Leukorrhea: Types, Causes and Prevention By Dr Pratibha Singhal

Leukorrhea, commonly known as vaginal discharge usually begins in girls when they enter into puberty and they are about to start their menses. It is called menarche. At this time, the genital organs get active and estrogen starts secreting. And the glands start secreting a normal fluid so as to keep the genital track clean, remove the dead cells and the bacteria. So this is called a normal degree of discharge. But it is not excess, not foul smelling and it is not itchy. At the time of ovulation or at the time of cycle, there is egg formation, this discharge increases. It is thin, watery and it is not itchy but it is significant. So, this is a natural human process because at the time of egg formation, the charge becomes thin and it tries to become receptive. This is natural. It is a hormonal cycle and in the mid cycle at the time of egg formation this discharge gets thin so that you are able to receive the sperm and create the pregnancy. Onlymyhealth editorial team spoke to Dr. Pratibha Singhal, Director of Department of Gynecology and Obesetriction, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Noida about the symptoms, causes and preventive measures of Leukorrhea. 

Causes of Leukorrhea 

Now, one has to definitely get alarmed if this discharge is too much or itchy, smelly or if it is blood stained. Under these circumstances, one has to take action and get a check up done. According to Dr. Pratibha, the main causes if such discharge are: 

1. Intake of Antibiotics, oral contraceptives and diabetes

Sometimes you're taking broad spectrum antibiotics. If you're taking antibiotics, oral contraceptives or have diabetes, so the bacteria present in the vagina gets suppressed and the pathogenic organs like fungus and yeast get active and cause discharge. 

2. Bacterial vaginosis

This is a bacterial infection of the vagina and this causes a very foul smelling and a fishy odour in discharge, which is irritating and it is frothy.

Also read: Check Out These Home Remedies For Vaginal Hygiene

3. Sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and gonorrhoea also would cause itchy and frothy discharge and along with urinary tract symptoms. In fact, they can also cause infertility. Chlamydial infection can cause tubal blockage and other problems of conceiving too. 

3. Trichomoniasis

A mixed infection that occurs because of trichomoniasis or candida or fungal infection. Trichomoniasis is a sort of virus which results to a very frothy yellowish discharge. It is also very itchy and usually comes in small children. It can come when they are playing in mud or itching themselves. But in young girls, it occurs when they get sexually active. It usually gets transmitted from one partner to another and the females are the ones who get this infection. Young ones with poor hygiene are likely to get trichomoniasis infection. It has to be treated otherwise it is makes the person very uncomfortable. 

4. Candidiasis infection 

It is common if you're taking antibiotics or if one is taking oral contraceptives or is diabetic. This type of discharge is very typical. "It is thick and people come and tell us it is like 'curd'. So this is because of candidias infection," said Dr. Pratibha Singhal.

Also read: Are Intimate Feminine Hygiene Products Safe?

5. Cancer

Whenever there is cervical cancer, because there is a tumour sitting at the lowest part of the uterus and that gives rise to a very foul smelling, blood stained discharge. Whenever a lady is elderly or rather sometimes in young ages also we see cervical cancer. That always gives rise to a lot of foul smelling discharge which is blood stained. A girl needs to consult a gynaecologist for a speculum examination, if these signs occur. 

How to prevent these causes? 

To prevent these infections, personal hygiene is very important. One has to take care of the symptoms and let the doctor know about them. Some preventive measures of these causes of discharge are: 

1. While going to the washroom, you should wash yourself with cold water and then dry yourself with tissue. Drying should be from front to back and not from back to front. Because from back go front, the bacteria of the anal area or rectum will come forward and they then infect the vagina. 

2. Usage of scented soaps, perfumed soaps and perfumed sanitary pads should be avoided because they can cause allergic reaction

3. One should also preferably wear cotton undergarments and not synthetic 

4. And if a girl is getting recurring infections, then one should avoid using tampons.

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