Vaginal Discharge

Hi friends.

This is Dr. Gunjan Goyal, self-practitioner. Today I am going to talk about the types of vaginal discharge and vaginal discharge. So, first, you need to know about what is vaginal discharge? Most of the reproductive age women suffer from the pathological vaginal discharge and physiological vaginal discharge, they sometimes mistake as pathological. So, what is vaginal discharge? Vaginal discharge is the secretions from the cells of the glands of vagina and cervix. Cervix is the opening of the mouth of uterus. So, these cells what do they do? They help to keep the body out of infection. How do they help to clear the body from infection and keep the vagina clean? They help to keep the vagina clean by driving the dead cells and bacteria out of the body. Ok. So, what are the types of vaginal discharge? Types of vaginal discharge are normal vaginal discharge and pathological vaginal discharge. What is normal vaginal discharge? Normal vaginal discharge is a discharge just before ovulation. It is a mucus discharge, it is sticky in consistency and it is watery and sticky in consistency.

It is normal when it occurs before ovulation. So, sometimes the patients may mistake it as pathological discharge. But it is absolutely normal and just after the periods there is absolutely no discharge and it can be thick and mucoid 2 to 3 days after the periods and 2 to 3 days before the periods. So, this would be normal vaginal discharge. Now we will talk about pathological vaginal discharge. So, what is pathological vaginal discharge or offensive vaginal discharge? Pathological vaginal discharge, how does it occur? It occurs due to increased frequency of douching, unhygienic conditions, frequent sexual intercourse with multiple partners and no use of barrier contraceptives, increased incidence of STDs and last but not the least is the use of public toilets, ok. And now, I am going to talk about the types of pathological vaginal discharge. Types of pathological vaginal discharge are first and foremost is thick white curdy discharge. So, what is a thick white curdy discharge? See thick white curdy discharge, it makes the woman so bitter about this discharge is it is cottage cheese type of appearance. It looks like a curd.

It is due to the fungal or yeast infection. Due to the fungal or yeast infection, there is itching, burning sensation, irritation, redness and swelling in the vagina which leads to the thick discharge and it is treatment is mostly antifungals but please don't treat yourself. Go to the gynaecologist and helps the gynaecologist to treat you. It is mostly in pregnancy and due to low immunological conditions and use of oral contraceptives, ok. And now the yellow or greenish white discharge. Yellow or greenish white discharge is due to the bacterial infection. How does bacterial vaginosis or bacterial infection occur? The bacterial infection occurs due to overgrowth of normally residing bacteria in the vagina. Due to overgrowth of normally residing bacteria in the vagina occurs and there is an increased yellowish or creamish white discharge; may or may not be associated with any order. But please consult your gynaecologist in this case also and help to treat it with antibiotics and appropriate local application of creams and pessaries. And the next is brownish discharge. Brownish discharge is also very important.

Brownish discharge is a blood mixed discharge and mostly it is due to the irregular menstrual cycle and prolonged brownish vaginal discharge is never ignore it. It may be due to uterine or cervical cancer. And the next discharge is, again and again, I will stress upon the fungal infection or thick white curdy discharge which must be treated. And how to prevent vaginal infection? See we have to prevent the vaginal infection due to decrease incidence of douching, use of more and more use of barrier contraceptives. We have to use hygienic toilet conditions, use of cotton undergarments. Use of cotton undergarments leads absorbs the moisture and decreases the incidence of yeast infection, okay. And more and more use of barrier contraceptives, that I will stress more and more and decrease please for the youngsters I would stress to decrease the use of I-pills by you have to use all these pills and everything by prescription only, not by yourself. Self-medication is not at all a good thing.

Thank you!