Let's talk about another unmentionable- vaginal discharge. This is one of the most common topics I talk to my patients about- literally- everyday.
What's important to know is that it is most often NOT a bad thing. And, I think it may be seen differently if the word "discharge" wasn't always associated with infections. All women have vaginal discharge. It's there for a reason!
We have discharge to keep the vagina moist as the tissue in there is very delicate- it's the same type of tissue that is found inside our mouths and must be kept moist to be healthy. The vaginal discharge keeps the perfect balance of the normal flora found inside the vagina. FLORA is the bacteria and microbes on and in us all the time- they're on our skin, in our mouths, in our gastrointestinal tract and- yes- in the vagina. We all have it!
For women, normal vaginal discharge changes occur due to our hormones- estrogen and progesterone- throughout the month. It can be subtle changes for some women or more distinct for others.
During the menstrual period, the discharge of course, is bloody due to the lining in the uterus sloughing off each month. Then, the discharge becomes very minimal for about 2-5 days and many women don't notice any at all. But once a women starts to get ready to ovulate- or release an egg from the ovary- there is a very mucousy, clear, stretchy discharge for about 3-5 days. This helps the little spermies get into the uterus to fertilize the egg. Once a woman ovulates, the discharge changes to a white, thicker type of mucous until her period starts again. And the whole process starts over!
All these changes throughout the month are totally normal for all women. It can vary however, depending on how well we are hydrated, different methods of birth control, other medications that can cause mucous membranes to be dry-like decongestants, and even our diets!
For women in menopause they will notice much less discharge due to the decrease in estrogen that occurs. Ill talk more about this in my videos related to menopause.
Now, of course, vaginal discharge can also be a sign of an infection inside the vagina, the cervix and even the uterus. Usually, this type of discharge, caused by an infection, does not have the same characteristics that I just talked about.
A vaginal infection can be due to bacteria or yeast. These infections most often occur due to an overgrowth of the normal bacteria or yeast, we have in the vagina, and all women WILL- at sometime in their lifetime- have one. Anything that can cause a disruption in the normal flora of the vagina- like antibiotics- can cause these types of infections to occur. They usually are easily treated with an antifungal medication, or an antibiotic.
But... there are certain foreign bacteria that can enter into the vagina. This can occur by improper use of devices and vaginal products, and of course through sexual contact.
Toxic Shock Syndrome is very rare, but occurs when tampons, menstrual cups, diaphragms and cervical caps are left in too long. The bacteria introduced can produce toxins and poisons. This type of infection can be deadly for women. Most importantly to avoid risk of this syndrome, women should change out these products every 4-8 hours.
The more common foreign bacteria that can enter the vagina is through sexual contact and are the ones that can cause sexually transmitted infections- or STDs. These type of infections can be very harmful to a woman's body, leading to damaged organs, scar tissue and can cause chronic pain and infertility. These infections can often be treated with antibiotics, but some are potentially lifelong and can even cause death!
On a Happy Note- most discharge for women is normal. If you have a concern that your vaginal discharge is not normal, see your healthcare provider- he or she can examine you and evaluate whether it is normal or not. For more information, visit our blog page.
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