What does it mean if there is a white discharge. Abundant (strong) discharge in women: causes, norm and pathology

The vagina has a unique structure, thanks to which it independently maintains an acidic environment inside and renews itself. To cleanse from pathogenic and dead cells, daily secreted mucus is intended. Depending on the period of the cycle, it acquires a characteristic color and texture.

White discharge in women - causes

The type of vaginal mucus in question may be a symptom of a particular set of diseases or may be indicative of the normal functioning of the reproductive system. To find out why white discharge appeared, it is important to consider several of their characteristics:

time of occurrence;
smell;
density and structure;
the presence of associated symptoms.

White discharge during pregnancy

The initial stages of gestation are accompanied by a sharp violation of the ratio of hormones and suppression immune system. White discharge during pregnancy early dates often indicate the successful introduction of a fertilized egg into the uterine epithelium and associated changes in the body. The mucus has a thick consistency, as during ovulation, it can become beige.

Sometimes white discharge from women about to become mothers is a symptom of genital infections. At conception, the activity of the immune system decreases slightly so that the rejection of the fetal egg does not occur, and sluggish inflammation can intensify, and pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, fungi, bacteria) begin to multiply rapidly. For exact definition the causes of the described phenomenon require a qualified examination.

White discharge before period

On the eve of the start of a new cycle, the vagina is preparing for renewal and is gradually cleaned. Mucus during this period, even normally, can become cloudy due to the content of the following components:

physiological transudate;
single leukocytes;
dead epithelial cells;
secret of the cervix and glandular secretions of the vaginal section of the uterus itself;
lactobacilli;
single microbes of the coccal group.

If a delay in menstruation and white discharge are observed in parallel, pregnancy is likely (in the absence of pathological symptoms). It is better to confirm or refute the fact of conception with the help of a doctor and a laboratory blood test for chorionic gonadotropin. At the earliest stages, the sensitivity of pharmacy tests is too low to obtain accurate results.

From the 13th-15th day of the menstrual cycle, the volume and viscosity of the vaginal secretions increase markedly. This is the most favorable period for, therefore, the body produces an increased amount of the corresponding hormones, which outwardly manifests itself as white discharge from the vagina. This phenomenon indicates a normal physiological state of the reproductive system, readiness to become pregnant.

If fertilization does not occur, the body automatically clears the uterus and its cervix from the excess layer of basal cells. White discharge in women at this stage is a sign of renewal of the epithelial surface. When they are odorless, do not cause discomfort and inconvenience, there is no reason to worry either. Intensive secretion will stop after 30-45 hours.

white discharge after sex

Excitation is accompanied by a strong rush of blood to the genitals, which increases the amount of mucus. Discharge in women white color immediately or some time after sexual contact are normal. They are a mixture of vaginal lubrication and male ejaculate (semen) if intimacy occurred without barrier contraception.

White discharge, odorless

Ideally, the vaginal secretion should not have any flavor, a distinct color and structure. Sometimes it can become cloudy and light beige, become thicker (during the ovulatory period), so white discharge from odorless women is considered by gynecologists as a variant of the normal state of mucus. It is important that the discoloration is not accompanied by itching or burning, redness of the labia.

Rarely abundant white odorless discharge indicates the occurrence of pathological processes associated with a change in the functioning of the hormonal system, the ratio of estrogens and androgens, the concentration of cortisol and prolactin. It is possible to find out the cause of the imbalance only on the basis of blood tests, which are directed by an endocrinologist or gynecologist.

White discharge with odor

The main disease associated with the described symptoms is candidiasis. White discharge with a sour smell is a sign of active reproduction of opportunistic fungi (thrush). The secret may be present constantly or occur periodically, be combined with other unpleasant symptoms or not be accompanied by a feeling of discomfort.

Candidiasis white discharge in women occurs for the following reasons:

long-term use of oral contraceptives;
hormonal jumps;
hygiene violations;
external infection;
prolonged antibiotic therapy;
stress;
changing of the climate;
reaction to fragrances in toilet paper or pads;
improper selection of cotton swabs;
douching;
wearing synthetic panties;
passion for diets, errors in the preparation of the diet;
independent use of vaginal tablets, suppositories and more.

