Physiological and pathological vaginal discharge in women


General information

At different periods of the monthly cycle, a woman may experience discharge that varies in consistency and quantity. Depending on the general condition of the body, their smell and color may also change. But if in the middle of the cycle there is active mucus secretion from the vagina, or more unusual discharge appears, this often makes a woman worry. After all, it is always important to know whether such a condition is normal, and whether these manifestations are a sign of a developing disease. Below we will talk about why lingering discharge in the form of mucus appears, as well as when white lingering discharge in women can be evidence of pathology.

What can such manifestations indicate?

Discharge does not always indicate the development of the disease. They are often a common manifestation of a normal physiological process. But you need to take into account that everything depends on the nature of the fluid coming out and the time when the discharge appears. For example, if a certain amount of mucus appears during ovulation, this is considered quite normal. In turn, the time period after the end of the critical days is called the “dry” period. There should be no discharge at this time. If they do appear, you should consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

https://youtu.be/qqBR_7hVDnI

The color of the liquid plays a huge role. If the discharge is yellow, green or brown, this will be an alarming sign. It is especially dangerous when the release of mucus is accompanied by additional symptoms, for example, pain in the lower abdomen, high fever and general weakness.

Watery discharge, which appears in small quantities, is not a symptom of pathology. They should be transparent or with slight white streaks. Such mucus should not contain impurities of a suspicious color, nor should there be an unpleasant odor.

Most often, suspicious discharge appears due to an infectious disease, venereal disease, or due to hormonal imbalance. Such situations require proper treatment and consultation with a specialist. Not only the smell and color can indicate a problem. It is worth paying attention to the abundance of liquid output. Even clear discharge in the form of water that is too intense can indicate illness. If there are any suspicious symptoms, a woman must undergo all diagnostic procedures, which will help determine the causes of such trouble. Many ailments associated with the genitourinary system can be cured quickly enough if you consult a doctor in time. The main thing is to prevent the disease from becoming chronic.

Why does mucous discharge appear?

Why does abundant mucous discharge appear in women, what is it, and is it normal - such questions at certain periods of life become relevant for almost every woman. Normally, slightly white mucous discharge in women appears in small quantities. They are opaque because there are epithelial cells in the vagina, which gradually acquire a yellow-white tint on the underwear throughout the day. Before menstruation, mucous discharge may be more abundant; after menstruation, for several days it has a pinkish tint.

Watery discharge and pregnancy

During the period of bearing a child, a woman should be especially attentive to her health. The first suspicious signs should be a signal that the expectant mother should urgently consult a doctor.

Mucus discharge during pregnancy may only be normal in the first trimester. This occurs due to a serious change in hormonal levels. Active production of progesterone can provoke an increase in watery discharge. They should be transparent and odorless. Brownish, yellow and pink discharge is a dangerous symptom that may be a sign of an impending miscarriage.

When is mucus discharge normal?

During the monthly cycle, mucus secretion in women occurs differently at different periods. Therefore, it is important to know in what cases the discharge is related to physiology and indicates a normal state of health.

The volume and consistency of discharge may vary due to the following factors:

  • Period of the monthly cycle. Throughout the cycle, changes occur in the consistency and volume of mucus. In the first half, the discharge is colorless and liquid, in the second it is more viscous, “snotty”. Just before your period, they become creamy and have a sour smell. After menstruation, the amount of mucus decreases and the smell disappears.
  • Age. In girls up to about ten years of age, vaginal discharge does not appear at all, since her eggs have not yet matured, and there are no cyclic changes yet. But if a little girl has discharge in the form of white clots, mixed with pus or blood, she needs to urgently consult a doctor - a pediatric gynecologist.
  • Menopause . During menopause, women are often bothered by vaginal dryness, which manifests itself due to a sharp reduction in mucus secretion due to a decrease in the amount of the hormone estrogen . Therefore, during menopause, very little mucus is secreted.
  • Treatment with hormones and oral contraceptives. When using such products, some women secrete mucus in smaller quantities than usual.
  • Severe stress . With constant fatigue and tension or after experiencing stress, vaginal dryness is often noted. Therefore, the volume of clear mucus decreases.
  • Sexual intercourse. Before sexual contact, the amount of discharge increases sharply.
  • Pregnancy . Watery discharge becomes more abundant after conception. During pregnancy, the nature of the discharge changes.
  • Consequences of childbirth. Lochia - postpartum discharge of blood and mucus is gradually replaced by clear mucus.
  • Breastfeeding . During lactation, prolactin . Less mucus is produced during this period.

