WHEN TO CALL LEUCORRHOEA ABNORMAL?

What is Leucorrhea?

Leucorrhea is the normal milky white or clear vaginal discharge. It is usually thin and could have a mild odor. It typically does not come with itching or strong foul odor. Leucorrhoea does not develop all of a sudden. Apart from the normal occurrence during puberty or sexual excitement at times, it is an indication that something is wrong with your body or reproductive system.

As white vaginal discharge can sometimes seem like an infection, it’s important to know when it’s normal to experience leucorrhea and when it’s a problem. Leucorrhoea will not affect the health if it is caused due to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, sexual excitement, early pregnancy, and puberty. If the vaginal discharge is yellowish and has a foul smell, it is commonly due to bacterial or viral infection (sexually transmitted infection). If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

Types of Leucorrhoea

• Physiological Leucorrhoea – Common in almost every woman, and caused by the body’s natural defenses. The mechanism of the vagina is to maintain its chemical balance and preserve the flexibility of the vaginal tissue.
• Inflammatory Leucorrhoea – It happens due to vaginal swelling or congestion inside the vaginal mucosa, the affected area very often gives out yellow-colored discharge with a foul smell. This type of Leucorrhoea also includes vaginal discharge caused by the sexually transmitted disease and due to post-partum discharge after delivery.

Symptoms

• Thick whitish/ yellowish discharge
• Lower abdominal pain
• Painful intercourse
• Intense itching of the vagina
• Burning sensation while urinating and frequent urge to pass very little urine
• Digestive disturbances like constipation
• Tiredness due to loss of vital fluids as discharges
• Strong smell or frothy discharge

Causes

Whenever our body gets loaded with toxins and the eliminatory organs like skin, bowels, and lungs are unable to expel these toxins, the body will try to flush it out through the mucous membrane of the uterus and vagina in the form of leucorrhoea. Some of the common causes are listed below:

• Excessive intake of oily, spicy, and unhealthy food
• Hormonal imbalance due to severe mental stress
• Overindulgence in sexual activity
• Following improper diet and lifestyle
• Improper vaginal hygiene
• Alcohol & smoking

Due to chills

Leucorrhoea can also occur due to chills. Chills usually cause the inflammation of the womb and vaginal membranes. Other reasons may be the displacement of the uterus or unhygienic conditions which cause the bacteria to infect genital organs.

Chronic gonorrhea

The leucorrhoea due to chronic gonorrhea is considered to be abnormal discharge. In mature women, a profuse yellowish discharge accompanied by burning during urination may be the result of chronic gonorrhea. The infection may sometimes follow the birth of a child, due to damage to the cervix during pregnancy. This is aggravated by prolonged illness, anxiety, neurosis, sedentary lifestyle, and standing for long hours. If not treated properly the infection spreads to other genital organs.

Steps to prevent abnormal Leucorrhoea

The doctor might be able to identify whatever led to your symptoms - such as antibiotic use, wearing non-cotton underwear, wearing tight-fitting undergarments during exercise, using scented products that irritate the vaginal lining, or using birth control pills. The following steps can to an extent prevent the occurrence of leucorrhoea.

• Good hygiene and cleanliness during menstrual cycles
• Good dietary habits
• Wash undergarments with an antibiotic solution and let it dry under the sun
• Avoid stress - stress and strain may affect the hormonal levels
• Avoid foods that will aggravate the problem or increase your chances of getting leucorrhoea by avoiding all heavy, oily, fried, sugary, spicy, and sour foods.

Seeking Treatment

If there is pain, foul odor, and discoloration in the white discharge, then it’s time to take it seriously. It is always best to seek medical help or consult a gynecologist since it may be an indication of some other underlying condition. Women’s healthcare treatment services at PFRC range from puberty to menopause and after. We offer gynecology services for women of all ages, starting in their teens. Our experts are among the best Gynecologists in Chennai.