Contents:
- Medical Video: Pregnancy Tips : Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy
- Normal vaginal discharge vs. vaginal discharge is not normal
- 3 main causes of vaginal discharge are not normal in women
- 1. Group of bacteria
- 2. Mushroom group
- 3. The parasite group
- How do you know if my vaginal discharge is normal or not?
- 1. Pay attention to the condition of vaginal discharge
- 2. Pay attention to the smell of vaginal discharge
- 3. Complementary symptoms of vaginal discharge
- What happens if pathological vaginal discharge is not treated
Medical Video: Pregnancy Tips : Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy
Leucorrhoea alias vaginal discharge is the discharge of body fluids from the vagina. Natural vaginal discharge does occur when a woman experiences changes in accordance with the menstrual cycle. Usually the liquid that comes out is thick and sticky liquid throughout the cycle, but more fluid and clear when ovulation occurs.
Normal vaginal discharge vs. vaginal discharge is not normal
There are several factors that are still considered reasonable and safe if a woman has vaginal discharge. Leucorrhoea occurs more often during stress, pregnancy, or sexual activity.
However, be careful if the vaginal discharge that occurs is pathological or abnormal vaginal discharge. The mark is quite easy, pathological vaginal discharge can be seen from the color, consistency, volume, and smell that is not as usual. In addition, there are other symptoms that are experienced, before / together / after discharge.
Pathological vaginal discharge is usually caused by infection and non-infection. Non-infectious causes are usually associated with the presence of foreign objects (such as spiral contraception) or other diseases, such as cervical cancer. While the causes of infection include bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. These three causes are often experienced by women, especially productive age women who are still sexually active. How to distinguish? Come on, we follow the explanation below.
3 main causes of vaginal discharge are not normal in women
Leucorrhoea is one health problem that usually worries women. But to remember, vaginal discharge is not a disease, but a symptom of an illness. Pathological vaginal discharge caused by infection usually originates from inflammation of the vagina, called vaginitis. The causes of infection vary, ranging from groups of bacteria, viruses, fungi to parasites. The following are the most common causes of vaginal inflammation in each group, which eventually causes vaginal discharge.
1. Group of bacteria
Gardnerella vaginalis is a type of anaerobic bacteria that does not need oxygen for life. The number of cases due to this bacterial infection reached 23.6%.
2. Mushroom group
Candida albicans is a fungus that usually attacks the body's organs which are covered with skin and walls (mucosa). The number of leucorrhoea cases due to this fungal infection is highest among other types of infections, which is around 15 - 42%. This type of vaginal discharge increases in cases in pregnant women.
3. The parasite group
Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that causes vaginal discharge around 5.1 - 20%.
How do you know if my vaginal discharge is normal or not?
Pathological vaginal discharge will show some changes in color, odor, and viscosity to show the microorganism that causes it. Likewise with complaints such as itching, urinary pain, pelvic pain, pain when intercourse and heat in the vagina, usually accompanying vaginal complaints.
1. Pay attention to the condition of vaginal discharge
Vaginal fluid condition is an important key to differentiating causes. In bacterial infections, fluids are usually white to grayish and homogeneous. The amount is very large and sticky, so it is easily attached to the underwear. The vaginal wall is also filled with a layer of vaginal discharge. While fungal infections show thickness like cheese or milk clots. Yellowish white, initially a little, if it gets worse, more and more vaginal discharge. In parasitic infections, vaginal discharge is somewhat different. The color is greenish yellow, sticky, and the amount increases little by little per day. Sometimes there is a froth on her vaginal discharge.
2. Pay attention to the smell of vaginal discharge
Normal vaginal discharge does not smell, whereas pathological vaginal discharge will cause a distinctive odor. Leucorrhoea due to bacterial infection usually smells fishy, while leucorrhoea due to fungal infections sometimes doesn't smell. The most typical odor is leucorrhoea due to parasitic infection. Leucorrhoea stinks and gets worse when having sex. Usually the patient's sexual partner also complains about the smell.
3. Complementary symptoms of vaginal discharge
The accompanying symptoms of vaginal discharge can also provide clues about the causes of vaginal discharge. In bacterial infections, the most common symptom complained of is itching. Patients tend to scratch, so the vagina can redden until blisters. In fungal infections, heat in the vagina dominates. This is more severe for pregnant women, because usually the condition of the female organs is more moist, so more fungal growth. Parasitic vaginal discharge usually shows no accompanying symptoms in the initial phase. However, if the phase is advanced, more accompanying symptoms, namely vaginal itching, pain during urination, even pain during intercourse.
What happens if pathological vaginal discharge is not treated
Leucorrhoea can cause various complications if not treated properly. Therefore, immediately check your condition if you experience vaginal discharge with the above characteristics. Complications of vaginal discharge, especially those caused by infections, include:
- Pelvic inflammation (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease = PID) can occur if an infection from the vagina propagates upward. This disease is characterized by tenderness, chronic pelvic pain, or lower abdominal pain that does not heal with pain medication. Usually patients also experience fever.
- Infertility or infertility is a further complication of PID.
- Ectopic pregnancy is pregnancy with a fetus outside the uterus, for example in the oviduct even in the abdominal cavity.
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