Leucorrhoea: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is vaginal discharge?

Leucorrhoea or also known as leukorrhea is a discharge that is produced by the vagina at regular intervals. Leucorrhoea is a normal condition that is not always something to worry about.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, vaginal discharge consists of vaginal fluid and cells that are continuously shed. Vaginal discharge comes out naturally to do its job. This shedding indicates the body is working properly to clean and replace old cells with new ones.

This fluid has an important task, namely to moisturize, lubricate, and keep vaginal tissue healthy. Apart from that, whitish discharge also helps protect the vagina from infection and irritation.

But another story with abnormal vaginal discharge that often requires medical attention. Abnormal vaginal discharge (abnormal) is often a sign of certain health problems.

Leukorrhea that is not normal is characterized by an unusual appearance, color, aroma, and texture of mucus. This abnormal discharge can also cause the vagina to feel itchy, painful, or hot.

How common is vaginal discharge?

Whitish both normal and abnormal are very common. This condition can occur in women who have passed puberty, even those who have menopause.

However, this abnormal vaginal discharge can be prevented and controlled by maintaining the cleanliness of the intimate organs.

In addition, don't forget to reduce the factors that can increase the risk. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of vaginal discharge?

It is quite easy to recognize the signs and symptoms of leukorrhea. However, you must be able to distinguish what is normal and what is not.

Here are the various signs and symptoms of vaginal discharge according to the type:

Normal vaginal discharge

Normal vaginal fluid usually:

• It doesn't smell strong, fishy, ​​rancid, or foul
• Clear or milky white in color
• Sticky and slippery texture, can be thick or runny
• It comes in pretty much a slippery, wet texture the few days between menstrual cycles or during ovulation.

However, how much fluid is said to be normal can vary from person to person. Pregnant women generally have more vaginal discharge. Likewise, women who are sexually active and are using contraceptives.

Abnormal vaginal discharge

Same with normal, this type of vaginal discharge is also easy to recognize. In order not to guess, here are the signs of abnormal vaginal discharge plus other accompanying symptoms:

• Whitish color varies from white, yellowish, greenish, gray, to reddish (because it is mixed with blood)
• Vaginal discharge smells bad, fishy, ​​rancid, foul-stinging enough
• Once out, the amount of liquid is greater than usual
• The vagina feels itchy and burning
• Pelvic pain
• Bleeding between menstrual cycles, after, or during intercourse
• Pain when urinating

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

The fluid that comes out of the vagina is not always dangerous, especially in normal vaginal discharge. However, when the texture, color and amount are different from the normal characteristics, you need to be more vigilant. Immediately consult a doctor if you experience:

• Greenish, yellowish, or grayish vaginal discharge
• Itching and burning in the vagina
• The texture is very thick, foamy, or looks like cottage cheese (lumpy white with thick liquid)
• Very annoying fishy or unpleasant smell
• The vagina is reddish and sore due to irritation
• Bleeding outside of menstruation that appears suddenly
• Pelvic pain

To find out the cause, the doctor will ask for other additional symptoms that accompany it. In addition, the doctor will also ask about your health and sexual history.

The treatment given is adjusted to the cause. Therefore, treatment between one person and another is not the same.

Cause

What causes vaginal discharge?

Normal vaginal discharge appears and passes on its own as a natural process of the body. Leucorrhoea is a sign that the vagina is cleaning itself. This is natural.

However, abnormal, foul-smelling vaginal discharge can be caused by certain health problems. For example:

Yeast infection

Candida albicans yeast infection can cause a whitish discharge in the form of thick, cloudy white chunks covered with a thin, watery liquid.

Vaginal yeast infections are generally caused by various things, such as:

• Stress
• Have chronic diabetes
• Using hormonal contraceptives
• Pregnant
• Take antibiotics
• Weak immune system due to drugs or disease

Bacterial infection

Bacterial vaginosis is a bacterial infection that attacks the vagina. Signs and symptoms that appear include:

• White, gray, or green discharge
• Vaginal itching
• Burning feeling when urinating
• Odor-smelling vaginal discharge

One of the factors that increase the risk of bacterial infection is changing sexual partners and not practicing safe sex.

Inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis)

Vaginitis is caused by an infection caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina. Inflammation can also appear when estrogen levels drop dramatically in menopausal women. As a result of this inflammation, the vagina secretes abnormal fluid in a larger amount than usual.

Inflammation of the cervix (cervix)

Inflammation of the cervix is ​​inflammation of the cervix caused by sexually transmitted infections, allergies to contraceptives, and excess bacterial build-up. The appearance of abnormal vaginal discharge is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as pain when urinating to bleeding after sex.

Pelvic inflammation

This condition is caused by bacteria that are sexually transmitted. The bacteria that enter the vagina then move and spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

Pelvic inflammation is a disease characterized by excessive vaginal discharge with an unusual color and odor.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is a disease that attacks the cervix with abnormal vaginal discharge as one of the signs. When the cervix is ​​overgrown with cancer cells, the vaginal discharge that comes out is generally white with a liquid or brown texture with blood plus a strong odor.

Gonorrhea (gonorrhea)

BacteriaNeisseria gonorrhoeae which causes gonorrhea to be one of the causes of abnormal vaginal discharge.

These bacteria are generally transmitted through sexual contact between an infected person and a healthy person.

Bacteria spread especially when you change sexual partners frequently and do not use condoms during sex.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by tiny parasites called one-cell protozoa.

This disease can be characterized by vaginal discharge that is gray, yellow, or green in color. In addition, vaginal discharge due to trichomoniasis also usually produces quite a strong odor.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia or chlamydia or a sexually transmitted disease that occurs due to the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis. These bacteria are spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex. One of the main signs of chlamydia is continuous vaginal discharge.

