Vaginal discharge is a mixture of liquids, cells, and bacteria that lubricate and protect the vagina. This mixture continues to be produced by the cells of the vagina and cervix and out of the body through the vaginal opening. The composition, amount, and quality of discharge vary between individuals and through various stages of sexual and reproductive development. Normal vaginal discharge may have a more dilute consistency, dilute or thick and sticky consistency, and may be either clear or white. Normal vaginal discharge may be large in volume but usually does not have a strong odor, nor is it usually associated with itching or pain. While most discharge represents the normal functioning of the body, some changes in the fluid may reflect infection or other pathological processes. Infections that can cause changes in vaginal discharge include vaginal yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and sexually transmitted infections. Abnormal whitish characteristics vary depending on the cause, but common features include discoloration, odor, and related symptoms such as itching, burning, pelvic pain, or pain during intercourse.
Video Vaginal discharge
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Normal whiteness consists of cervical mucus, vaginal fluid, vaginal cells and cervical cells, and bacteria.
The majority of the fluid in the vaginal fluid is the mucus produced by the cervical glands. The rest consists of transudates from the vaginal wall and secretions of the glands (Skene and Bartholin). Solid components are epithelial cells that peel off the walls of the vagina and cervix as well as some bacteria that inhabit the vagina. These bacteria that live in the vagina usually do not cause disease. In fact, they can protect individuals from other infectious and invasive bacteria by producing substances such as lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide that inhibit the growth of other bacteria. The normal composition of bacteria in the vagina (vaginal flora) may vary, but most often it is dominated by lactobacilli. On average, there are about 10 8 10 9 bacteria per milliliter of vaginal fluid.
Whitish normal clear, white, or pale white. Consistency can range from milky to clumpy, and the smell is usually mild to none. The majority of wastewater pools are in the deepest part of the vagina (posterior fornix) and out of the body for a day with the force of gravity. A typical reproductive age woman produces 1.5 grams (half to one teaspoon) of vaginal fluids daily.
During sexual arousal and sexual intercourse, the amount of fluid in the vagina increases due to swelling of blood vessels around the vagina. This swelling of the arteries increases the volume of transudates from the vaginal wall. Transudate has a neutral pH, so the increase in production can change the vaginal pH temporarily to be more neutral. Cement has a basic pH and can neutralize vaginal acidity for up to 8 hours.
The composition and amount of vaginal fluid changes when a person undergoes various stages of sexual development and reproduction
Neonatal
In neonates, vaginal discharge sometimes occurs in the first few days after birth. This is because of exposure to estrogen in the womb. Neonatal vaginal discharge may be white or clear with mucosal texture, or may bleed from the shedding of normal transient endometrium.
Pediatric
The girl's vagina before puberty is thinner and has different bacterial flora. Whiteness in pre-puberty women with at least neutral pH to base ranging from 6 to 8. The composition of bacterial populations in pre-puberty children is dominated by staphylococcus species, in addition to various anaerobes, enterococci, E. coli , and lactobacillus.
Puberty
During puberty, the hormone estrogen begins to be produced by the ovaries. Even before the onset of menstruation (up to 12 months before menarche, usually with the development of breast buds), the amount of vaginal fluid increases and changes in composition. Estrogen matures the vaginal tissues and leads to increased production of glycogen by vaginal epithelial cells. This higher glycogen level in the vaginal tract supports the growth of lactobacilli over other bacterial species. When lactobacilli uses glycogen as a food source, they turn it into lactic acid. Therefore, the dominance of lactobacilli in the vaginal tract creates a more acidic environment. In fact, the vaginal pH and vaginal fluid after puberty range between 3.5 and 4.7.
Menstrual Cycle
The amount and consistency of the vaginal fluid changes as the menstrual cycle progresses. In the days after menstruation, vaginal discharge is minimal and the consistency is thick and sticky. When approaching ovulation, elevated estrogen levels lead to a simultaneous increase in whiteness. An increase in the amount of discharge in ovulation is 30 times greater than the amount produced directly after menstruation. Disposal also changes color and consistency during this time, becomes clear with elastic consistency. After ovulation, body progesterone levels increase, leading to a decrease in the amount of vaginal discharge. The consistency of the liquid once again becomes thick and sticky and opaque in color. The emptying continues to decline from the end of ovulation to the end of menstruation, and then after menstruation begins to rise again.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the volume of vaginal fluid increases as a result of elevated levels of estrogen and body progesterone. Debits are usually white or slightly gray, and may have a musty smell. The normal discharge of pregnancy does not contain blood or cause itching. PH from whiteness to pregnancy tends to be more acidic than normal due to increased production of lactic acid. This acid environment helps provide protection from many infections, although on the contrary it also makes women more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections.
Menopause
With the decline in estrogen levels that come with menopause, the vagina returns to a state similar to pre-puberty. In particular, the vaginal tissue becomes thin, becoming less elastic; decreased blood flow to the vagina; surface epithelial cells contain less glycogen. With a decrease in glycogen levels, the vaginal flora shifts to contain less lactobacilli, and the pH further decreases to the range 6.0-7.5. The overall amount of whiteness decreases in menopause. Although this is normal, it can lead to symptoms of dryness and pain during penetrative sexual intercourse. These symptoms can often be treated with a vaginal moisturizer or vaginal hormone cream.
