KNOW WHAT YOUR VAGINAL DISCHARGE IS SAYING?

Every woman experiences a discharge of mucus from their vagina. The vagina acts a bridge between  the uterus to the outside world.

The glands inside the vagina and cervix produces fluids that cleanse, protect and regulate it by carrying away bacteria, dead cells and maintaining the PH balance. The vaginal environment is acidic and which is made by healthy bacteria that prevents infections from happening.

A normal discharge may be clear, cloudy white and/or yellowish when dried. It may also have white parches and sometimes thin and stretchy. The changes in normal discharge can happens for numerous reasons such as menstrual cycle which you will observe a clear but increased wetness due to changes in PH balance. and an infection could occur as a result of the fall in acid level; emotional stressors which has a way of disturbing the healthy bacteria in the vagina; nutritional status- foods have effect on the vaginal PH balance and can affect the smell and taste (don’t ask me how! Lol). For instance, garlic, onions, alcohol and spices while yoghurt with probiotics can help keep a healthy vagina by maintaining a healthy PH and balance; pregnancy can cause increased vaginal discharge due to changes in hormone levels; usage of medications like antibiotics and birth  control pills. Antibiotics deplete the healthy bacteria and sexual arousal which produces increased clear and slippery fluid to aid in the act of intercourse.

The vagina talks through the discharge and you need to understand what the vagina is saying. Do you feel off or look away when you take off your undies? Does the air smell like fish market? Do you see weird colours?  Are you itchy that you want to grab a brush to help out?

CLEAR OR WHITE, WET AND SLIPPERY: Probably saying ovulation or Sexual arousal fluid during arousal or intercourse. During ovulation, this slippery discharge shows up the middle of your cycle. It is your body’s way of making sperm move freely into the vagina and fertilize and egg. While during sex, it makes intercourse enjoyable.

WHITE, CLUMPY AND ITCHY: This is a sign of yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of the yeast that assist control the healthy bacteria in the vagina. This discharge is thick, white and curd-like and is followed by itching on the outer and inner labia. Yeast infection is caused by wearing moist undies or clothes. Women with diabetes or on antibiotics are prone to yeast infection.

GRAYISH, THIN WITH FOUL SMELL: It indicates symptoms of Bacterial vaginosis which happens when something has interfered with the bacterial balance in your vagina. This is the most  frequent vaginal infection among women within the childbearing age (15 to 44). Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis include Douching, new or multiple sex partners.

YELLOWISH-GREEN WITH LITTLE STINGS: An indicator of the presence of chlamydia or gonorrhoea. These are the two most popular bacterial STDs. For some women, they encounter pelvic pain and burning sensation when urinating while some may have no symptom at all. Please see your doctor. If diagnosed as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, please get your partner to be treated as well else you will keep passing infection back and forth to each other. You may also have Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

GRAY OR GREEN FROTHY WITH UNPLEASANT ODOUR: This indicates Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted Disease (STD)  caused by a small organism called Trichomonas vaginalis. It occurs both in men and women but largely, women are affected by this disease. The organism also lives on inanimate objects like towels and vibrators,

BLOODY OR BROWNISH COLOUR: If the bloody discharge occurs immediately after your menstrual period, then there is nothing to fret about because it is probably the left over blood from your period that took its time to vacate your vagina. Foreign body within the vagina can cause the discharge to be brownish in colour and have an unpleasant smell. Also, cancer of the cervix or uterine lining of the uterus can cause a brownish coloured vaginal discharge.

 Now you can tell what your vaginal discharge is saying.