Leukorrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Introduction

Definition of Leukorrhea

Leukorrhea, also known as vaginal discharge, is a whitish clear fluid that discharges from your vagina. It is an important function of the female reproductive system. Vaginal glands produce a fluid throughout the day. The same fluid is also produced by the glands present in the cervix and uterus. The fluid is a mixture of dead cells and bacteria, you might observe this matter on your underwear often. This is a beneficial fluid that prevents infection and keeps your vagina clean.

Leukorrhea discharge is a normal function and its amount varies, as can odor or color depending on the duration and timing of the menstrual cycle. During pregnancy, it smells differently.

Importance of Understanding Leukorrhea

Although leukorrhea is a perfectly normal procedure it’s important to identify what type of leukorrhea may be a sign of infection. Changes in color, smell, or consistency are the prominent signs of infection, especially if these signs appear along with vaginal burning or itching. It’s an alarm that you have an infection. Leukorrhea doesn’t occur all of a sudden. In normal conditions, it has a mild odor and doesn’t cause foul odor or itching. It is considered normal during puberty duration or at the time of sexual intimacy but other than normal routine, its occurrence is the indication of a problem or infection in your reproductive system. 

It is not hazardous for your health if this infection is caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, puberty, early pregnancy, or sexual excitement. But if the leukorrhea has a bad foul smell and a yellowish color, it will indicate a bacterial or viral infection that may be transmitted through sexual activity. In time treatment is necessary for such infection because the infection may lead to severe complications in the reproductive system as well as cause infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease.

How to understand the infectious types of Leukorrhea?

• Normal Discharge

Normal leukorrhea discharge is a clear whitish liquid that may turn to slightly yellow approximately fifteen days before menstruation. It has no bad odor and may increase with birth control procedures. It doesn’t cause any irritation or itching sensation.

Normal vaginal fluid is composed of bacteria and clear mucus that helps to keep the vagina clean. The mucus has both beneficial and hazardous bacteria. It also contains a small amount of yeast. Good types of bacteria help keep everything in balance. However, the growth of hazardous bacteria can cause infection. After intercourse, you may feel a musky smell. This smell is an indicator of infection. Another indication is the turning of mucus color and texture from clear white to sticky yellowish. Its normal amounts vary from person to person. For example, teenagers or women with menopause have less amount while near menstruation it tends as much as one teaspoon per day. Moreover, some other factors also affect its amount or texture, including sexually aroused, breastfeeding, or ovulating.

• Leukorrhea During Pregnancy

More leukorrhea during pregnancy is a good sign. This discharge helps prevent infections traveling from the vagina to the womb. Thickening of the lining of the uterus walls during pregnancy also has an effect on progesterone production and the tick walls cause more leukorrhea discharge. Near the time of birth, your cervix produces shedding mucus that colors your leukorrhea pinkish white. This is the sign that your body is preparing for giving birth.

• Leukorrhea Before Periods

Right before your menstruation, you may see brown spots in leukorrhea discharge, it’s normal. Before periods the amount of leukorrhea is more while at the end of periods, it becomes low. But in rare cases, the brown or reddish spots in leukorrhea indicate a more serious problem.

• Physiological Leukorrhea

It is common in almost every woman and is caused by the body’s natural defense systems. It helps the vagina to maintain its chemical balance and preserve the flexibility of vaginal walls.

• Inflammatory Leukorrhea 

When the vaginal mucosa gets congested or swollen, it changes the color of leukorrhea from white to yellow with a foul smell. This is caused by sexually transmitted diseases and discharges as past-partum discharge after delivery.

Causes of Leukorrhea

Most of us know about the excretory organs of our body i.e. skin, urethra, bladder, or lungs. It is true but do you know that your vagina and uterus also play a role as excretory organs when needed? How? When your body is full of toxins or harmful substances the excretory organs start their working and eliminate those substances for your body in the form of sweat, urine, or carbon dioxide. But a time comes when these excretory organs are unable to flush out all the toxins from your body. Then, the mucous membrane of your vagina and uterus performs the role of excretory organ and expels these toxins leukorrhea. The conditions for discharging leukorrhea in general are:

• Use of unhealthy foods like oily and spicy meals.
• Hormonal disturbance due to stress or anxiety.
• Improper lifestyle.
• Excessive use of smoking or alcohol.
• Poor vaginal hygiene.
• Excessive sexual activities.

These are some general causes but the most serious and specific causes of Leukorrhea discharge are as under:

• Chilling

Chills are the major cause of leukorrhea. Chills cause inflammation in the vaginal membrane that stimulates the production of more leukorrhea while unhygienic conditions in genital organs and uterus also cause more leukorrhea.

• Chronic Gonorrhea

Sometimes you feel a profuse leukorrhea discharge accompanied by a burning sensation while urinating. It is an abnormal; condition of leukorrhea and called chronic gonorrhea. This may be due to the damage to the cervix during childbirth. It can last for a long time if you have stress, a sedentary lifestyle, neurosis, and stand for an l; long time. If left untreated the infection harms the other genital organs.

More Factors that can affect the color, smell, or balance of bacteria in the vagina are:

• Excessive use of steroids or antibiotics.
• Birth control methods like pills.
• Pelvic infection.
• Diabetes.
• Cancer in the cervix.
• STDs or STIs.
• Scented soaps, lotions, or bubble baths.
• Unprotected sex.
• Use of low-quality condoms.
• The thinning or dryness in vaginal walls.
• Irritation or itching due to parasitic infection.

