Yellow discharge in women: how to distinguish normal from pathology

Vaginal discharge is a sign that evaluates the condition of a woman’s reproductive system.

They have their own characteristics, both in a healthy body and in the presence of various diseases and pathological conditions.

In this case, you must pay attention to:

• color of discharge in women,
• their consistency and inclusions in the secretions
• smell.

For example, yellow discharge is extremely common in women, but is not always a cause for concern.

Yellow discharge - normal or pathological

Normally, women always have discharge from the genital tract. This is mucus necessary to moisturize the genital tract. In addition, it has bactericidal properties. Along with the leucorrhoea, old cells of the vaginal mucosa are exfoliated.

The production of secretions is associated with hormonal levels. Little girls do not develop leucorrhoea. The first discharge appears shortly before the start of menstruation.

Normal discharge is produced in small quantities. They are white or slightly yellowish, with a slight sour odor. The structure of normal leucorrhoea is creamy, without any admixture of blood or pus.

In diseases of the female genitourinary system, the discharge becomes abundant and acquires an unpleasant, pungent odor. The color of pathological discharge is yellow, green, brownish.

How to treat abnormal vaginal discharge

Treatment of problematic discharge should always be carried out with the participation of a doctor after a thorough diagnosis.

For bacterial infection and inflammation associated with it, antimicrobial drugs are prescribed. Antibiotics are prescribed orally and locally in the form of suppositories, creams, and ointments.

For fungal infections, antifungal drugs are prescribed. It is worth remembering that thrush is a local manifestation of extensive fungal damage to the body, and its treatment is not limited to suppositories and creams. The bulk of the fungus is located in the intestines, so it is worth treating the entire body as a whole, and not just the vagina.

For viral infections, antiviral drugs are prescribed. Viruses are dangerous organisms, and doctors have not yet learned how to effectively treat them. Increasing immunity plays a vital role here.

If tumors appear, they can be treated conservatively or removed. Here, the decisive role is played by the nature of the neoplasm - benign or malignant - and the speed of its development.

In case of intrauterine pregnancy with a threat of miscarriage, the patient is sent to the hospital, the condition of the uterus, placenta, and fetus is examined. In case of an ectopic pregnancy, immediate removal of the fertilized egg from the woman’s body is required.

In any case, when unhealthy discharge appears, very careful hygiene is required, since many pathological discharges corrode the skin of the genitals. Sometimes the doctor prescribes baths with medicinal solutions and douching.

There are many traditional methods for treating discharge. They sometimes help, but sometimes they can blur the clinical picture and complicate the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Among the folk methods, washing with herbal decoctions is considered safe and useful. Chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort relieve inflammation, increase local immunity and soothe irritated skin. Under no circumstances should foreign objects be inserted into the vagina, as some folk recipes advise. This can harm the microflora and injure the already irritated vaginal mucosa.

Types of discharge

Yellow discharge has different characteristics depending on the disease.

• Slight with barely noticeable odor. Such leucorrhoea is the norm. Their number increases slightly during ovulation and a few days before menstruation.
• Abundant without an unpleasant pungent odor, yellow or grayish. Indicate nonspecific inflammation of the genital tract.
• Abundant with a sharp unpleasant odor, yellow with an admixture of pus or blood. This is a sign of specific inflammation of the genital tract.

The amount of leucorrhoea can be determined if a woman uses panty liners. Normally, so much mucus is secreted that it only covers the middle of the panty liner. If a woman does not have enough one pad for the day, she has profuse leucorrhoea.

Questions from patients about yellow discharge

1. Question: After intercourse I discovered a yellow spot on my panty liner. What could it be?

Answer: This may indicate an allergy to contraceptives or intimate hygiene products.

1. Question: What to do if you find a yellow secretion?

Answer: If there is itching and burning, you should immediately make an appointment with a doctor. A specialist will be able to recognize a developing disease in time and prescribe the right solution. If this is a one-time occurrence, you need to monitor how you feel. If pathological discharge reappears, you should contact a gynecologist.

