We call vaginal discharge the secretions that come from the vagina. Having a certain amount of vaginal discharge is normal, especially during the fertile period. The glands of the cervix produce a transparent substance that can turn whitish or yellowish when exposed to air. this is a normal variation which does not indicate infection.
Vaginal discharge can vary in:
Consistency (thick, pasty, liquid)
Color (transparent, cloudy, bloody, white, yellowish, greenish)
Odor (normal, odorless, smelly)
The amount of mucus produced by the glands of the cervix varies throughout the entire menstrual cycle and depends on the amount of estrogens circulating in the body.
After menopause, with the decrease in estrogen (a hormone produced by the ovary) there is less vascularization of the vagina and less discharge secretion.
CHANGES IN THE FLOW THAT MAY BE AN INDICATION OF VAGINAL INFECTION
The most frequent vaginal infections are:
· Bacterial vaginosis: Bacteria that normally live in the vagina multiply in an exaggerated way, causing a grayish discharge and a characteristic “fishy smell” that increases after sexual intercourse. This condition is generally not sexually transmitted.Vaginal candidiasis: Increased vaginal discharge, whitish, lumpy and similar to yogurt· Trichomoniasis: The clinical manifestations are variable, characterized by bad odor, more or less abundant yellow-green vaginal discharge and vulvar irritation with intense itching and stinging.
· Chlamydia: In general, chlamydia has no symptoms; however, they can appear within several weeks after having sex with an infected partner. The characteristics of the discharge may include an odor as well as burning during urination.
· Gonorrhea: Most women infected with this sexually transmitted disease have no symptoms. If her partner has a burning sensation while urinating, or penile discharge, she should be tested.
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