More information about discharge at different periods of a woman’s life will be discussed below.

Discharge during ovulation

In the first phase of the monthly cycle, very abundant transparent discharge, as a rule, does not appear. But then, at the ovulatory stage, the mucus in the cervical canal liquefies. It becomes stringy and viscous to make it easier for sperm to enter the uterine cavity.

Therefore, during the period when a woman ovulates - approximately on days 12-16 of the cycle, light transparent discharge is replaced by viscous, stretchy and thicker ones. During ovulation, women experience more transparent mucous discharge, like egg white, sometimes jelly-like. The woman notices that there are many such leucorrhoea for several days. In addition, sometimes during ovulation there is pain or a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen. Such sensations go away after a few days.

During ovulation, pink discharge may appear. This is due to a slight release of blood as a result of follicle rupture. Such manifestations should not frighten or alarm, provided that they go away in a day or two.

After ovulation, the clear mucous vaginal discharge becomes sticky and sticky again. After ovulation, the functioning of the female reproductive system is determined by the hormone progesterone , so at this time the discharge is less abundant. But at the same time the mucus becomes thicker. Sometimes in the second half of the cycle, vaginal discharge is so scanty that a woman may think that she has no discharge.

But if white discharge appears after ovulation, and at the same time there is discomfort in the genital area, you can suspect the development of thrush . In this case, it is better to ask a specialist about why women secrete white mucus.

Before sexual contact

The causes of transparent mucous discharge in women and girls may also be associated with strong arousal. Immediately before sexual contact, when excited, their number increases, as well as after sexual contact. In most cases, clear, odorless vaginal mucus causes genital irritation without causing itching or burning. Such manifestations are completely normal.

In the second half of the cycle

During this period, after the end of ovulation , the discharge is normally more scanty and has a creamy consistency. Often, clear discharge before menstruation becomes more abundant again - this happens 2-3 days before menstruation. A woman needs to worry only if leucorrhoea appears with an odor, pronounced white or yellow-green. This may indicate the onset of an inflammatory process or other pathological conditions. Therefore, if you are bothered by leucorrhoea with a smell, a strange consistency and color, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.

Features of discharge during the cycle

Thus, throughout the entire cycle, the nature of the discharge changes. Immediately after menstruation, practically no clear mucus appears from the uterus, that is, immediately after menstruation, the so-called “dry” period begins. During ovulation, mucus becomes similar to egg white. In the second period of the cycle, the discharge again becomes sticky and sticky. And just before menstruation, clear liquid discharge appears in women, like water.

If there is a delay in menstruation, then instead of menstruation, mucous discharge also appears. After all, during pregnancy there is also discharge.

During pregnancy

Often, when a pregnant woman secretes mucus from the vagina in the form of snot, the woman begins to seriously worry about whether the process of bearing her baby is proceeding normally. To do this, it is important to know the characteristics of such manifestations at each stage of pregnancy.

Until the 12th week, the functioning of the reproductive system is determined by progesterone , under the influence of which mucous discharge appears - like “snot” from the vagina. Discharges as clear as snot are considered a sign of pregnancy.

But already from the 13th week, transparent discharge, like snot, without odor, becomes more liquid and abundant, as the phase of activity of the hormone estrogen . Normally, mucous, snot-like discharge in women does not cause discomfort and has no odor. If the eggs are a little stretchy, white-like, a little whitish, but at the same time uniform, this is normal.

If the mucus secretion is too intense, you should use panty liners. It is better not to use tampons during pregnancy.

Pregnant women often develop candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis .

Too strong leucorrhoea, in which lumps, flakes, clots are detected, as well as very intense white discharge, like snot, with cheesy inclusions and an unpleasant odor, and also if the lower abdomen hurts, this is a reason to contact your gynecologist. He will determine why this is happening and prescribe the correct treatment. After all, this condition can cause termination of pregnancy.