1. Question: What to do with incessant itching and burning in the vaginal area?

Answer: In order to find out the cause of this phenomenon, a consultation with a gynecologist is necessary. A decoction of chamomile or a solution of soda (half a teaspoon per half liter of boiled water) will help relieve these symptoms temporarily.

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Possible reasons

Yellow discharge in women, odorless and light, is normal. Physiological reasons for the increase in leucorrhoea:

• hormonal changes during menstruation, ovulation;
• change of sexual partner - while the vaginal microflora undergoes changes;
• during pregnancy and after childbirth.

The causes of odor-bearing discharge in women are various inflammatory diseases. Inflammation causes increased mucus production by the epithelium of the genital tract. If the inflammation is caused by bacterial flora, pus is mixed with the mucus.

Diseases that cause discharge, burning and itching in the vagina:

• Bacterial vaginosis is caused by a disruption of the normal microflora of the vagina. The number of lactobacilli decreases, the content of coccal flora increases. The discharge is abundant, yellow-gray in color, with a specific fishy odor.
• Colpitis is an inflammation of the vaginal walls, most often caused by nonspecific bacterial flora. The disease is accompanied by discomfort and burning in the vagina. Discharge in women is yellow, with a sour odor, and abundant.
• Inflammation of the ovaries and tubes also usually has a nonspecific origin. Characterized by severe pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and high fever. A lot of yellow-green discharge mixed with blood appears.
• Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis are genitourinary infections transmitted primarily through sexual contact. It is extremely rare that infection occurs when using common hygiene items, linen, and towels. It is asymptomatic or with signs of vaginal inflammation. Chlamydia is the main cause of rotten-smelling discharge in women.
• Candidiasis infection, or thrush. A common disease caused by fungi of the genus Candida. In this case, the woman experiences white or yellow, odorless, curd-like discharge. I am concerned about intense itching in the vagina and burning sensation when urinating.
• Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by gonococci. Transmitted sexually. Accompanied by burning and itching during urination, pain during sexual intercourse. Leucorrhoea is yellow-green in color, with a distinct purulent odor.

Increased mucus production occurs during bacterial and fungal infections. Viral diseases of the reproductive system do not cause excessive mucus production.

What is vaginal candidiasis? Causes of the disease

Vaginal candidiasis is an inflammatory disease of the genitourinary tract caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida.

In most cases, the cause of vaginal candidiasis is Candida Albicans. It can reproduce successfully in an oxygen-free environment and grows especially well on tissues that contain large amounts of glycogen, including the mucous membrane of the female genitalia. Recently, doctors are increasingly discovering other pathogens of the Candida genus, but the overall frequency of their occurrence does not exceed 15-30%.

Internal risk factors for the development of vaginal candidiasis include endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, obesity, thyroid pathology, etc.), underlying gynecological diseases, disorders of local immunity; to external risk factors - taking antibacterial, glucocorticosteroid, cytostatic drugs, immunosuppressants, radiation therapy; wearing tight clothing, underwear made of synthetic fabrics, regular use of sanitary pads, prolonged use of intrauterine devices, vaginal diaphragms, douching, use of spermicides.

Discharge during pregnancy

Pregnant women undergo hormonal changes. This leads to increased mucus formation. The greatest number of leucorrhoea appears in the first trimester. Normally, they are transparent or milky white, odorless, with a uniform creamy consistency. The cause of mucous discharge in a woman during pregnancy is the action of progesterone.

The mucus plug blocks the cervical canal, protecting the fetus from infection from the genital tract. In the middle of pregnancy, mucus production slows down, and 1-2 weeks before birth it increases again.

Yellow-green discharge during pregnancy is a pathological symptom. They indicate the active proliferation of bacterial microflora and suppression of lactobacilli. Purulent mucus indicates diseases such as chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, and gonorrhea.

How to prevent abnormal vaginal discharge

The first rule for preventing painful discharge is regular hygiene. You need to wash yourself every time after visiting the toilet and in the evening before going to bed. Washing is carried out with clean warm water and special products for intimate hygiene. Regular soap can destroy natural microflora and promote the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Hot water kills beneficial lactobacilli, and cold water can worsen a viral infection.

