Each body is different and what is normal for some people may not be for others. This occurs, for example, with vaginal discharge. There are women who have abundant discharge and others hardly any; and both are equally healthy. The important thing is that vaginal discharge is not seen as something dirty or unhealthy.
Vaginal discharge is a clear or whitish fluid that comes out of the vagina. It is the natural way through which the woman’s body disposes of secretions and old cells. Normal vaginal secretions are characterized as odorless, clear, viscous, without neutrophils, and do not flow during gynecologic examination with a speculum. Generally the amount of mucus varies throughout the menstrual cycle and depending on each woman.
Reasons why it increases
People who have a lot of discharge sometimes feel uncomfortable and use methods to try to remove it, such as douching and douching. But specialists do not recommend using these techniques, since they can modify the vaginal flora, also increasing the risk of developing infections. Douching kills off the healthy bacteria that protects the vagina.
Throughout life you do not always have the same amount of flow. In addition, there are situations that make it increase. Some are:
Stress.
Ovulation (the production and release of an egg from the ovary in the middle of the menstrual cycle).
Pregnancy.
sexual arousal.
Alert against infections
But not all secretions are normal. When it changes color, smell, or texture, it may be a sign of a vaginal infection . There are symptoms that warn of this and the most common are the following:
Itching or itching in the vaginal area.
Inflammation of the area.
Unpleasant smell.
Greenish, yellowish or grayish color.
Appearance of lumps, with foamy texture.
Many, but not all, can be caught by having sex with someone who has the infection. It occurs with trichomoniasis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, which are treated with medication prescribed by the doctor. The risk of getting these infections increases when you have unprotected sex or have multiple sexual partners.
There are also infections that are not related to sex, such as vaginal yeast infection or atrophic vaginitis . The latter occurs in women who have low estrogen levels because they have gone through the menopause.
There are factors that influence when a person develops a vaginal infection. Some are:
Poor hygiene of the genitals and anus.
Baths in swimming pools.
Urinary and fecal incontinence.
Frequent use of antibiotics.
Immune deficiency.
To prevent possible infections, some preventive measures must be taken, such as keeping the genital area always dry and clean, wearing loose-fitting, loose clothing, avoiding using tampons, wearing cotton underwear, and always protecting yourself with a condom during sexual intercourse.
If you have abundant vaginal discharge with an unpleasant color or odor and you suffer from itching or inflammation in the area, see your gynecologist for a diagnosis and treatment. At SaludOnNet we have an offer of professionals who will help you with whatever you need.