Maps Vaginal discharge
Abnormal disposal
Abnormal discharges can occur in a number of conditions, including infections and imbalances in the flora or vaginal pH. Abnormal whitish may also not known the cause. In one study looking at women who came to the clinic with concerns about vaginal discharge or foul odor in their vagina, it was found that 34% had bacterial vaginosis and 23% had vaginal candidiasis (fungal infections). 32% of patients were found to have sexually transmitted infections including Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomonas, or Genital Herpes. Diagnosing the cause of abnormal vaginal discharge can be difficult, although a potassium hydroxide test or vaginal pH analysis may be used. When abnormal vaginal discharge occurs with burning, irritation, or itching of the vulva, it is called vaginitis. The most common causes of pathological whiteness in adolescents and adults are described below.
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection caused by changes in the vaginal flora, which refers to the community of organisms that live in the vagina. This is the most common cause of pathological whiteness in women of childbearing age and accounts for 40-50% of cases. In BV, the vagina has decreased bacteria called lactobacilli, and the relative increase of many anaerobic bacteria with the most dominant ones is Gardnerella vaginalis . This imbalance produces the typical vaginal fluid experienced by patients with BV. The discharges in the BV have a characteristic strong fishy odor, caused by the relative increase of anaerobic bacteria. [1] Debits are usually thin and gray, or sometimes green. Sometimes accompanied by burning with urination. Itching is rare. The exact reason for the disruption of vaginal flora leading to BV is not fully known. However, factors associated with BV include the use of antibiotics, unprotected sex, douching, and using intrauterine devices (IUDs). The role of sex in BV is unknown, and BV is not considered an STI. BV diagnosis made by health care provider based on appearance of discharge, pH discharge & gt; 4.5, the presence of guided cells under a microscope, and a distinctive fishy smell when disposal is placed on the slide and combined with potassium hydroxide ("smell test"). The gold standard for diagnosis is gram stain which shows lack of lactobacilli and gram-negative polymicrobial compounds, gram variable stems, and cocci. BV can be treated with oral or intravaginal antibiotics, or oral or intravaginal lactobacilli.
Vaginal yeast infections
Vaginal fungal infections result from overgrowth of candida albicans, or yeast, in the vagina. This is a relatively common infection, with over 75% of women having at least one fungal infection at some point in their life. Risk factors for yeast infections include recent antibiotic use, diabetes, immunosuppression, elevated estrogen levels, and use of certain contraceptives including intrauterine devices, diaphragms, or sponges. This is not a sexually transmitted infection. Vaginal vaginal infections are common; it is estimated that 75% of women will have at least one yeast infection in their life. Whitish is not always present in yeast infections, but when it occurs it usually does not smell, thick, white, and clot. Vaginal itching is the most common symptom of candida vulvovaginitis. Women may also experience burning, pain, irritation, pain during urination, or pain during sex. Diagnosis Candida vulvovaginitis is made by looking at samples taken from the vagina under a microscope that shows hyphae (yeast), or from a culture. It is important to note that the symptoms described above may be present in other vaginal infections, so a diagnosis or microscopic culture is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is with intra-vaginal or oral antifungal drugs.
Trichomonas vaginitis
Trichomonas vaginitis is an infection acquired through sex-related whiteness. It can be transmitted through the penis to the vagina, vagina to the penis, or from the vagina to the vagina. The dirt in Trichomonas is usually yellowish green. Sometimes foamy and foul-smelling. Other symptoms may include burning or vaginal itching, pain during urination, or pain during intercourse. Trichomonas was diagnosed by looking at fluid samples under a microscope that showed trichomonads moving on the slide. However, in women with trichomonas, organisms are usually detected in only 60-80% of cases. Other tests, including discharge culture or PCR testing, are more likely to detect organisms. Treatment is one-time dose of oral antibiotics, most commonly metronidazole or tindazole.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also cause vaginal discharge, although more often than not these infections cause no symptoms. Chlamydia leucorrhoea usually contains pus, but it is important to note that about 80% of Chlamydia cases do not cause fluid secretion. Gonorrhea can also cause vaginal discharge, but Gonorrhea is also asymptomatic in up to 50% of cases. If leucorrhoea is accompanied by pelvic pain, this indicates pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a condition in which the bacteria have ascended to the reproductive tract.
Other causes
Foreign objects can cause chronic whiteness with a foul odor. Common foreign objects found in adolescents and adults are tampons, toilet paper, and objects used for sexual arousal.
Before puberty
The most common reason a pre-puberty woman goes to a gynecologist is a concern about vaginal discharge and odor. The cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in pre-pubertal girls is different than in adults and is usually associated with lifestyle factors such as irritation from hard soap or tight clothing. The vagina of pre-pubertal girls (due to lack of estrogen) is thin-walled and has different microbiota; In addition, the vulva in pre-pubertal girls does not have pubic hair. These features make the vagina more susceptible to bacterial infections. The more common bacteria responsible for whiteness in pre-pubertal women is different from that in other age groups, and includes Bacteriodes, Peptostreptococcus, and Candida (yeasts). This can come from vaginal colonization with oral or fecal bacteria. Another cause of whiteness in pre-pubertal women is the presence of foreign objects such as toys or a piece of toilet paper. In the case of a foreign object, the feces are often bloody or brown.
See also
- Vaginal lubrication
- Bartholin Gland
- Vaginal flora
- Cement
- Vaginal microbiota in pregnancy
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia