Vaginal discharge is usually a normal and frequent phenomenon. However, there are certain types of discharge that can be a sign of an infection. Abnormal discharge may be yellow or green, thick or foul-smelling. This article helps to provide all the information about vaginal discharge that you have. Let’s find out how to get rid of smelly discharge in this article!
Contents
What is vaginal discharge?
Vaginal discharge is usually a normal and frequent phenomenon. However, there are certain types of discharge that can be a sign of an infection. Abnormal discharge may be yellow or green, thick or foul-smelling.
Yeast or bacterial infections often cause abnormal discharge. If you notice any discharge that looks unusual or smells bad, sees your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Types of vaginal discharge
There are several different types of vaginal discharge. These types are classified based on their color and consistency. Some types of discharge are normal. Others may indicate an underlying condition that needs treatment.
White
A slight white discharge, especially at the beginning or end of your period, is normal. However, if the discharge is accompanied by itching and is thick or cheese-like, it is not normal and needs to be treated. This type of discharge could be a sign of a yeast infection.
Clear and dilute
Clear and thin discharge is completely normal. It can happen at any time of the month. It can be especially heavy after exercise.
Clear and solid
When the discharge is clear but thick and looks like mucus rather than water, it means you’re likely ovulating. This is a normal discharge pattern.
Brown or blood
Brown or bloody discharge is usually normal, especially when it occurs during or right after your menstrual cycle. Late discharge at the end of your period may be brown instead of red. You may also experience some bleeding between periods. This is called spotting.
If spotting occurs during the normal time of your period and you recently had unprotected sex, this could be a sign of pregnancy. Bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy can be a sign of miscarriage, so you should discuss it with your gynecologist.
Yellow or green
In rare cases, brown or bloody discharge can be a sign of endometrial or cervical cancer. It could be other problems like fibroids or other abnormal tumors. This is why it’s important to have an annual pelvic exam and a cervical cytology test. Your gynecologist will check for abnormalities in the cervix during these procedures.
It’s not normal for a discharge to be yellow or green, especially when it’s thick, chewy, or accompanied by an unpleasant odor. This type of discharge could be a sign of a trichomoniasis infection. It is usually spread through sexual contact.
Causes of vaginal discharge?
Normal vaginal discharge is a healthy bodily function. It’s your body’s way of cleaning and protecting your vagina. Example: It is normal for discharge to increase with sexual arousal and ovulation. Exercise, oral contraceptive use, and emotional stress can also lead to discharge.
However, abnormal vaginal discharge is usually caused by an infection.
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is a fairly common bacterial infection. It causes increased vaginal discharge that has a strong odor, and is sometimes fishy, although it causes no symptoms in some cases. Women who have oral sex or have multiple sex partners have a higher risk of contracting this infection.
Trichomonas
Trichomonas is another type of infection. It is caused by a single-celled organism or a single-celled organism. The infection is usually spread through sexual contact, but it can also be acquired by sharing towels or bathing suits. It results in a yellow or green discharge with a foul odor. Pain, inflammation, and itching are also common symptoms, although some people do not experience any symptoms.
Fungal infections
Yeast infection is a fungal infection that produces a white, cheese-like discharge, along with itching and burning sensation. The presence of yeast in the vagina is normal, but its growth can multiply out of control in certain cases. The following may increase the likelihood of a yeast infection:
- Stress
- Diabetes
- Using birth control pills
- Pregnancy
- Antibiotics, especially if used for more than 10 days
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can cause abnormal discharge. It is usually yellow, green, or opaque.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection that is usually spread during sex. It occurs when bacteria spread up the vagina and into other reproductive organs. It can produce a heavy, foul-smelling discharge.
HPV or cervical cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is spread through sexual contact. It can lead to cervical cancer. Although there may be no symptoms, this type of cancer can produce bloody, brown, or watery discharge with an unpleasant odor. Cervical cancer can be easily screened with an annual Pap smear and an HPV test.
What’s the reason for the smelly discharge?
In a normal state, discharge is usually white or clear, slightly fishy. However, when the intimate area is attacked by agents such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses will cause certain gynecological infections. At that time, the disease usually manifests itself through the color, smell, state of the discharge, and a few other symptoms.
Bad-smelling discharge is often accompanied by other signs such as Unusual vaginal discharge, and itching in the private area. This is a symptom that women are having some health problems, typically gynecological infections. As follows:
The discharge is foul-smelling, white, thick, and squishy like peas. Accompanied by signs of vaginal itching, there is a high chance that you are suffering from a vaginal yeast infection caused by Candida fungus.
Vaginal discharge with a bad smell, thin, white or yellow, foamy, itchy, and uncomfortable is a manifestation of vaginitis caused by Trichomonas infection.
Vaginal discharge is foul and grayish-white in color, with a lot of secretions, which is a manifestation of bacterial vaginosis.
Vaginal discharge with a bad smell, a lot of discharge and cause vaginal itching, burning pain when urinating, and abdominal pain when menstruation occurs is a manifestation of Vaginitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria.
Fishy, yellow, or purulent discharge with vaginal itching and pain during sex is a warning symptom of acute vaginitis, a foreign body in the vagina, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, cervicitis, or inflammation of the cervix. cervical gland.
Bad breath, fishy, a lot of discharge, and brown color are often caused by women using hormonal drugs that cause increased vaginal mucus.
The most dangerous is the case of foul-smelling discharge with blood, but not during the menstrual cycle. Besides, women often feel dull abdominal pain for no apparent reason. This can be a warning sign of cervical cancer, uterine fibroids, or cervical polyps that cannot be ignored.
In addition to the above diseases, bad-smelling discharge can come from other causes such as Excessive sweating, using tampons for a long time without changing, and cleaning the private area too little.
Measures to prevent and treat smelly discharge
Regardless of the cause, foul-smelling discharge, if not treated early and thoroughly, can easily lead to many other complications, such as Blocked fallopian tubes, infertility, infertility, and endometritis. Therefore, you should go to the doctor and get treatment promptly.
It should be noted that women should not arbitrarily buy and use drugs, instead need to go to a doctor to find out the exact cause of the disease. Besides, it is necessary to use the drug according to the doctor’s prescription, not to stop halfway, and not to increase or decrease the dose arbitrarily, which will make the disease more likely to become chronic.
In addition, in order to no longer have smelly discharge, women need to pay attention to the following:
Wear sweat-wicking, breathable cotton underwear. Do not wear tight underwear.
Change underwear and clean the intimate area at least once a day.
Do not arbitrarily douche the vagina. This makes it easy for bacteria to enter the vagina and cause disease.
Use clean water to clean the vaginal area.
Choose suitable cleaning solutions, do not use chemical products such as soap, shampoo, or shower gel to avoid an imbalance of vaginal pH.
Keep the intimate area clean, and proper during menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and before and after sex.
Maintain a scientific diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and yogurt.
Avoid stress, staying up at night, or overwork.
Final thought
Bad-smelling discharge is a warning sign of gynecological infection or many other dangerous gynecological diseases, if not treated early and thoroughly, it will lead to infertility, infertility, and even cervical cancer. In particular, cervical cancer tends to increase, and rejuvenate, the disease is often detected at a late stage because patients are subject to common signs such as smelly discharge, leading to difficulties in treatment.
Top News hopes this article can help you learn more about how to get rid of smelly discharge and wishes your health condition is always good!
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