Mucus discharge instead of menstruation

Often a woman experiences heavy discharge before her period. But, despite the fact that the answer to the question whether it is normal to have white discharge before menstruation is positive, it is important not to miss the onset of a developing disease. If the departments have acquired an unpleasant odor or any symptoms develop that alarm the woman, she should not delay contacting a doctor.

It happens that on those days when menstruation is supposed to begin, a woman experiences white discharge instead of menstruation. If there are no unpleasant sensations, then it is quite possible that we are talking about a slight delay, and menstruation will begin soon. But if the secretions are cheesy, white-yellow, causing itching and burning, then most likely candidiasis or an infectious disease develops.

Sometimes abundant white discharge before menstruation is evidence of pregnancy. This is a kind of protective reaction of the body - mucus should protect the uterus from infections.

This is also possible with hormonal and endocrine disorders, after severe stress or after too intense physical activity. But in this case, it is still better to consult a doctor and make sure that everything is fine with your health.

Questions of etiology

Watery discharge in itself is not a pathological sign. They appear in girls who have just begun to develop. Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, the fluid may come out more or less actively. Some girls are faced with the fact that even before the start of their period, clear discharge comes out in very large quantities. In addition, it is worth noting that during adolescence, secretions from the genital organs may periodically disappear completely, and then resume with the same force. This is normal, since everything depends on the production of estrogen. Until the hormonal levels are normalized, it is impossible to talk about any stability in the body.

Liquid discharge during certain phases of the cycle is also considered normal. But here you need to take into account that there should not be too many of them. Even during ovulation, when fluid comes out abundantly, this process is limited in time. A large amount of watery discharge should not exceed 3 days, otherwise we can talk about the development of a pathological process in the woman’s body.

Another normal phenomenon is copious watery discharge that appears at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. This does not happen to everyone, but some expectant mothers complain about the abundance of fluid. The reason for this is excessive production of progesterone due to the formation of the placenta. In about a week everything should be back to normal.

Many women experience watery discharge during sexual arousal. This phenomenon lasts from several hours to a day and then disappears completely. This symptom is purely individual. Each representative of the fair sex has a unique reaction, but there are still certain limitations. If heavy watery discharge after sexual intercourse does not go away within 5 days, this will be an alarming symptom.

Prolonged release of fluid from the genital tract most often indicates the development of an inflammatory process in the organs of the reproductive system. This may be a problem of the mucous membrane, fallopian tube or ovaries. At first, the discharge will be simply transparent and watery, but after that it will change its color, consistency and smell. Suspicious yellow or greenish discharge indicates the development of endometritis, in which case it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

Reddish discharge is a sign of ovulation. But in this case there will be very little blood, and it will quickly disappear. Red or brown discharge that does not go away for more than a week can be a signal of cervical erosion, the presence of polyps, and even cancer. But blood in the fluid coming out of the genital tract is only the primary symptom. You should definitely pay attention to additional symptoms and immediately consult a doctor.

Abundant watery discharge is also caused by vaginal dysbiosis. This is a very unpleasant disease that causes a lot of inconvenience to a woman and can cause serious complications. Dysbacteriosis is characterized by burning and itching in the perineal area, which is mainly noticeable after sexual intercourse. The discharge will be very profuse, and in the absence of proper treatment, an unpleasant fishy smell will appear.

Most bacterial infections begin with copious, watery discharge. They may have different shades and smells, which indicates the development of a particular disease. It is important that the release of mucus occurs for quite a long time, that is, more than a week. In addition, it is worth noting that periodically suspicious discharge may disappear, but this does not mean that the problem with the infection has been solved and the disease has receded. It is quite possible that at this stage the disease has entered a chronic stage, so the unpleasant symptom will return with each decrease in the functions of the immune system.

The most dangerous cause of heavy and prolonged discharge is oncology. Therefore, such a sign cannot be ignored. If the watery discharge is excessive and does not stop for more than a week, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Among the unusual causes of watery discharge, it is worth highlighting a foreign object in the genitals. This does not happen often, but some representatives of the fair sex still turn to specialists with such problems.

If, after carrying out all the necessary diagnostic procedures, no pathologies were identified, the woman needs to pay attention to her nutrition and psycho-emotional state. Strict diets or constant stress can negatively affect the condition of the entire body, including hormonal levels. As a result, unpleasant symptoms may appear, such as heavy watery discharge.

