Index
The presence of white discharge in the course of female life is considered a common and somewhat natural factor. Since the female genitalia is very sensitive and also makes connection with practically all functioning and health of the body. However, it is necessary to be aware of other signs that may indicate that a problem is occurring.
Greenish or yellowish discharge , with a strong odor or simply a different smell than normal, may indicate the presence of bacteria or infection and deserve attention and medical care.
What is white discharge?
The white discharge that has the scientific name of leukorrhea, is considered a natural factor of the female body. It is through its texture that it can be pasty, transparent, liquid, gelatinous or elastic , in addition to the smell and the intensity of the color that will be indicative of the cause.
Its presence is not always accompanied by an infection or disease and its presence can only be a demonstration that your reproductive system is in perfect working order, as well as the vaginal PH is well balanced . In fact, the presence of white, odorless discharge is the physiological vaginal secretion, which is totally natural, healthy and has no connection with infections.
Girl with white discharge
If it is a natural factor of the female body, it is very common for mothers to be concerned and to see a doctor about the occurrence of white discharge in girls, in some cases, still very young. But in fact, white discharge can happen as an indication that puberty is near .
In such cases, the presence of white discharge may begin to appear up to 1 year before the first menstruation, menarche . So, in the case of the presence of this discharge, without strong odor or symptoms like itching, I was calm that it is just a sign that your girl’s body is transforming and preparing for the next phase.
Main Causes of White Discharge
As already mentioned, white discharge refers to a natural process of the female body, but it can also indicate the presence of infections, when accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms such as itching, burning, strong odor and local swelling. We will list the other main causes of the presence of this discharge, in addition to the natural female body.
- Bacterial vaginosis;
- Vaginal Candidiasis;
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is one of the main causes of white discharge throughout female life. With a pasty aspect, similar to a curdled milk, it may have a grayish, white or yellowish color. Its presence can cause strong itching, burning, and a strong, very unpleasant smell that resembles the odor of rotten fish.
Its cause is the uncontrolled vaginal flora, which allows the proliferation of the bacteria Gardnerella Vaginallis, which causes all these uncomfortable symptoms. Its treatment is basically easy, however, it must be done strictly to be cured effectively. The use of antibiotics is essential and can be used in the form of a cream or ointment or in tablets for oral use.
Treatment must be carried out for 7 days or follow other instructions from your doctor. The treatment cannot be interrupted even with the disappearance of symptoms and during the treatment days, avoid sexual intercourse or use a condom.
The best way to avoid white discharge from bacterial vaginosis is to avoid using vaginal douching , always using condoms, avoiding the use of intimate soaps, lubricating gels with flavors and fragrances and perfumes in the genital area. The regular visit to the gynecologist in addition to the routine exams also helps to keep intimate health up to date.
Vaginal Candidiasis
Very well-known by women due to its strong characteristic odor and very feared by such uncomfortable symptoms, vaginal candidiasis is also one of the main causes of the presence of white discharge. Considered by gynecologists as a common infection , because it is a fungus existing in the vaginal flora, but its proliferation is uncontrolled by some factors.
As it is a lack of control, people with lower immunity may suffer from vaginal candidiasis more frequently, as is the case of pregnant women or women in treatment with drugs that lower their immunity. But they also occur with great frequency in women with bad habits in intimate hygiene, which facilitate the growth and proliferation of these fungi.
Candidiasis is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, but it can be passed on to your partner during sex. Therefore, when found, the treatment must be performed for both , ensuring the effectiveness of the treatment.
The treatment of vaginal candidiasis is based on antifungal ointments, antifungal tablets for oral or vaginal use, in addition to the tablet being indicated to be ingested by the sexual partner. The treatment lasts an average of 15 days and during this period sexual intercourse should be avoided or use a condom. They are essential care that will guarantee the effectiveness of the treatment.
If the woman has a history of recurrent candidiasis, the gynecologist may recommend a longer treatment. In these cases, it is necessary to ingest or use vaginally 1 antifungal tablet per week for 6 months. The treatment for vaginal environment offers greater efficiency , with disappearance of the fastest symptoms. But that does not mean that treatment should be stopped. If the treatment is not performed in the manner indicated by the gynecologist, vaginal candidiasis returns.
The best way to avoid white discharge from vaginal candidiasis is to maintain a balanced diet, maintain good intimate hygiene, preferably using cotton panties, avoid spending too much time in a wet bikini and using condoms in all sexual relations. As we have already mentioned, some medical treatments and the use of medications can lower the woman’s immunity, increasing the chances of the appearance of candidiasis. In this case, talk to your gynecologist how to prevent it.
Can White Discharge Be Pregnancy?
This is a very common question among tempting women, whether white discharge may be an indication of pregnancy. And the answer is YES, in part. In part, because in fact women confuse a lot of white discharge with mucus, which is what may be indicative of pregnancy.
The presence of this mucus, mistaken for white discharge, can mean that your body is functioning as it should and you have ovulated. If it continues for a period and occurs in abundance, in some cases even with the feeling of “running” or wetting the clothes until you notice the menstrual delay, it could be pregnancy. This increase in mucus production is due to an increase in progesterone production.
So if you are noticing the presence of this mucus with the appearance of a large amount of ointment, you do not feel uncomfortable symptoms such as itching, burning and you are already menstruating, you have a strong chance of taking a pregnancy test and giving a positive result!
Feminine Intimate Hygiene – What to do and what not to do?
After reading about all the issues that provoke the appearance of white discharge, we conclude about the indispensable need for impeccable intimate hygiene. But, some women end up exaggerating the hygiene and end up causing an opposite effect, instead of helping, they end up damaging their intimate health. Therefore, we will list what is indicated and healthy for hygiene of the vagina and what is not recommended to do.
The vaginal area has its own natural protection and with it, there are thousands of bacteria considered beneficial that form and control the vaginal flora, balancing the PH of the area. Obviously, proper hygiene is necessary to keep fungi and harmful bacteria far from the region, but it is necessary to know what to use and how to perform this hygiene.
Intimate hygiene is routine as well as brushing your teeth, but it is not that simple! Currently in the markets there are an infinite line of products for intimate hygiene, including soaps, perfumes, and wet wipes. But the question is, how healthy is this for vaginal health?
- Intimate soap – We found many liquid soaps for the intimate area. Ask your gynecologist which one is best. Avoid using intimate soaps with fragrance and preferably hypoallergenic ones. Its use is good, but it is not an indispensable item. Hygiene can be carried out with conventional bar soaps, as long as it is in an appropriate way.
- Exaggeration in hygiene – Many women believe that good intimate hygiene is that performed several times a day and that it is necessary to “wash inside” and even do a shower to be complete. But experts say that this excess in hygiene causes the removal of the natural protection of the vagina, increasing the chances of the appearance of bacteria and infections.
- Wet Wipes – The use of wet wipes for cleaning can be done in isolated cases, such as during a walk, on a trip. Its daily use, can uncontroll the local acidity and remove the vaginal protection.
- Vinegar Washing – It is not recommended to use vinegar for intimate washing, except under medical recommendation.
Adequate intimate hygiene should be done around 2 times a day, more than that is not necessary. Cleaning should only be done with soap and water and preferably cotton panties are used to allow for better breathing in the area.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