Normal vaginal secretion and should not be too thick. It is well absorbed by a daily panty liner or the surface of cotton underwear, even if abundant white discharge is present. An alarming sign is the presence of a smell in the mucus and an unreasonable increase in its volume. In such situations, you need to quickly get to the gynecologist and take a vaginal smear for research. Provocateurs of liquid white discharge in women can be:

trichomonas;
chlamydia;
mycoplasmas or other microorganisms.

White thick discharge in women

Increased viscosity and density of the secret is an ambiguous symptom, indicating either problems in the reproductive system, or its normal state. White thick discharge, combined with itching, soreness, burning or a sharp odor, indicates the progression of diseases against the background of the following processes:

bacterial infections;
hormonal pathologies;
viruses;
inflammation;
flora imbalance;
venereal infections.

When white, thick, odorless discharge and other pathological signs are present, they can be regarded as the norm. If there are any aggravating factors, negative feelings, it is better to immediately go to a specialist, take a smear from the vagina and do a bacterial culture, check the state of the hormonal background and the functionality of the ovaries.

White discharge and itching in women - causes

These clinical manifestations are characteristic of the reproduction of candidal fungus. Itching and white discharge are especially pronounced in women in the middle of the cycle and immediately before the onset of menstruation. On underwear and labia, a light coating is constantly observed, which easily rolls off, like wet paper. At the same time, a sour musty smell is felt, reminiscent of spoiled milk.

White discharge in women, combined with itching, can also be provoked by such a cause as vaginosis of bacterial origin or gardnerellosis. It is an inflammatory process caused by the spread of one or more types of opportunistic bacteria into the vagina. The discharged secret smells sharp and very unpleasant, like rotten or rotting fish. Additionally, a burning sensation may be felt when visiting the toilet for a small need.

Female discharge is normal for all healthy women as long as it is colorless and does not have an unpleasant odor. Changes in the consistency, color and smell of discharge may indicate the presence of various diseases. What does white highlights mean and is there any reason for concern?

During the menstrual cycle, the vaginal discharge of a healthy woman often changes its consistency and color, but if there is an abundant white discharge, this may indicate the presence of a serious inflammatory process in the body. The change in the color of secretions (whites) is also influenced by many other factors, sometimes not directly related to health. So slight discharge of a whitish color can be observed with prolonged wear on the cervix and douching with various disinfectant solutions. Sometimes such whites occur even when wearing tight underwear and the so-called "thongs". Beli often appear with prolapse of the vaginal walls, ruptures in the perineal region and with constipation. Female discharge is often accompanied by unpleasant odors and itching of the vaginal mucosa. This condition is also characteristic of various infectious diseases.

There are also situations in which whitish discharge is not a cause for concern. In these cases, their appearance is the norm:

The appearance of white discharge after unprotected sex, due to the presence of male seminal fluid in the vagina;

Creamy, scanty whitish discharge after sex (protected and unprotected), due to the production of a large amount of vaginal lubrication;

Liquid whitish discharge, reminiscent of the color of milk, observed during pregnancy and intensifies as the term increases (they are odorless and do not cause itching in the genital area).

Very characteristic discharge (creamy or cheesy) is observed in vaginal candidiasis (thrush) caused by fungi of the genus Candida. They have a yeasty smell. A whitish discharge can also be observed with bacterial vaginosis. The short-term appearance of opaque whiteness, which passes over time, in itself becomes a reason for a visit to the gynecologist, since they may indicate the occurrence and course of various diseases in the body of a woman. The sooner the cause of their occurrence is revealed, the sooner the disease can be cured and complications prevented. Self-medication cannot be done, since similar symptoms can be in diseases caused by completely different reasons.

White discharge similar to mucus or clear discharge with whitish streaks, most often appearing at the very end of the cycle or just before menstruation, may indicate diseases such as cervicitis (an inflammatory process in the cervical canal) and cervical erosion. Mucus discharge is characteristic of all diseases associated with the cervix.

White or white-greenish and white-grayish leucorrhea with a characteristic fishy smell are characteristic of (gardnerellosis).

