Vaginal discharge has confused our generations and made our young girls confused towards what vaginal discharge is, due to what they have read in the internet and what some doctors, nurses, have told them. Their minds are filled with questions such as; is vaginal discharge a sign of an infection? Or is vaginal discharge an infection itself? In this article will be telling us briefly what vaginal discharge is all about.
What is vaginal Discharge?
Vaginal
discharges are secretions which are produced by the glands of the vaginal wall
and cervix that drain from the vaginal orifice or opening. The fluid carries
dead cells and bacteria out of the body, and vaginal discharge helps keep the
vagina clean and prevent infections.
We
should also note that vaginal discharge can occur on it’s own and also it can
occur when itching i.e. most times when it is occurring abnormally. Girls often
think that when its accompanied with itching then one can say she has infection
, but nevertheless it is not so.
Some of the factors that can cause normal vaginal discharge;
· 🍅 Ovulation:
during ovulation (i.e. the release of egg from your ovary in the middle of
menstrual cycle the vagina is more likely to discharge fluids.
· 🍅 Sexual
excitement: during sexual intercourse the gland of the vaginal walls tends
to secrete fluids which helps in lubricating the vagina to prevent dryness, and
makes it easy for penetration during coitus.
· 🍅 Pregnancy:
there is more discharge from the vaginal wall during pregnancy.
These
normal type of vaginal discharge can be classified as Non-Infectious Vaginal Discharge, this category of vaginal
discharge can also be influenced by factors; such as chemical irritation; like
detergents used for washing of underwear’s, some bathing soaps, use of intra
uterine device and the use of some oral contraceptive.
Different
types of infections may cause an abnormal discharge in the vagina. An abnormal
discharge means abnormal color (brown, green, etc), and odor.
Some of these factors can possibly
cause an abnormal discharge;
· 🌳Sexually
transmitted infections (STIs); such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, trichomoniasis
etc. of which I will be talking about some of these infections and how they can
cause vaginal discharge in the next part of the article.
· 🌳 Non-Sexually
transmitted infection; an example of these infection is the bacteria
vaginosis which is a normal bacteria that live in the vagina that overgrows and
causes a gray vaginal discharge and fishy odor. Bacteria vaginosis is usually
not spread by sexual contact.
· 🌳Vaginal
yeast infection; which is usually caused by a fungus called Candida
albicans.
Nature of some abnormal discharge;
If your discharge changes-for example in
smell, color, or texture – it might be a sign of infection.
Discharge Possible
cause
Smells
fishy Bacterial
Vaginosis
Thick
and white Thrush
Green,
Yellow or frothy Trichomoniasis
Yellow
With pelvic pain
or
bleeding. Chlamydia or Gonorrhea
With
blisters or sores Genital
herpes
NOTE: Normal vaginal discharge is
clear, odorless and does not come with pelvic pain
How is abnormal discharge treated?
How
you are treated will depend on what’s causing the problem. For example, yeast
infections are usually treated with antifungal medications inserted into the
vagina or taking as oral medications. Bacterial vaginosis is treated with
antibiotic pills or creams. Trichomoniasis is usually treated with the drug
metronidazole(Flagly) or Tinidazole (Tindamax).
Tips for preventing vaginal infections
· 🍎 Keep the vagina clean by washing regularly with
a gentle, mild soap and warm water.
· 🍅 Never use scented soaps and feminine products or
douche. Also avoid feminine sprays and bubble bath.
· 🍎After going to the bathroom, always wipe from
front to back to prevent bacteria from getting into the vagina and causing an
infection.
· 🍓Wear 100% cotton underpants, and avoid overly
tight clothing.
