White discharge from the vagina (leucorrhoea) is the appearance of a thick white discharge from the genital slit. Often there is a secret with a sour smell. The symptom is often accompanied by intense itching and discomfort in the perineum, pain during intercourse. The occurrence of leucorrhoea can provoke natural causes, white discharge is also a sign of a fungal infection of the vagina, dysbiosis. To identify pathological conditions that cause leucorrhea, an examination with mirrors, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, and laboratory tests are performed. To eliminate the symptom, the underlying disease is treated.
The appearance of secretions from the genital tract (leucorrhoea) is due to the secretion of glands located in the vestibule of the vagina, the cervix. They produce a small amount of transparent mucus without a specific smell, but under the influence of sex hormones, the color and consistency of the secret change - it becomes light milky and viscous. If such a discharge bothers you constantly or white discharge with a subjectively unpleasant odor occurs, you should seek medical help. The most common natural causes of a whitish vaginal secretion are:
With vaginal candidiasis, women notice an abundant discharge of a heterogeneous consistency with a sour smell, which looks like grains of cottage cheese. An increase in the number of secretions is caused by sexual intercourse and water procedures. In a chronic process, patients complain of scanty cheesy discharge about a week before menstruation, with the onset of menstruation, white discharge stops. A combination of the symptom with reddening of the skin of the labia majora and labia minora, perineal itching, pain, and pain during urination is characteristic.
White discharge with a slight odor may indicate damage to the fallopian tubes and other parts of the reproductive system with Koch's sticks. The discharge is scanty and thick, its appearance is not associated with the menstrual cycle. In most women, the interval between periods is lengthened, and young patients complain of the inability to become pregnant. White discharge in genital tuberculosis occurs against the background of non-intense pulling pains in the lower abdomen, subfebrile body temperature.
A common cause of whitish discharge with an unpleasant odor is the use of drugs that reduce local immunity in the vagina (antibiotics, corticosteroids). Vaginal discharge appears 5-7 days after the start of antibiotic therapy. White discharge is combined with itching in the vagina and perineum and painful intercourse. The pathological secret is associated with a violation of the vaginal flora and intensive reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. The causes of leucorrhoea in the treatment of glucocorticoids are immunosuppression and activation of opportunistic flora.
The presence in a woman of an abundant white secret that stands out from the vagina, especially with a noticeable sour smell, is an indication of visiting an obstetrician-gynecologist. The diagnostic search involves a comprehensive physical and instrumental examination of the genital tract to establish the cause that provoked white discharge, as well as clarifying laboratory methods. The most informative are:
A comprehensive gynecological examination includes determining the level of estrogen and progesterone in the blood on different days of the menstrual cycle. In case of difficulties in diagnosis, X-ray visualization of the internal organs of the reproductive system with contrast is performed - hysterosalpingography. According to indications, consultations with other specialized specialists are prescribed.
Scanty, white, odorless vaginal discharge is considered physiological and does not require medical therapy. Women need to carefully monitor hygiene, avoid hypothermia, and wear tight synthetic underwear. With abundant fetid white discharge, the patient should contact a gynecologist as soon as possible to find the cause of the symptom and select the optimal treatment. Before the diagnosis is verified, the use of any drugs is undesirable.
Effective treatment of diseases accompanied by vaginal discharge includes medical methods and physiotherapy. To cleanse the genitals and relieve inflammation, baths with decoctions of oak bark and chamomile are prescribed. Antihistamines are used to eliminate itching and swelling. Etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy is carried out using such groups of drugs as:
In most cases, careful implementation of the recommendations of the attending physician allows you to quickly eliminate white vaginal discharge, and the treatment of genital tuberculosis is longer. In the future, to prevent the resumption of pathological secretion, it is important to take drugs that violate the composition of the vaginal flora with caution. You should take care of maintaining immunity - enough rest, eat well, and exclude stressful situations.