Vaginal discharge and change in colour, smell or consistency = problem?

However, discharge abnormalities can indicate various diseases of the female genital organs. In more than one case, these diseases lead to permanent consequences, such as sterility - infertility.

Anatomy of the vagina, its vulnerable location

The vagina is a muscular organ of the female reproductive system.

Its mucous membrane is made up of multi-layered squamous epithelium and covered with a layer of mucus produced by the glands of the cervix. It is a kind of link between the uterus and the external female genital tract.

At the top, where the uterus passes into the vagina, is the cervix uteri.

In front of the vagina is the urethra and behind it the anus.

This location of the various outlets makes the vagina very vulnerable to various inflammatory processes.

This makes it a potential gateway for infections. The risk is increased by poor hygiene, and it doesn't stop there.

The next chapter is sexually transmitted diseases from unprotected intercourse or changing sexual partners.

Read also the articles:
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer prevention

Why does discharge form in the vagina?

The vaginal mucosa is moisturized throughout a woman's life.

This cervicovaginal secretion or its residue contains white blood cells (lymphocytes) and is part of the antimicrobial fluoride of the vagina. This, together with estrogens, an acidic pH below 4.5 and the natural microorganisms in the vagina (Lactobacilus vaginalis), forms a kind of protective barrier against infection.

The secretion goes out of the vagina. This is observed externally as a white slimy discharge that appears on the panties.

This is a physiological phenomenon.

Changes in color, consistency or odor indicate a pathological (disease) process in the vagina.

The discharge is white or translucent in colour, of a thinner mucous consistency. In a healthy woman it does not smell, or it may have a slightly unpleasant odour.

However, the assessment of odour is very individual.
It depends mainly on the subjective perception of the individual.

Vaginal discharge is judged on the basis of three aspects:

1. colour
2. consistency
3. odour

Causes of weakening of the vaginal barrier

The vagina has a natural protective barrier that protects it from infection. However, this barrier can be disrupted and weakened for various reasons.

A weakened vaginal fluoride is thus unable to fulfil its function and there is a greater risk of infection.

The most common causes of the breakdown of the vaginal barrier

1. pH changes in the vagina (vaginal rinses, spermicidal gels, chlorine water)
2. pathological processes in the vagina (malignant and benign tumours, inflammation)
3. foreign bodies in the vagina (IUD, tampons, sexual aids)
4. inappropriate clothing (thongs, tight, tight-fitting or wet underwear, latex)
5. mechanical irritation (hard and regular sex, mechanical irritation with sex toys)
6. stressful situations (permanent stress, acute severe trauma, psychological illness)
7. poor hygiene and recurrent inflammation
8. general weakening of immunity (oncological diseases, patients in transplantation programmes, chronic viruses)
9. immunodeficiency diseases (AIDS)
10. immunosuppressive treatment (cytostatics, cyclosporine)
11. hormonal treatment (contraceptives, increased amounts of estrogens)
12. hormonal fluctuations (puberty, pregnancy, menopause)
13. antibiotic treatment (broad-spectrum antibiotics mainly from the tetracycline series, ampicillin)
14. allergic reactions (tampon, vaginally administered drugs, stimulating gels)
15. other diseases (oncological diseases, diabetes mellitus)

When to seek medical help

Regular gynaecological examinations are most important. They allow the doctor to examine the female organs at regular intervals and to diagnose various diseases in time. Despite constant reminders from gynaecologists, some women may ignore these examinations.

They only get to the doctor when a problem arises.

Vaginal discharge and its pathology

One of the most common reasons for this is the vaginal discharge mentioned above. A woman notices an unnaturally increased secretion, an abnormal consistency, a different colour than before and often an unpleasant smell.

The smell, which is felt not only by the woman herself but also by her surroundings, brings most women to the gynaecologist.

• The colour of the discharge is normally translucent to milky white.
  The discharge is slimy and shiny.
  Under pathological circumstances, it is coloured:
  • grey
  • is yellowish
  • yellow
  • yellow-green
  • or green
• The consistency is thinner, mostly mucous.
  In pathological process, the discharge tends to be thicker to very thick with small lumps resembling cottage cheese.
  In other cases, it is thin to frothy.
• The smell varies in vaginal inflammation.
  It is rarely mild, but usually unpleasant.
  It may smell sour (a slightly sour smell may also have a physiological fluorine), putrid or fishy. This is common in lactobacillosis or syphilis.

Manifestations occurring along with the discharge

Discharge tends to be associated with other health problems.

Most often, it is an unpleasant itching of the vagina to the external genital organs.
An inflamed vagina tends to be red, swollen and swollen.

The inflammation spreads to the external genitalia.

Excessive secretion, erosion, sores, painful wounds, which worsen with constant scratching. There is burning and soreness of the vagina and lower abdomen.

As the inflammation spreads, urinary tract infections also occur - urinary tract infections are manifested by burning and cutting when urinating, frequent urination in small amounts sometimes with admixture of blood or pus in the urine, and abdominal pain.

TIP: Blood in the urine.

Some women's diseases are also manifested by general symptoms such as weakness, malaise, fatigue, nausea, increased body temperature.

Local symptoms include, for example, hard and soft sores in syphilis, or blisters filled with clear fluid, boils, sores or genital warts in genital herpes.

The symptoms depend on the causative agent.

What diseases do abnormal vaginal discharge signal us?

Abnormal vaginal discharge is always a serious symptom. It indicates to us a disease of the vagina or other diseases of the female genital organs.