With various inflammatory and infectious diseases, white discharge has a sour smell. Differentiation of the diagnosis is carried out on the basis of laboratory tests and examination by a doctor.

The diagnosis is made during a gynecological examination, conducting from the vagina. In some cases, the diagnosis is made on the basis of the results of ultrasound.

Discharge of different colors, from white to yellow and brown, is one of the most common reasons for girls and young girls to visit a gynecologist and an equally popular topic for discussion on medical websites and women's forums. The lack of knowledge about the causes of white discharge on shorts leads to the fact that we begin to intensively use intimate hygiene products, self-medicate at home, having read " useful tips" on the Internet or after hearing a lot of friends. As a result, the number of used daily pads is gradually increasing, the allocation goes on and does not decrease or even increases ...

Hoping to solve the problem in this way is at least naive. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that it is not at all necessary that discharge and smell mean a problem in intimate area and are a sign of a serious illness. To begin with, you should understand which of them are the norm, and which ones may indicate a problem with the genitals.

Why does a girl have discharge?
Is it good or bad? The fact is that their education at childbearing age is the norm. They are a normal physiological phenomenon for the body. The amount and nature of the secretions and their traces in the girl's panties and, accordingly, their colors and smells depend on the composition of the vaginal microflora, which is largely determined and regulated by the hormonal background. Therefore, for different girls, the discharge goes and smells differently.

What discharge is normal

quantity - from 1 to 4 ml per day (spot diameter on a daily pad is from 1 to 5 cm);
consistency - thick;
color - from transparent to whitish;
structure - homogeneous (like not very thick sour cream) and / or small lumps;
smell - from complete absence to slightly sour;
itching, irritation - absent.

In this case, these discharges from a girl are considered the norm. Sometimes the amount of vaginal discharge may increase. This usually occurs in the following cases - during the period of ovulation, before the onset of menstruation, during pregnancy, while taking hormonal drugs, with an IUD in the uterus, with sexual arousal.

Thus, normal discharges are usually not felt by girls and they should not cause discomfort in the vulva, have an unpleasant odor and uncharacteristic color on the pad or underwear.

Discharge from virgins

Can there be discharge from virgins (brown, white-yellow, mucous with bloody inclusions), with a smell from the vagina and itching on the outside? The answer to this question is positive. The question is different - what is the nature of the discharge, its type - physiological, i.e. which is normal or pathological. What do certain discharges mean in teenage virgins at 14-16-18 years old, we described above. But if we talk about the possible reasons why vaginal discharge occurs in virgins, for example, at 20 - 25 or 30 years old, then the options may be different. This may be a violation of the vaginal microflora, hormonal failure and dysfunctional bloody secretion from the uterus. But it can also be a manifestation of a sexual infection that has got into an intimate place in one way or another (an attempt at sexual intercourse, masturbation or petting with dirty hands, the use of unclean dildos, etc.). Learn more about discharge in teenage girls at the following link, their causes and what to do if they are present.

☛ Medical advice.

With the advent of menstruation, the general recommendations for a teenage girl are the same as for an adult woman: a mandatory, once every six months, visit to a gynecologist, strict adherence to the rules of intimate and personal hygiene, and, if necessary, timely diagnosis and treatment. Allocations from virgins are also an occasion to visit a female specialist.

Bad discharge

Vaginal discharge, which causes various unpleasant sensations in a girl and is not the norm, is called "leucorrhoea".

Beli (abnormal white discharge in girls)- Excessive or unusual discharge from the genitals, causing itching, burning and a feeling of wetness. They constantly leave yellow, white-cream, brown and/or dark spots on panties or panty liners, with a specific, unpleasant odor, sometimes perceptible even at a distance. By nature they are:

abundant whites;
Brown color;
yellow, thick;
purulent and profuse;
greenish;
with an unpleasant odor, etc.

Brown discharge in girls from the vagina mean the following. Since they have such a color due to the admixture of coagulated blood, their appearance at the wrong time is almost always a symptom of some gynecological pathology. At the age of 15-16-17-18 years, they can talk about the failure of menstrual function. Dark or light brown discharge before and after menstruation can cause erosion, rupture of the ovarian capsule during ovulation, interrupted ectopic pregnancy, foreign body in the vagina, etc.

