Vaginal discharge is a natural bodily function that plays a vital role in maintaining vaginal health by cleansing, moisturizing, and preventing infections. Its color, consistency, and amount can change throughout the menstrual cycle, providing important clues about reproductive health.
Understanding the difference between normal white discharge and abnormal discharge can help you identify potential health issues.
What is Vaginal Discharge Meaning?
Vaginal discharge is a natural bodily function that plays an essential role in maintaining vaginal health. It helps to cleanse, lubricate, and prevent infections by flushing out old cells and bacteria. The consistency, color, and amount of discharge can vary throughout the menstrual cycle and can also change due to various factors such as hormonal fluctuations, infections, or underlying health conditions.
Normal white discharge is typically clear or white, odorless, and present in small quantities. It can vary slightly in consistency during different times of the menstrual cycle. When discharge deviates from these normal characteristics, it may indicate an infection or other health issue that requires attention.
NORMAL WHITE DISCHARGE
When it is a normal white discharge, it consists of the vaginal gland secretion, cervical gland secretion, endocervical mucus or the presence of good bacteria in the vagina inducing the discharge. Normal vaginal secretion is natural as it cleans up, lubricates and acts as a defense mechanism against various infections.
The menstrual cycle also increases the amount of fluid secretion that comes out of the vagina. During the period of egg maturation and ovulation, there is normally an increase in white discharge, while the consistency thickens after the ovulation period.
HOW TO KNOW IF IT’S NORMAL?
Basically there are several indications to find out if the white discharge is normal:
- White discharge is in liquid (aqueous) form
- Clear or slightly white in color
- Secretion in small quantities
- Discharge is odorless
- Does not cause any itching or pain
CAUSES FOR ABNORMAL WHITE DISCHARGE
Several conditions of a woman’s physical and psychological condition cause an abnormal white discharge:
- Poor hygiene of the vaginal region
- Prolonged use of drugs like antibiotics
- Continuous stress
- Infections caused by bacteria, Trichomonas parasite, Candida fungi, Viruses (HIV, Herpes), and sexual diseases like gonorrhea
- Due to cervical cancer
FEATURES OF ABNORMAL WHITE DISCHARGE
- Sticky consistency (viscous) form
- Milky white, yellow or light green in color
- Secretion in large quantities
- Blood spots
- Bad odor
- Causes genital itching and pain
When you see the above changes in the white discharge, you need to immediately approach a fertility doctor. If not managed properly, the infection will spread to the upper reproductive systems resulting in inflammation, clogging of tubes and channels of the reproductive system, finally leading to health hazards, infertility and sterility.
HOW TO TREAT ABNORMAL WHITE DISCHARGE?
The abnormal white discharge can be controlled by adopting certain steps like keeping the vaginal area clean and hygienic. Avoid common bathrooms and pools, use cotton underwear that fits instead of tight-fitting ones, and try to be as stress-free as possible.
If the above steps are not effective, then approach a fertility hospital who will prescribe medicines based on the cause of the white discharge. Even after that if the white discharge continues, then it may be due to some serious underlying condition and requires immediate investigation.