Any infection of these sensitive sites poses a risk, because of the consequences and possible sterility when the disease is left untreated. Infertility or sterility is the cause of psychological problems in affected women, a trigger for depression and in some cases even suicide.

The most common diseases manifested by vaginal discharge

Diseases causing discharge have different causative agents.

These include bacteria, viruses, fungi or even parasites.

The most common disease in women, which causes fluoride abnormalities and is quite widespread for a fairly active sex life of young women, is an infection caused by chlamydia (yeast).

Discharges caused by fungi (yeast, mycoses)

Vaginal mycosis - the causative agent of this fungal disease of the vagina is the yeast Candida albicans. This is part of the vaginal microflora. When the vaginal microflora is disturbed, it causes problems.

The disruption occurs, for example, in stressful situations, due to hormonal changes (pregnancy, hormone therapy or its withdrawal), with long-term use of antibiotics, improper hygiene or changing sexual partners.

Mycosis causes weakening and thus susceptibility to other infections, for example bacterial infections.
Therefore, it is often combined. The appearance of the discharge also depends on this.

Discharges caused by bacteria

1. Chlamydia cervicitis - the causative agent is Chlamydia trachomatis.

Infection occurs through sexual intercourse.

The bacterium primarily settles on the mucous membrane of the cervix, from where it spreads to the surrounding area. The course of the disease may be asymptomatic.

The most typical manifestations include prolonged discharge of a creamy consistency of yellow to brown colour, sometimes with a hint of green colour. Spotting - trace bleeding, spotting is present.

2. Chlamydial endometritis (inflammation of the uterine mucosa) - the provoker of the disease is Chlamydia trachomatis.

The disease occurs through sexual intercourse, when the bacteria spread from the cervix to its mucous membrane.

Often it is asymptomatic or manifests itself only with mild pelvic pain. Less often there is a discharge in large quantities, strongly acidic, sometimes even putrid smelling.

Fluoride is yellowish to slightly brownish in colour.

3. Chlamydial adnexitis (inflammation of the ovaries) - the provoker of the disease is Chlamydia trachomatis.

The infection is the result of the spread of the primary infection from the cervix and from the uterus to the ovaries. It is characterized by a purulent, foul-smelling discharge of yellow colour.

Spotting is also present. Pain in the ovarian region intensifies with movement or intercourse.

4. Lactobacillosis and cytolytic vaginosis - the causative agent of these diseases is a bacterium naturally occurring in the vagina, Lactobacillus species.

The diseases arise when this bacterium overgrows in the vagina as a result of various factors.

They are often confused with chlamydial infections. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish them and treat them correctly. Both diseases are manifested by a white thick discharge with the presence of lumps. Its quantity is higher than usual. It is odourless or with a slightly sour smell.

5. Bacterial vaginosis - the provoker of the disease is most often Gardnerella vaginalis or, to a lesser extent, Bacteroides mobiluncus.

It is typically manifested by soreness, burning or itching in the vagina.

The vagina produces a copious amount of thin white to grey discharge. It smells strongly of fish, which is reminiscent of the discharge in syphilis.

The discharge intensifies after sexual intercourse.

6. Bacterial vaginitis - the causative agents of the disease are streptococci or staphylococci.

Most often it is Streptococcus agalactiae or hemolytic streptococcus. Less often, the cause may be Staphylococcus aureus.

These bacteria cause severe inflammation, which is accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen. Often urinary tract inflammation with pain during urination is also present.

The vaginal discharge is purulent and smells putrid or strongly sour. It is yellow to yellow-green in colour and thicker.

7. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

It is a disease that can persist in the body asymptomatically for decades.

It is characterised by rubbery bumps forming in the vagina and rectum and later ulcerated formations on the body. It is the inability of the immune system to counteract the infection.

In addition, it is manifested by a wide range of symptoms and one of them may be a grayish-colored discharge typically smelling of fish.

8. Gonorrhea - the causative agent of the disease is Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The disease is transmitted through sexual contact.

It causes severe inflammation of the female genital organs, which is manifested by pain and also painful urination. The bacteria and its toxins cause a thick purulent and yellow-green discharge. It comes out through the vagina in large quantities and is thick.

Discharges caused by viruses

• Herpes genitalis
  • The causative agent of the disease is the herpes simplex virus HSV 2, sporadically HSV 1.
  • The virus is transmitted by sexual contact and causes herpetic seeding of maculo-papulo-vesicular vesicles filled with clear fluid.
  • The external genital area is very painful, sensitive, wet and bleeding.
  • Genital herpes is not a typical discharge, but rather a wetting and bleeding of ruptured vesicles, which leaves marks on the underwear.

Discharges caused by parasites

• Trichomoniasis
  • The causative agent of the disease is the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis.
  • It enters the body of the host through sexual intercourse and is therefore a sexually transmitted disease.
  • This flagellate is the causative agent of both genital and urinary tract diseases.
  • When it inhabits the vagina, it causes itching, soreness in the lower abdomen, painful urination.
  • The discharge is yellow-green and foaming is typical of the disease.

Treatment of vaginal discharge

Treatment depends on the causative agent (microorganism, causative agent). In some cases, vaginal lavage and hygiene are enough.

Bacterial inflammations require treatment with antibiotics, viral antivirals, other antiseptics or galenic preparations. Pharmacological preparations are countless in the form of tablets, suppositories, ointments, tinctures or sprays.

Most important of all, however, is a visit to the gynecologist, a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis and the correct treatment of the individual patient. The therapy includes a movement-free resting regime, hygiene and check-ups.

Warning:
Sexual abstinence is necessary during the disease and treatment = days and nights without sexual intercourse.