Separately, it is worth mentioning hygiene standards. Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules can cause infection of the reproductive system and the development of dysbacteriosis. This leads to the appearance of copious watery discharge with an unpleasant odor. Women who try too hard to cleanse their bodies and constantly use douching run the risk of disrupting their vaginal microflora. As a result, the discharge will not be what it should be normally. This also applies to those representatives of the fair sex who use tampons too often.

When should you be concerned?

The development of pathological processes should be suspected if the smell of mucus becomes sharp, sour and unpleasant. It may also resemble the smell of rotten fish. Such manifestations are characteristic of bacterial vaginitis or other sexually transmitted diseases. With genital infections, transparent, stretchy mucous discharge in men may also appear, so representatives of the stronger sex in this case will also need an urgent consultation with a doctor.

If heavy discharge changes color and becomes yellowish-green or deep yellow, sometimes the lower abdomen hurts, this also indicates the development of unpleasant diseases. Even if pain in the lower abdomen appears rarely, but the color of the mucus has changed dramatically, it is better to consult a doctor.

If a woman after forty years has very abundant watery discharge or mucus like jelly, this should also be alarming. The doctor will be able to determine whether the discharge is like jelly, whether it is a pathology or the norm, after examination and testing.

The mucous membranes gradually change their character during thrush - they become white and cheesy. In this case, discomfort, itching, and periodic burning develop. In this case, the use of antifungal drugs will be required. It is quite possible that your sexual partner will also have to undergo such therapy.

In any period other than menstruation, a woman should be concerned about why there is discharge mixed with blood. This may be evidence of dangerous diseases.

Thus, if for a long time the daily amount of mucus exceeds the volume of one teaspoon, if the color of the secretions changes to yellow, green, brown or red and a bad odor appears, you must definitely visit a doctor. Symptoms that should alert you are also pain in the lower abdomen, itching and redness of the genitals, and increased body temperature. If at least some of these symptoms bother a woman, it is important to get tested. After all, we can talk about inflammatory diseases, genital infections, cysts , erosions , etc.

Questions of etiology

Watery discharge in itself is not a pathological sign. They appear in girls who have just begun to develop. Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, the fluid may come out more or less actively. Some girls are faced with the fact that even before the start of their period, clear discharge comes out in very large quantities. In addition, it is worth noting that during adolescence, secretions from the genital organs may periodically disappear completely, and then resume with the same force. This is normal, since everything depends on the production of estrogen. Until the hormonal levels are normalized, it is impossible to talk about any stability in the body.

Liquid discharge during certain phases of the cycle is also considered normal. But here you need to take into account that there should not be too many of them. Even during ovulation, when fluid comes out abundantly, this process is limited in time. A large amount of watery discharge should not exceed 3 days, otherwise we can talk about the development of a pathological process in the woman’s body.

Another normal phenomenon is copious watery discharge that appears at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. This does not happen to everyone, but some expectant mothers complain about the abundance of fluid. The reason for this is excessive production of progesterone due to the formation of the placenta. In about a week everything should be back to normal.

Many women experience watery discharge during sexual arousal. This phenomenon lasts from several hours to a day and then disappears completely. This symptom is purely individual. Each representative of the fair sex has a unique reaction, but there are still certain limitations. If heavy watery discharge after sexual intercourse does not go away within 5 days, this will be an alarming symptom.

Prolonged release of fluid from the genital tract most often indicates the development of an inflammatory process in the organs of the reproductive system. This may be a problem of the mucous membrane, fallopian tube or ovaries. At first, the discharge will be simply transparent and watery, but after that it will change its color, consistency and smell. Suspicious yellow or greenish discharge indicates the development of endometritis, in which case it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

Reddish discharge is a sign of ovulation. But in this case there will be very little blood, and it will quickly disappear. Red or brown discharge that does not go away for more than a week can be a signal of cervical erosion, the presence of polyps, and even cancer. But blood in the fluid coming out of the genital tract is only the primary symptom. You should definitely pay attention to additional symptoms and immediately consult a doctor.

Abundant watery discharge is also caused by vaginal dysbiosis. This is a very unpleasant disease that causes a lot of inconvenience to a woman and can cause serious complications. Dysbacteriosis is characterized by burning and itching in the perineal area, which is mainly noticeable after sexual intercourse. The discharge will be very profuse, and in the absence of proper treatment, an unpleasant fishy smell will appear.