Symptoms of LeukorrheaLeukorrhea is not always an infection. But in some conditions, it becomes hazardous for your reproductive system. So some general symptoms of leukorrhea infection are: 

• Itching or burning sensation in the vagina.
• Change in the normal color and odor of leukorrhea.
• The foul smell lasts more than 24 hours.
• Difficulty in intercourse.
• Pain in the lower abdominal area.
• Pain during urination.
• Sores or blisters in your vaginal area.
• Constipation and other digestive issues.
• Tiredness.
• Frequent urge to pass very little urine.

Appearance of one or more than one of these symptoms of the clear infection indication and the next step is to go to your healthcare provider to treat the issue.

Diagnosis of Leukorrhea

How to diagnose the Leukorrhea you have as normal or an infarction? Your doctor will observe your health history and discuss about the symptoms by asking some questions, including:

• When did you feel the abnormal discharging of vaginal fluid?
• What is the color of Leukorrhea liquid?
• Is there any itching or burning sensation near vaginal areas?
• Do you douch?
• Do you have more than one partner for sexual activity?
• Do I feel foul-smelling leukorrhea fluid?

After collecting the data, your doctor will take a sample of your vaginal discharge to examine it thoroughly.

Diagnosis is the first step to prevent the disease. So Whenever you feel abnormal leukorrhea, don’t waste time and go to your doctor as soon as possible. He will guide you about the preventive measures and treatment methodologies. Here, some tips to prevent abnormal leukorrhea are given for your convenience.

Must Read: https://onlinehealthpoint.com/self-care-101-the-essential-role-of-setting-boundaries/

Preventive Measures

After gathering information and examining the leukorrhea sample the doctor might be able to diagnose the abnormality of discharging vaginal fluid, its cause, and effects. Causes may include wearing tight undergarments, wearing non-cotton underwear, use of antibiotics, use of scented perfumes or lotions, or the most prevailing issue the use of birth control pills. Some steps to take as preventive measures are good hygiene of vaginal areas during periods, washing undergarments with antibiotic solutions to remove hazardous bacteria, avoiding spicy and oily foods that may aggravate the disease, incorporating good dietary habits, and avoiding stress-causing things to maintain hormonal balance.

Even being careful, the chances of abnormal leukorrhea discharge are present. You can limit them by following the instructions jotted below:

Hygiene and Cleanliness

• Taking a bath daily and using mild soap or simple water to clean the vagina and the areas around will maintain a hygienic condition.
• Never use a bubble bath.
• Don’t use scented sprays for the vagina.
• Plain toilet tissue is the best wiping material.
• Try to urinate, soon after a n intercourse. This may save you from UTI.
• Don’t touch vaginal areas unnecessarily and always wash your hands after touching those areas.
• Always wipe the vaginal area front to back.
• Liners and sanitary pads
• Use unscented liners or sanitary pads.
• Change your pads nearly 4 times a day.
• Avoid using tampons while going to bed, use pads at night.

Douching

Most women douche to treat the infection but you shouldn’t because these products are harmful to the vaginal areas they change the balance of hormones and bacteria in your vagina that causes vaginal infection and skin irritation. 

ClothingUse cotton-lined undergarments. Cotton has an absorptive nature that helps keep you cooler and drier by absorbing the moisture of periods. Tight-fitting underpants and leggings trap the moisture and keep vaginal areas moist which causes itching and irritation. Don’t sit around in damp clothing.

Follow a healthy lifestyle to treat the infection. You can do this by:

• Eating healthy, taking regular exercise, and having a sound sleep. 
• Lowering your weight.
•  Avoiding junk food.
• Limiting the number of sexual partners.
• Preventing sexually transmitted infections by using condoms.

Treatment of Leukorrhea

Discoloration of white discharge, painful urination, and foul smell all are serious symptoms of leukorrhea. It’s time to consult with a medical health care provider as it may be a sign of some underlying health issues.

From teenage to puberty you notice a discharge from your vagina, and you can feel the change in its color or smell. So Don’t take it easy and seek medical help as soon as possible.

Here, one thing to remember is that all vaginal infections are not dangerous; some can be cured by prescription medicines. But in case of ignorance or left untreated, these less harmful problems become worse and can put you at risk of a fatal disease.  Sexually transmitted infections are hard to treat and can be spread from one person to the other. So it’s important to take leukorrhea seriously and consult with your healthcare provider.

When to See a Doctor

All the women must see their healthcare provider once a month but the more active women should visit their doctor once a week. If you have started treatment, complete the course of medication. Don’t let it be incomplete. This may cause severe health problems. Despite taking medicines regularly, if you feel no improvement, call your healthcare provider.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

• Take prescribed medicines according to the doctor’s directions. Incompletely cured infection may return and cause adverse effects on your vaginal health.
• Avoid using tampons while the doctor has prescribed a cream to treat the infection because the tampons will absorb the cream.
• Avoid intercourse until the infection gets cured completely and treatment comes to an end.
• Keep your partner aware of your infection and treatment and tell him to avoid intercourse because sexual activity at the time of treatment will affect your infection adversely and your partner may get infected as well. 

Conclusion

Leukorrhea is a common health problem that most women face. This vaginal discharge can occur during pregnancy, sexual arousal, or the menstrual cycle. In most of the cases, this discharge is considered normal but the excessive discharge of leukorrhea may indicate an underlying issue. This raises a need to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis. The doctor diagnoses the infection and its causes through medical history and laboratory tests. If a woman is experiencing unusual symptoms, then timely medical attention is recommended to treat the infection.