Yellow discharge (with or without odor) most often go to those girls and young women who have caught some kind of infection. They are the main symptom of colpitis - inflammation of the vagina. The reason is the entry of microbes into the genital tract, for example, trichomonads, gonococci, pathogenic mycoplasmas in association with opportunistic agents, candida. Moreover, the infection can get both sexually, including during sexual games without penetration into the vagina, and in some cases by contact-household. And the appearance of copious yellow discharge in a virgin girl does not mean that it is impossible for her to have an infectious agent!

Vaginal discharge may be the only complaint, but is more often accompanied by other symptoms of distress (pain in the lower abdomen, slight burning during urination, menstrual irregularities, pain during intimacy, etc.).

What to do, how and what to treat

Given the variety of causes that cause such symptoms, it is highly undesirable to self-medicate at home and postpone a visit to a good gynecologist. After all, for example, constant brown spotting in girls, especially outside the period of menstruation, can be a sign of inflammation in the appendages, endometriosis, or the presence of a polyp in the uterus. White curds with a smell sour milk, crumbly plaque on the external genitalia - talk about thrush. White discharge on underpants and an odor in an intimate place that resembles the smell of "stale fish" - often vaginal dysbacteriosis. Green, yellow discharge mixed with mucus and blood streaks - the presence of genital infections ...

What should be done in this case? If you have similar complaints of foul-smelling, strong discharge, discomfort in the intimate area, pain in the lower abdomen and / or when urinating, please contact our clinic. After a comprehensive study of complaints, an analysis of the possible causes of their occurrence, a full comprehensive diagnosis, our gynecologist will make the correct diagnosis, prescribe effective treatment and check the result. To determine exactly how to treat discharge and how to get rid of their marks on underpants, testing will help, which we will discuss later.

Excretion tests

What kind of examination should be done if you are concerned about "bad" discharge and smell in the intimate area? Analyzes and examination by a gynecologist in our clinic will help to identify the cause of these unpleasant phenomena and find the best way to get rid of them. To diagnose possible causative agents of inflammation, girls need to be tested for infections, namely:

Smears for flora and purity;
PCR analysis for "hidden" infections;
Bacteriological culture of the vaginal flora with the selection of antibiotics;
Florocenosis (useful analysis, given according to indications);
Blood tests (syphilis, HIV, hepatitis - according to indications);
And, of course, the inspection on the chair.

LEARN MORE ABOUT.

White discharge in women can be the norm, or it can be a symptom of the disease. In some cases, they do not bring discomfort, in others they are accompanied by itching and really spoil life. Why do whites appear?

Ovulation, second half of the menstrual cycle

Surely, many of you have noticed that the discharge increases significantly from about 12-14 days of the cycle. And this is a normal, physiological phenomenon, it is associated with ovulation. An experienced gynecologist can diagnose her only by the nature of the vaginal discharge: they become stretchy, plentiful, the color is transparent, maybe a little whitish. The increased secretion of whites in women continues, usually 1-3 days.

sexual intercourse

During intercourse and for several hours after it, a woman's amount of discharge from the vagina increases significantly. As a rule, this is an odorless white discharge that does not cause discomfort in women, does not require treatment and goes away on its own. You should not try to get rid of these physiological secretions by douching with various decoctions or medicines. Douching for a healthy woman is not recommended at all, as they can lead to disruption of the vaginal microflora and provoke candidiasis or vaginosis, we will talk about them later in the article.

Pregnancy

White discharge in women increases in the first weeks of pregnancy. It often happens that a girl does not yet know about her pregnancy and is waiting for her period, instead of them, only this kind of discharge comes, very similar to those that occur during ovulation. And the reasons for their appearance are also associated with changes in the hormonal background.

Please note that the discharge should not be brown or bloody, have an unpleasant odor or cause itching. If any of the above is present, it is necessary to go to the doctor for an examination and pass a smear on the flora from the vagina.