Most bacterial infections begin with copious, watery discharge. They may have different shades and smells, which indicates the development of a particular disease. It is important that the release of mucus occurs for quite a long time, that is, more than a week. In addition, it is worth noting that periodically suspicious discharge may disappear, but this does not mean that the problem with the infection has been solved and the disease has receded. It is quite possible that at this stage the disease has entered a chronic stage, so the unpleasant symptom will return with each decrease in the functions of the immune system.

The most dangerous cause of heavy and prolonged discharge is oncology. Therefore, such a sign cannot be ignored. If the watery discharge is excessive and does not stop for more than a week, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Among the unusual causes of watery discharge, it is worth highlighting a foreign object in the genitals. This does not happen often, but some representatives of the fair sex still turn to specialists with such problems.

If, after carrying out all the necessary diagnostic procedures, no pathologies were identified, the woman needs to pay attention to her nutrition and psycho-emotional state. Strict diets or constant stress can negatively affect the condition of the entire body, including hormonal levels. As a result, unpleasant symptoms may appear, such as heavy watery discharge.

Separately, it is worth mentioning hygiene standards. Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules can cause infection of the reproductive system and the development of dysbacteriosis. This leads to the appearance of copious watery discharge with an unpleasant odor. Women who try too hard to cleanse their bodies and constantly use douching run the risk of disrupting their vaginal microflora. As a result, the discharge will not be what it should be normally. This also applies to those representatives of the fair sex who use tampons too often.

conclusions

Mucous discharge from the vagina in a woman is a physiological phenomenon and absolutely normal. But at the same time, it is very important to carefully monitor whether their character changes and whether symptoms appear that are alarming. It should be understood that the sooner a woman contacts a gynecologist if there are alarming signs, the sooner the treatment prescribed by the doctor will work.

If you have certain doubts about whether everything is normal with vaginal discharge, or if you are periodically concerned about previously uncharacteristic phenomena, for example, mucus during menstruation, it is worth taking a smear test. Provided that the number of leukocytes is not more than normal and rods dominate the flora, you don’t have to worry about inflammation.

Every woman must strictly follow the rules of intimate hygiene. Mom needs to teach the girls this in a timely manner. After all, with the wrong approach to hygiene, mucus will accumulate on the genitals, and pathogenic microorganisms will begin to multiply in it.

Vaginal secretions and menstruation

Any female genital discharge that appears during or after menstruation is associated with cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is a special substance found in the cervix. It consists predominantly of water, but there may also be various impurities associated with normal female physiology or pathology. The female body undergoes various changes during the month, which are reflected in the functioning of the uterus and other reproductive organs. The features of these changes can also be traced by the nature of the discharge.

The physiology of a woman’s reproductive and genital organs largely depends on the influence of hormones. The most powerful influence is estrogen, which is responsible for stimulating the cervix. The effect of estrogen on the uterus increases the appearance of cervical mucus. This phenomenon is also observed with the increased influence of ovarian hormones. Vaginal discharge in the form of snot against the background of these processes is completely natural.

The volume and consistency of cervical mucus released during your cycle may vary. These changes can be noted on different days of the cycle, and sometimes doctors ask the patient to take notes about such changes. One of the main functions of cervical mucus is to maintain a favorable environment for the movement of sperm in the uterus and fertilization. During ovulation, cervical mucus is secreted more actively and becomes thick.

What diseases does it occur in?

Possible diseases affecting the appearance of specific vaginal fluid:

  • Bacterial vaginosis. This pathological condition is associated with a disruption of the normal bacterial balance in the vagina, which leads to an increase in the number of pathogenic bacteria. Normally, the vaginal mucosa is inhabited by neutral and opportunistic microorganisms, but under certain conditions the number of harmful bacteria may increase. It is one of the most common vaginal infections in women of childbearing age. Symptoms of the disease include a change in the color of cervical mucus, as well as the appearance of a specific odor. Often patients complain that the lower abdomen hurts and there is a burning sensation during urination.
  • Vaginal fungal infections. This infectious process is associated with the spread of a pathogenic fungus in the vaginal mucosa. The disease may be accompanied by the appearance of whitish, curd-like mucus with a pungent odor. In addition, patients may complain of itching, swelling and pain when urinating. With the disease, the formation of vaginal fluid in the form of mucus may also be observed.

