervical and vaginal discharge can change a lot when you fall pregnant, and vaginal discharge can change so much as a woman on a daily basis that it’s sometimes hard to keep up! Remember that smell is also a tell-tale sign, and that if you suspect something is wrong or ‘different’ then it’s a good idea to get yourself checked out, even if it’s just to put your mind at ease.

normal vaginal discharge

Posted in Vaginal Discharge | Tagged abnormal vaginal discharge, causes of vaginal discharge, excess vaginal discharge, increase vaginal discharge, normal vaginal discharge, thick vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge odor | Comments Off

Vaginal Discharge