Diseases

The 2 diseases described below are typical for most women. But they cannot be called absolutely independent diseases; rather, they are also symptoms of trouble in the body, signs of various latent sexually transmitted infections.

Candidiasis or as it is often called - thrush. This is perhaps the most common female ailment, which can manifest itself in women who do not live sexually, and even in virgins. Its main symptoms are: white discharge in women and itching, and the discharge from the vagina can have not only a mucous consistency, but also look like cottage cheese. The smell is usually not pronounced or sour. The vulva is hyperemic, cracked, painful. An accurate diagnosis is made on the basis of a smear on the flora, in which the number of leukocytes is increased and Candida fungi (causative agents of thrush) are found. Treatment is carried out special preparations, focused on the fight against this particular pathogen, complex ones are less effective. The doctor may prescribe both vaginal suppositories and tablets.

Can provoke thrush various diseases leading to immunosuppression. First of all, these include HIV and various sexual infections, diabetes. In addition, women taking oral contraceptives and antibiotics are at risk. Often, thrush worsens after intercourse and menstruation. You should also know that men also suffer from thrush, though often without pronounced symptoms.

Another common disease when white discharge appears in women with an odor is gardnerellosis or bacterial vaginosis. Its symptoms are quite similar to those of thrush (with the exception of the "curdled nature" of the discharge, and the smell of gardnerellez discharge is rotten fish, not sour; in men, only burning during urination is usually the only symptom), but treatment differs. Therefore, the doctor must take a smear on the flora before appointments. With gardnerellosis, a large number of leukocytes (a sign of inflammation) and pathogens of the same name are found in the smear.

Risk factors in terms of the likely occurrence of the disease:

douching (especially with preparations containing chlorine);
the use of lubricants and contraceptives (candles, tablets) containing 9-nonoxynol;
change of sexual partner;
taking antibiotics;
treatment with broad-spectrum suppositories (for example, Polygynax, Terzhinan).

Once again, I would like to remind you that white discharge in women requires treatment only if all 3 signs are present:

there are symptoms of the disease;
in the smear a large number of leukocytes;
a microorganism pathogen was found in the smear.

It is ineffective to carry out preventive treatment, and in the case of men it is completely useless, the number of relapses in a woman will not decrease only thanks to the preventive treatment of her partner. Men are even recommended to be examined for thrush or gardnerellez only if they have the corresponding symptoms.

It should also be noted that neither the first nor the second disease is a sexually transmitted sexually transmitted disease, however, they serve as a reason for examination for more serious infections that can hide behind relatively harmless candidiasis and gardnerellosis.

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Almost every woman is interested in the issue of intimate secretions, and many are wondering if this is normal or considered a pathology. Perhaps they indicate the onset of some kind of disease? For a woman or girl it is considered natural state when the mucous membrane of the vagina provokes discharge. Thanks to them, the internal genital organs eliminate bacteria, remove the remnants of menstrual blood, dead cells and mucus. It is considered correct if the discharge has no color. When white discharge occurs in women, many questions often arise.

What do these highlights indicate?

Depending on age, the amount of white discharge from the vagina varies. This is due to the difference in the hormonal background: in young girls, it is just beginning to form, and therefore the discharge is more abundant. In older women reproductive age, as well as during menopause, hormonal changes have already stopped, therefore, there is less discharge. When a girl's or woman's vagina has an environment of weak acidity, where lactic acid is formed with lactobacilli. This is considered the norm. Such an environment prevents the development and reproduction of pathogens.

But information about which discharges are considered normal should be known to every representative of the fair sex.

The normal amount of discharge should not exceed the volume of a teaspoon.
The discharge should be odorless.
An increase in secretions can be observed during sexual arousal, during sex, or before menstruation.
The discharge should not be thick, thin or watery, but at the time of ovulation.
It is normal for the discharge to be creamy, white, or slightly yellowish and not particularly noticeable.

The cause of white discharge with a smell in girls

During the process of cell renewal that covers the vagina, a waste product is released, which in medicine is called whites. The discharge is transparent and white in color, while women or girls should not feel any burning, itching or pain in the vagina. Dead cells mixed with mucus and discharge from the cervix, especially enlarged during ovulation, are a natural product of the body. It is considered normal for the discharge to be more stretchy and mucous during the period of ovulation.

