Normal vaginal discharge is usually clear or milky and may have a subtle scent that is not unpleasant or foul smelling. It’s also important to know that vaginal discharge changes over the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle. These changes in color and thickness are associated with Hormonal changes and ovulation and are natural. This discharge provides moisture to the vagina thereby protects from vaginal dryness. Lactobacilli which are also known as good bacteria, prevents vagina from harmful infections like yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis etc. Vaginal discharge increases near ovulation, during intercourse or when sexually excited or in vaginal infections
Any change in the vagina’s balance of normal bacteria can affect the smell, color, or discharge texture. These are a few of the things that can upset that balance:
- Vaginal infections like yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis and Trichomoniasis.
- STDS (sexually transmitted diseases
- Antibiotic or Steroid use
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Yeast infection or Vaginal Candidiasis- A vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection that causes irritation, Curdy discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva (the tissues at the vaginal opening). This infection is also known as vaginal candidiasis, vaginal yeast infection affects up to 3 out of 4 women at some point in their lifetime.
Bacterial vaginosis-Bacterial vaginosis is a type of vaginal inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria naturally found in the vagina, which upsets the natural balance. Women in their reproductive years are most likely to get bacterial vaginosis, but it can affect women of any age.
- Thin, gray, white or green vaginal discharge, Foul-smelling “fishy” vaginal odor, Vaginal itching, Burning during urination.
- Trichomoniasis (or “trich”) is a very common sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.
- T vaginalis infection has strongly associated with the presence of other STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and sexually transmitted viruses such as HIV)
- Trichomoniasis causes a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, genital itching and painful urination in women. Men typically have no symptoms. Complications include a risk of premature delivery for pregnant women.