Underwear should be changed daily. Linen should allow air to pass through and absorb moisture, so it is recommended to use linen made from natural fabrics - cotton, linen. Synthetic underwear cannot be worn constantly. Tight underwear and thongs contribute to irritation of the genital skin and reduce local immunity. Gynecologists do not recommend using panty liners, as they interfere with air exchange. It's better to change your underwear more often.

Nutrition also influences the nature of discharge. Consuming large quantities of sweet foods increases blood sugar and promotes the rapid proliferation of Candida fungi.

Discharge during menopause

Menopause is another stage accompanied by hormonal changes in the female body. At this time, the effect of estrogen stops, which is what causes the main symptoms of menopause - hot flashes, irritability, vaginal dryness. The menstrual cycle is disrupted and gradually stops. After a year of complete absence of menstruation, a diagnosis of menopause is established.

At the beginning of menopause, the discharge continues. If there are no genitourinary infections, they are transparent or white and do not smell. If there is a genitourinary infection, a woman’s discharge is yellow and has an odor.

After menstruation stops, mucus production slows down. A small amount of vaginal secretion leads to dryness and discomfort during sexual intercourse. The protective function of mucus is disrupted and the woman becomes more susceptible to infection. During this period, you need to especially carefully monitor your health. After 50 years, the risk of malignant diseases of the uterus and its appendages increases. A symptom that indicates the presence of a tumor of the reproductive system is spotting during menopause.

Preventive measures

In addition to regularly visiting a doctor and observing all the rules of intimate hygiene, it is necessary to carry out disease prevention.

Main preventive measures:

• A woman needs to visit a gynecologist regularly - at least twice a year;
• Moderate physical activity allows you to maintain strong immunity of the body and normalize hormonal levels;
• The main cause of inflammatory and infectious diseases is sex without contraception. When having sex, you need to use barrier contraceptives. Some hormonal contraceptives can also cause heavy discharge.
• Poor nutrition also affects the health of the genitourinary system. A woman’s diet should be balanced, it should include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, meat and fish, and dairy products. You should not oversaturate your body with an abundance of flour sweets, salty and fried foods.
• To maintain hygiene of the genital area, you need to use only proven products. In some situations, you can use folk remedies - decoctions of medicinal herbs and flowers.
• To avoid an allergic reaction to the materials from which underwear is made, it is better to choose clothes made from natural materials. Cotton and linen underwear sets allow you to maintain healthy genitals. The underwear should be comfortable and loose, without putting pressure on the body.
• It is better to maintain sexual relations with a permanent, trusted partner. Constantly changing men can lead to serious sexually transmitted diseases.
• Pregnant women should monitor their health and observe intimate hygiene more carefully.

By adhering to these rules, women can avoid problems with the functioning of the genitourinary system and not be subject to infections and inflammation.

Consequences in the absence of timely treatment

A careless attitude towards one’s own health and untimely consultation with a doctor lead to chronic inflammatory diseases and the development of complications. Treatment of chronic inflammation is complex and not always successful.

Inflammatory processes in the pelvis lead to the formation of adhesions between organs. As a result, their function is impaired. If the fallopian tubes and ovaries are damaged, a woman cannot become pregnant.

Constant inflammation of the cervix creates conditions for the occurrence of malignant tumors.

When is there no reason to worry?

Infections, neoplasms, and inflammatory processes show their existence through a complex of signs, which include not only the color of the discharge. Therefore, in a normal state, a woman does not feel discomfort, pain, itching, or burning. Of the qualitative characteristics of vaginal secretion, the most obvious symptoms of pathology are an unpleasant odor, putrid, rotten, profuse, unusual structure, foamy, granular, as well as inclusions in the form of lumps, veins, inclusions.

The standard for a woman’s healthy discharge:

• Transparent or whitish in modest quantities, odorless, uniform mucous structure and without accompanying manifestations of pathology;
• The yellowish tint of the secretion, if all other conditions are met, is explained by the intake of vitamins, medications, dietary errors, and the individual characteristics of the woman;
• Sometimes the onset of conception is marked by yellow discharge and delay;
• Normally, before and after the end of menstruation, the secretion contains a little blood, and therefore has an unusual color;
• At the time of ovulation, hormonal changes slightly alter vaginal discharge. They become more abundant, with a jelly-like consistency, similar to snot with a slight yellow tint.