Generally symptoms appear 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to bacteria.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of experiencing vaginal discharge?

There are many factors that put you at risk for vaginal fluid disorders, namely:

• Having multiple sexual partners
• Do not use condoms during intercourse
• Have diabetes
• Have a condition that weakens the immune system
• Using hormonal contraception
• You are under stress
• Take antibiotics
• Not maintaining the cleanliness of the intimate organs

Daignosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to diagnose vaginal discharge?

Your doctor will diagnose your condition by looking at your current and previous medical history. In addition, the doctor will also ask about the symptoms that appear and are felt.

Your doctor may ask you when you started having vaginal discharge, what color the discharge is, or if it smells bad. The doctor will also ask if you experience itching, pain, or burning on the inside or around the vagina.

Don't be embarrassed to tell details about the symptoms you feel, especially about the vaginal discharge you are experiencing. The reason is, your explanation will help the doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.

To confirm an infection in the vagina, the doctor will take a sample of fluid or cells from the cervix (pap smear) for further examination.

How to treat vaginal discharge?

If the doctor already knows the cause of your abnormal vaginal discharge, he will provide recommendations for treatment according to the condition. The reason is, different causes are different in their handling and treatment options.

Therefore, the treatment for abnormal vaginal discharge varies widely. The doctor will treat the underlying health problems to help reduce or eliminate symptoms including vaginal discharge.

In general, the types of drugs and treatments carried out are:

Antifungal drugs

Treatment for yeast infection depends on the severity and frequency of the infection. For mild to moderate symptoms, the doctor will provide antifungal drugs in the form of creams, ointments, tablets, and suppositories.

Miconazole, terponazole, and fluconazole are variants of the antifungal drugs that are often prescribed. If the symptoms are severe, the dose and duration of use will be adjusted according to the severity of the disease.

Fluconazole (Diflucan) is an oral antifungal medication that is prescribed to treat severe infections. This remedy helps kill fungus throughout the body. Side effects also tend to be mild, namely stomach pain and headaches.

However, drinking antifungal drugs this one usually should not be taken by pregnant women. The reason is, this drug can cause miscarriage or birth defects.

Antibiotics

To treat bacterial infections, doctors will usually give antibiotics to drink or cream. Metronidazole (Flagyl, Metrogel-Vaginal) is a topical gel that is usually inserted into the vagina.

In addition, clindamycin (Cleocin, Clindesse) is also commonly prescribed as a topical cream for the vagina. For drinking antibiotics, doctors can give tinidazole (Tindamax).

Make sure to use the cream or gel your doctor prescribes. If the symptoms disappear before the drug runs out, still take the medicine as prescribed by the doctor.

This is because stopping treatment early can increase the risk of recurrence of symptoms. The doctor will also prescribe long-term antibiotic therapy for cases of recurrent and severe infections.

In addition, increasing the number of good bacteria in the vagina is also an effort that will be done. One natural way to increase good bacteria or lactobacillus is through foods such as yogurt.

Surgery

If the vaginal discharge is caused by cervical cancer, one effective way to treat it is surgery. There are three main types of surgery for cervical cancer, namely:

• Trachelectomy, removal of the tissue around the cervix and the top of the vagina without touching the uterus
• Hysterectomy, removal of the uterus along with cervix and ovaries and fallopian tubes if necessary
• Pelvic exenteration, removal of the cervix, vagina, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum

Chemotherapy

Apart from surgery, chemotherapy is also a widely used procedure for treating cervical cancer. Chemotherapy is usually combined with radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is a high level of radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Chemotherapy for cancer can use a single drug called cisplatin or a combination of several drugs to kill cancer cells. Usually, chemotherapy is put directly into the vein using an IV.

However, this one treatment has several side effects that cannot be underestimated, namely:

• Damaging healthy tissue around cancer cells
• Body aches
• Diarrhea
• Feeling tired all the time due to reduced blood cell production
• Decreased appetite
• Hair loss

Not infrequently, drugs in chemotherapy can also damage the kidneys. Therefore, you need to do routine health tests to check the condition of your kidneys. But just like surgery, chemotherapy is only done for vaginal discharge caused by cervical cancer.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat vaginal discharge?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat vaginal discharge:

• Do not miss the doctor recommended treatment
• Compress the area around the vagina with cold or warm water to relieve itching, swelling, or discomfort in the vulva
• Do not immediately have sex while still undergoing treatment until the doctor allows it
• Use a condom if you plan to have sex
• Routinely clean the vagina every day with a mild soap using warm water
• Always wash the vagina from front to back to prevent bacteria from getting into it
• Using underwear made of 100% cotton
• Do not wear tight pants
• Use a gentle, doctor-recommended vaginal cleanser

Prevention

How to prevent vaginal discharge?

Normal vaginal discharge cannot be prevented because it is one of the body's natural processes. However, for abnormal vaginal discharge there are several ways that can be done to prevent it, such as:

• Maintain vaginal hygiene by cleaning it regularly and gently with warm water
• Do not do douching (cleaning with certain chemical products) because it can destroy good bacteria that prevent vaginal infections
• Washing the vagina with a movement from front to back so that anal bacteria do not enter and infect miss V
• Using cotton underwear that absorbs sweat and prevents excess moisture
• Practicing safe sex using a condom and being faithful to one sexual partner
• Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases regularly if you are at high risk
• Using soap and sanitary napkins without scent so as not to disturb the balance of bacteria in the vagina
• Using clothes, especially pants that are not too tight

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.