How much vaginal discharge is normal in a day?

The problem of vaginal discharge is one reason women see a doctor, said Dr. Michael Cackovic, an obstetrician at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Although vaginal discharge is normal for all women, sometimes there are some unusual signs that make them afraid of contracting venereal diseases, one of which is the amount of vaginal discharge that is too much in a day.

So, how do you distinguish normal and abnormal vaginal discharge? How many vaginal discharge in a day is still considered normal? You can find all the answers in the following reviews.

How many vaginal discharge in a day is still normal?

When you experience vaginal discharge, this is actually a sign that you are producing eggs from the ovaries (ovaries). This process is also known as ovulation or the release of an egg into the fallopian tube. So, vaginal discharge is a normal thing that happens to women every month.

Leucorrhoea and other fluids that come from the cervix generally have the same main function, namely to maintain a normal pH balance in the vagina. In addition, vaginal fluids can also help lubricate the vagina during sexual intercourse.

According to dr. Michelle Tham Mez, obstetrician at Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, women on average produce 1-4 milliliters (ml) of vaginal fluid or vaginal discharge in a day, the equivalent of one to two tablespoons, as reported by Women's Health. The amount of vaginal discharge can be said to be normal as long as it is not accompanied by a pungent odor.

However, there is actually no definite reference regarding the amount of vaginal discharge in a day which is considered normal. Because, much or at least the amount of vaginal discharge is influenced by several factors, including use of birth control pills, pregnancy, the influence of diet, stress, or sexual activity.

Women who are menopausal or post-menopausal often have more or less vaginal discharge. This is because estrogen levels in menopausal women tend to fluctuate so that it also affects the amount of vaginal discharge.

However, if you find vaginal discharge more than 4 ml a day, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. The reason is, excessive vaginal discharge can indicate a bacterial or fungal infection in the vagina so that it requires immediate treatment.

Recognize the characteristics of normal and abnormal vaginal discharge

To distinguish normal and abnormal vaginal discharge, you can look at it by color, consistency, volume, and smell. Normal vaginal discharge is usually white or transparent, thick or thin, and has no smell. If your vaginal discharge tends to smell, don't rush into panic just yet. This won't be a problem as long as the smell is faint or not too strong.

The faint whitish smell comes from the peeling cells of the cervix and vagina. If you find vaginal discharge a little yellow, this also tends to be normal because of the interaction with air.

Meanwhile, abnormal vaginal discharge due to fungal infection is characterized by thick white vaginal discharge, cheese-like texture, and tends to be odorless. This condition is usually followed by other symptoms such as itching, irritation, and pain during sexual intercourse. If the amount of vaginal discharge is very large and tends to smell foul, this is a sign of vaginal bacterial infection.

To overcome the problem of excessive vaginal discharge, try to improve your diet and eat more yogurt. Yogurt contains probiotics which not only help keep the good bacteria in the gut, but also maintain the natural bacteria in the vagina.

In addition, use cotton underwear and change them often to keep the vagina dry. Avoid using scented soaps, gels, antiseptics, as well douchingbecause it can affect the pH balance and bacteria in the vagina. Also, practice safe sex by using a condom to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.