Attention! If yellow vaginal discharge appears during pregnancy, you should immediately consult a doctor. Infections can penetrate the membranes and infect the baby.

Treatment

Treatment of the causes of odor-bearing discharge in women is carried out by a doctor. Diagnostics consists of the following stages:

• gynecological examination;
• taking a smear from the vagina;
• sowing vaginal mucus on nutrient media to determine pathogenic microorganisms;
• blood test for antibodies to chlamydia, mycoplasma;
• PCR test for chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma.

If complications develop, an ultrasound of the pelvic organs is performed.

Treatment is prescribed in accordance with the established diagnosis:

• for candidiasis infection, antifungal drugs are indicated;
• for bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed;
• To restore normal microflora, probiotics are prescribed orally and in the form of vaginal suppositories.

Adhesions in the pelvis can only be removed surgically.

As a non-drug treatment, it is recommended to adhere to a balanced diet including fermented milk products, fresh vegetables and fruits. Daily thorough hygiene is required. During treatment, it is necessary to discard panty liners, as they create conditions for the growth of bacteria.

Which doctor should I contact if I have abnormal vaginal discharge?

If you have discharge of an unnatural color, smell or consistency, you should visit a gynecologist. The doctor will ask about symptoms, conduct a visual examination, take a swab from the vagina and make a diagnosis based on the test results. Analysis of vaginal discharge will show whether there is a bacterial, viral or fungal infection, and what the degree of infection is. After this, an ultrasound examination of the organs of the reproductive system is prescribed. An ultrasound will show the size of the organs of the female system, their position, the presence of neoplasms, for example, cysts or tumors, and will help to specify the diagnosis. In addition, the doctor prescribes a general blood test, cytological examination and/or colposcopy.

In case of a cyst or tumor, additional consultation with an oncologist will be required. If heavy discharge occurs due to stress, it is useful to consult a psychologist. If sexually transmitted diseases are detected, a consultation with an immunologist will be required. For long-term illnesses, it is useful to consult an immunologist and assess your immune status. If there is heavy discharge due to allergies, it is recommended to consult an allergist. In children, unhealthy discharge is assessed by a pediatric gynecologist and pediatrician.

Prevention

Prevention includes the following points:

• maintaining personal hygiene;
• using only your own hygiene items and linen;
• limiting sexual contacts with different partners;
• using condoms.

Taking care of the health of the reproductive system reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases and infertility. The appearance of pathological leucorrhoea in combination with factors predisposing to the development of an infectious process is an indication for consultation with a gynecologist. Timely detected pathology has a greater chance of cure.

Womenfirst

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• THERAPY OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS - Marushkina O.I. – 2021 – Medical advice / No. 7, 2019
• SOME ASPECTS OF DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THERAPY FOR VAGINAL DYSBIOSIS IN CLINICAL CONDITIONS - Badretdinova F. F., Mavzyutov A. R., Sheyda L. A., Kayumov F. A. – 2015 – Practical medicine / '1 (86) / January 2015
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RUS2132958 from 03/27/2020

Classification by smell

The unpleasant aroma from discharge is frightening, and even before visiting a doctor, a girl can herself determine the reason why it appeared. It is enough to recognize the smell:

1. Rotten fish is a signal of dysbacteriosis. May be accompanied by itching and discomfort.
2. Rotten meat. This pungent odor indicates infection with gardnerella. The secretion takes on a grayish tint.
3. Garlic and onion. When the discharge smells like onion or garlic, this is a signal of fungal infection or decreased immunity.
4. Sour. We are talking about the consequences of thrush, accompanied by annoying itching.
5. Urine. Urine-smelling discharge appears as a result of stress. Due to pressure in the peritoneum, a portion of urine penetrates into the vagina.
6. Acetone. With such discharge, you need to be examined urgently, as the smell may indicate the development of diabetes mellitus.