Treatment of these diseases will lead to the normalization of reproductive processes.

Discharge like snot can be detected after childbirth, which is associated with the separation of intrauterine fluid. Also, in rare cases, bloody clots from the vagina may indicate slight bleeding.

Read more: How long does discharge last after childbirth?

White vaginal discharge

Discharge during puberty can be caused by abnormalities in the body. These include problems and inflammation in the intestinal tract, bladder, ovaries or uterus. In such cases, the discharge is accompanied by pain in the lumbar region and/or lower abdomen, often of a pulling and aching nature, and the temperature may rise. A blood test will reveal signs of inflammatory processes (increased ESR, leukocytes).

White discharge can also occur in women during lactation and feeding. However, during this period, secretion noticeably decreases, and there should not be a lot of thick discharge, on the contrary, noticeably less. The yellowish color of the discharge during this period is also classified as normal.

Thrush (candidiasis) is also characterized by white discharge, but a woman can easily distinguish it from normal discharge. Firstly, the texture becomes curdled, a sharp sour milk smell appears, and these changes occur quickly, literally in a day or two. And secondly, this is accompanied by other symptoms that help a woman determine that there is an infection: itching, redness, burning, discomfort and swelling of the genitals. With the development of candidiasis, we can almost always talk about reduced immune defense of the body.

With candidiasis, a white coating of a curd-like nature may also occur on the walls of the vagina. Very often, thrush is “paired” with other STDs, such as ureaplasmosis, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, etc. Of course, such symptoms require research to determine the causative agent and diagnosis, followed by treatment.

Causes of mucus secretion

Various pathologies can develop in a woman’s body, which become the causes of the formation of abundant mucus.

With gynecological diseases, changes in the consistency and color of the discharge occur, and a characteristic unpleasant odor appears. In addition, the woman faces additional symptoms that make her feel discomfort in the genitals.

Transparent selections

Transparent mucus is a natural vaginal discharge.

The main reasons for its appearance include:

  • fluctuations in hormonal levels in different phases of the menstrual cycle;
  • pregnancy period;
  • increased level of estrogen in the body;
  • onset of arousal during sexual contact;
  • stressful situations;
  • change in climatic conditions;
  • taking hormonal drugs.

We can talk about the proper functioning of the ovaries if the mucus from the vagina does not exceed the permissible volume, does not have a specific odor and does not cause itching and burning in the perineum.

https://youtu.be/FWw1bQRALpI

Bloody discharge

Discharge in women, like snot with blood, indicates the appearance of a source of bleeding in the genitals. Most often, this is minor damage to the vasculature of the uterus and its cervix, localized in the mucous layer. It does not yet lead to the development of full-fledged bleeding not associated with menstruation.

The causes of discharge of this nature can be erosion or cancer of the cervix, tumor processes of the uterus (submucous myomas, fibroids), etc. In any case, the development of just such a symptom is a good reason for an urgent visit to a gynecologist. In a pregnant woman in the early stages, the appearance of vaginal discharge of this nature usually indicates a potential threat of spontaneous abortion.

In the period after 22-25 weeks of pregnancy and later, an admixture of blood in the mucous secretion may lead the doctor to think about the threat of premature placental abruption or its possible previa (placental tissue is connected to the internal cervical os - a variant of pathology).

Infectious lesions

Bacterial vaginosis - most often gardnerella is found in large quantities in a smear - occurs when the balance between saprophytic microflora and lactobacilli is disturbed. This usually happens when immunity decreases. The mucus becomes yellow-green or grayish-white. It is accompanied by the smell of rotten fish. Treatment is carried out with antibiotics, the most effective are Clindamycin and Metronidazole gel.

With trichomoniasis, mucus in the form of snot is foamy, thick, abundant and with an unpleasant odor, milky or yellow. If you refuse treatment, it becomes chronic.

Gonorrhea - the discharge is also abundant, but purulent, foamy, greenish or yellow. Genital herpes is a watery, copious discharge, in addition to which bubbles with cloudy contents form on the skin of the genital organs and mucous membrane, they burst, resulting in wound surfaces.

