Causes of abnormal vaginal discharge that need to be watched out for

Women must often experience vaginal discharge, which can occur in mild to severe levels. In mild amounts, vaginal discharge is normal. This is a fluid secreted by the vagina to protect the vagina and keep it clean. Not only that, vaginal discharge can also show your health condition. Find out what causes abnormal vaginal discharge.

The cause of vaginal discharge is not normal or normal occurs

Whitish is a discharge that comes out of the vagina. Usually slightly thick, looks transparent / milky white, clean / no stain, and odorless. Sometimes, discharge is a bit thick, usually occurs when you are going to menstruate (can indicate when the body releases an egg), during breastfeeding, or during sexual intercourse.

However, sometimes vaginal discharge can be abnormal, with the characteristics of the discharge coming out more than usual, having an unpleasant odor, not transparent or unclean color (even the color can be greenish). In addition, it can also be accompanied by vaginal itching, pain, and vaginal burning. This can also indicate your health condition is in trouble.

In addition, abnormal vaginal discharge can also occur after menopause. This is because there is a decrease in estrogen levels, so that the vagina becomes dry. Dry vagina is prone to irritation and inflammation, resulting in a lot of discharge.

Abnormal vaginal discharge can be a sign of a health condition (disease)

Abnormal vaginal discharge can be a sign that you have a vaginal infection (vaginitis). Reporting from the MSD Manual page, the three diseases most often associated with abnormal vaginal discharge are:

Bacterial vaginosis, caused by the balance of bacteria in the vagina is not normal. Anaerobic bacteria overgrowth in the vagina. Leucorrhoea caused by this disease usually appears with the characteristics of a white or gray color, not thick, smells fishy, and in large quantities. The vagina also feels itchy.
Candidiasis, caused by a vaginal yeast infection with Candida albicans. Whitish appears with white and thick characteristics. The vagina feels itchy and hot, the pubic area may also become red and swollen.
Trichomoniasis, is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The discharge that comes out when you have this disease appears with the characteristics of a yellowish or greenish color, sometimes frothy, smells fishy, and in large quantities. The vagina also feels itchy and red.

Apart from trichomoniasis, vaginal discharge can also be caused by other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydial infections. The discharge due to sexually transmitted diseases also changes in color, smell, and amount. If you notice that something has changed from your vaginal discharge (not as usual), you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause of abnormal vaginal discharge.

How to prevent vaginal discharge that is not normal?

Abnormal vaginal discharge is usually caused by bacteria. So, to prevent this from happening, you must take good care of vaginal hygiene, especially when you are menstruating. Here is what you can do to prevent vaginal infections:

Keep the vaginal area dry, especially after bathing
Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight
Clean the vaginal area from front to back after defecating or urinating
Clean the outside of the vagina with warm water or you can also use a feminine cleanser that contains Povidone-Iodine. Povidone-Iodine is a broad-spectrum antiseptic that can control the spread and development of topical infections, overcome various pathogens, and does not result in resistance to antiseptics.
Change pads regularly during menstruation

In addition, you should also not change sexual partners. Having multiple sexual partners can increase your risk of getting vaginal infections or sexually transmitted diseases that can cause abnormal vaginal discharge. The use of condoms during sexual intercourse is also recommended to prevent you from contracting sexually transmitted diseases.