Very often with failures of the menstrual cycle, when taking hormonal drugs, violation of hygiene or abuse of antibacterial gels for intimate hygiene or flavored hygiene products, during stressful situations, with climate change, frequent douching (see) and even with nutritional errors (diet, sugar abuse), as well as during pregnancy in women white discharge appears. At the same time, they may be accompanied by discomfort and itching in the genital area. Feelings can be significant, or vice versa, they can disturb only periodically. All these are symptoms of vaginal candidiasis, or, as it is also called, thrush, which causes copious white discharge with a sour smell (see).

How to determine the disease by secretions?

In the vagina there are conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that are not capable of harming the body. But when they multiply, with a decrease in local and general immunity, hormonal disruptions and after taking antibiotics, they can cause an inflammatory process. With symptoms of any diseases and disorders that manifested in a girl after characteristic discharge, a mandatory visit to a gynecologist with a thorough examination is required:

The discharge changed color, became pronounced yellow, green and other noticeable shades, or acquired Brown color(cm. ).
The white discharge became thick, profuse (more than one teaspoon) and frothy.
When worried, pain during or after sexual intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen on one or both sides, as well as below the navel. Redness of the skin on the vulva, dryness and discomfort during intercourse, or any unusual discharge, especially if combined with itching.
A striking symptom of thrush in a girl who may not even live sexually can be thick, copious, white discharge, reminiscent of cottage cheese. At the same time, the girl can feel, especially when she sits in a “leg to foot” position.

Is it possible to determine the disease by the color of the discharge?

No gynecologist without laboratory tests can determine the diagnosis based on the external description of the discharge, since there are more than a hundred reasons for their occurrence, color change or character. Only by a theoretical method in girls and women, abundant, white, curdled discharge can unmistakably indicate vaginal candidiasis (see). Only laboratory tests such as a smear, a bacterial culture from the vagina and tests for sexually transmitted infections will help determine the cause of changes in the discharge, since thrush is often combined with sexual infections. In which direction to choose the research method, the doctor is prompted by the color of the discharge:

Allocations white, odorless may indicate a disease, but this can be considered the norm. Therefore, you should pay attention to the fact that a mild degree of candidiasis does not cause severe itching or burning. These signs may appear occasionally and insignificantly, it would be necessary to visit a gynecologist when abundant discharge appears, which has become whiter, thicker and curd-like in appearance.
Transparent foamy discharge can serve as one of.
With gardnerellosis and discharge most often acquire a characteristic and gray hue.
trichomoniasis disease. With it, inflammation is most often in the vagina. There is a concentration of leukocytes, which causes yellow leucorrhoea.
If the discharge is greenish, this indicates a purulent process, because a large accumulation of leukocytes leads to a purulent process, and the greater the inflammatory process, the greener the color.

Only laboratory tests can serve as a diagnosis for pathological changes in discharge in women.

Should I visit a doctor with white discharge?

If the intimate discharge of a woman is not more than one teaspoon and is not accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, then the woman should not worry about this. If your discharge has changed character, become profuse, white and with an unpleasant odor, or very frothy, like cottage cheese, thick and turned yellow, greenish or brown in the middle of the cycle and is complemented by itching, burning and pain in the lower abdomen (see), and these symptoms have also joined, this is the first sign that you need to see a doctor:

To begin with, the gynecologist will collect an anamnesis.
Perform an examination on a gynecological chair, in which the walls of the vagina and the cervix are visible in the mirrors. He will pay attention to pathological discharge, the condition of the cervix and the presence of an inflammatory process.
In addition to the usual sampling of material for a smear and bacteriological examination, the doctor may prescribe a PCR smear if a sexually transmitted disease is suspected.
The doctor may also conduct when indicated or to rule out cervical erosion and dysplasia.
If the patient complains of pain, failure of the menstrual cycle and in the presence of inflammation of the uterine appendages and the uterus itself, it is recommended to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, which will help to correctly establish the clinical picture of changes in the woman's discharge.