Chlamydia - white or clear discharge, very profuse, with abdominal pain, dyspareunia, pain and increased urination.

Ureaplasmosis - the incubation period can last up to a month. There is mild pain when urinating at the beginning or end of the act, a small amount of discharge similar to snot, but with an unpleasant odor. Burning in the genitals. Ureaplasmosis can also be localized in the throat during oral sex; a woman can be a source of infection without even knowing it. Antibacterial treatment.

When is a doctor needed?

If vaginal discharge in the form of clear mucus is not accompanied by pathological symptoms such as an unpleasant odor, impurities of pus or blood, increased body temperature, pain and discomfort, then this is considered a variant of the physiological norm.

The following signs are reasons to contact a medical specialist:

  1. Increased body temperature;
  2. Aching and cutting sensations in the perineum;
  3. Discomfort and pain during intimacy;
  4. Menstrual dysfunction;
  5. Frequent and painful urge to urinate;
  6. Redness, rash and itching on the mucous membrane of the external genitalia;
  7. Drawing pain in the lumbar region.

If one sign or a combination of them appears, the woman is recommended to immediately undergo a medical examination. The choice of diagnostic and treatment tactics is carried out by a specialist gynecologist or dermatovenerologist. If an infectious disease of a bacterial nature is detected, the patient is prescribed a course of antibacterial therapy with broad-spectrum drugs. If pathological discharge is caused by the genital herpes virus, then this problem can be solved with the help of antiviral agents. A striking example is the drug Acyclovir.

Norm or pathology

Even a healthy woman can experience vaginal discharge. Here the question will be about their characteristics - color, volume, frequency, whether there are any additional symptoms present. Healthy discharge is characterized by:

  • a transparent liquid consistency that resembles jelly-like mucus;
  • lack of odor;
  • the total amount does not exceed 2 ml;
  • when excretion comes into contact with the skin, it remains clean, no rashes or irritations appear;
  • the mucous membranes of the genital organs are not irritated;
  • The woman has a normal temperature and no pain discomfort in the lower abdomen or groin.

If none of the above changes, then there is no need to worry about your health. But as soon as discomfort appears in the form of itching, redness or pain, including during sexual intercourse, this becomes the first alarm bell. When an infection gets into the female genital organs, you should not delay it, as this can lead to extremely sad consequences, including infertility.

What is normal discharge?

Vaginal discharge, which is classified as “normal,” consists of mucus, dead epithelial cells, microbes, and secretion of the Bartholin glands (located in the vaginal vestibule). The discharge also contains lactic acid, a substance produced by the vital activity of lactobacilli, and glycogen, a substance necessary for the normal nutrition of the beneficial microflora of the female genital area. During the period of ovulation, glycogen in the secretions shows the highest quantitative values ​​when compared with other periods of the cycle.

The normal appearance and amount of vaginal discharge is mucous, almost transparent or slightly whitish discharge of uniform texture, sometimes with small lumps in amounts up to 5-10 g per day. The smell of the discharge is either absent or not strong. If there is a bad smell in the discharge, this is a reason to sign up for analysis.

Clear vaginal discharge

If the mucus has a transparent structure, without emitting a pungent odor or causing discomfort, then this is simply proof of the proper functioning of the reproductive system, i.e. ovaries. Up to 2 ml of such secretion can be released per day, while a slightly whitish tint does not indicate pathology. This is simply the process of cleansing the vagina.

The volume and structure of discharge changes according to the phases of the menstrual cycle:

  • From 1 to 5-7 days – the period of menstruation. First, spotting pink or brown secretions appear; on days 2-4 they include the maximum volume of blood in the form of lumps or clots; on days 5-7 they again decrease to spotting.
  • From 5-7 to 13-14 days is the period of egg maturation. Copious mucus is not secreted at this time - only about 2 ml of watery, mucous or thick particles with lumps. Don't worry if the color changes from clear white to yellowish.
  • Day 14-15 is the time of ovulation. Estrogen reaches its maximum level, so mucus comes out up to 4 ml. Its structure is stretchy, but sometimes it can be watery, and often even sticky. The hue during this period is the most saturated.
  • Days 16-28 – the period before menstruation. The reproductive system calms down a little - there is less discharge, but just before the end of the cycle a sudden surge is possible due to an increase in the amount of hormones.
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