How To Reduce Vaginal Discharge - What Does Normal Or Abnormal Discharge Look Like?
Posted: Monday, May 11, 2009
by Kacycarr
http://www.spotthepimple.com
Vaginal discharge is a natural secretion of the female body, however even though normal it is still a major worry for many women. The time to worry is when you don't see one. Every woman will have a discharge, but different. Differences may include: loss, color and texture (thin, sticky, thick, clotted or gooey.) Sadly some women secrete a huge amount of vaginal fluid, and then we have those who completely the opposite see very little discharge at all. At the time of the menstrual cycle the amount of discharge can fluctuate becoming heavy at times. It's no surprise that women panic if they lose a serious amount of discharge, not only because they believe it to be unhealthy but embarrassing also.
Normal discharge is white or off-white and not smelly, it should not cause any discomfort like itching or burning. If it does cause pain, itch or becomes unpleasantly malodorous, or you notice a change in color (brown, grey, or green) this can indicate a vaginal infection. Discharge can also be a sign of a hormone imbalance or a systemic illness.
Types of Discharge
1. White: Thick, white vaginal discharge is common towards the start and end of your monthly cycle. Normal discharge has no discomforting symptoms itching or other. Thick discharge can be caused by a yeast infection so see your GP.
2. Lucid and springy: This is "fertile" mucous and is a sign of ovulation.
3. Clear and thin: This happens at various times of your cycle and more times occur after strenuous exercise.
4. Yellow or Green: Are usually signs of infection, especially if thick/clotted with an unpleasant odor.
5. Brown: Is regularly seen after menstruation because the vagina is cleaning out old blood.
6. Blood specks/Brown Discharge: Normally happens around ovulation/mid-cycle.
Reduce the amount of vaginal discharge you lose and wear cotton panties. Cotton breathes which will help absorb moisture. Cotton underwear will allow air to circulate around the genitals.
Don't douche it can alter the pH balance of the vagina.
Avoid deodorants and feminine sprays.
Use non-scented toilet paper it can cause irritation and increase vaginal discharge. If vaginal discharge is real heavy see your GP as it could be a sign of infection.
Do you take oral contraceptives, if so and you notice heaviness ask you doctor to change the brand.
Cleanse the vagina with anti-bacteria soap to help control discharge
Avoid wearing nylon fabric around the genitals.
Discharge can alter dramatically if it is caused by a vaginal infection .
Bacterial Vaginosis - Symptoms may include:
Large amounts of vaginal discharge
Itchiness/soreness
Vaginal rash
Burning feel when weeing
Grey/white discharge with a strong smell
Clotted-like texture
Trichomoniasis: a one-celled protozoan organism is supposedly responsible for the infection. It spreads through sexual intercourse. It can also be passed on by sharing wet towels and other.
Trichomoniasis symptoms may include:
Increased (pungent) discharge
Frequent urination
Yellow/green, foamy vaginal discharge
Swelling
Itchiness
Yeast Infection is the most common of all vaginal infections; it is not a sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by an accumulation of yeast. Yeast infection symptoms may include;
Increased loss of vaginal discharge
Itchiness, burning and redness
Clotted discharge
Too prevent yeast infections there are particular foods you can eat to help do this, however there are also foods that have an adverse affect and could encourage them to happen.
Bad foods you need to cut out from your diet.
Although claimed as bad foods, they are not bad in the way of killing you if you ate them, but ones not good if you want to protect yourself from vaginal yeast infections.
- Red meat
- Breads
- Processed foods
- Mushrooms
Good foods:
- Garlic
- Millet
- Onions
- Citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit
- Cranberries
- Brown rice
- Vinegar
- Curd
- Yoghurt (plain)
- Vegetables
There are many women who refuse to believe vaginal discharge can't be stopped and said they are seeing improvement after using herbal remedies. Of course they may well be seeing a change but as for completely ridding a natural function of the body is highly unlikely. My advice girls is to learn to live with it. It is much easier and less stressful than worrying over it
Did you know when you treat your own vaginal infection you rid vaginal odour at the same time.
This Article has been viewed 46,758 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)thx!
Wow, you don't know how relieved I am.
Yes thank u.
That helps alot, but I have one more thing, my discharge has been really weird, like it's clear with wight clumps in it, this happened like I think 2 days ago. And I don't know if this will help but I'm still a virgin... And is a yeast infection cureable? And one more thing I've had discharge for like 2 years.Dont worry, its perfectly healthy, I have had the same problem but only for one year so far... Oh and have you had your period yet because that can indicate you are close to your period. And if your still a virgin I dont think that makes a huge difference but my Dr said that if your still a virgin it might be that ur vagina in a way is telling you that ur ready for sex, when u discharge it , makes ur vagina more slippery, easier for u know a guy's..... So hope that helped and wasnt to much info :)
Its nice to read an article that explains that having a lot of discharge can be completely normal. I've been to a doctor and a gynecologist about the problem and I don't any infection or the likes. Most things you read on the internet say that if you have a lot of discharge you MUST have some sort of infection. It doesn't make anyone with it feel good about themselves. However, I find it a very embarrassing issue when it comes to being sexually active, worried what my partner might think or if he'll be turned off.... does anyone else have this problem?I can relate. I'm a college freshman and I just started being sexually active. I also found out months ago that I had discharge. When I found out I did not want to be intimate anymore because I was embarrassed. But my partner likes it because when I am aroused the wetness makes the sex feel better. He does not know that I have discharge because I'm not sure how to explain it. If you want to keep it from your partner just clean before sex and afterwards. But you shouldn't b ashamed. By now we all know its normal so I hope that was helpful...does anyone know if a guy giving you oral sex can be harmful to him if you do discharge during?
I have being doing my research on yeast infections, as i get them pretty frequently due to a lowered immune system, and i presume i understand the causes now and what i need to do so thank you for this post. my only question is this: once a yeast infection is cured, how does lumpy cottage cheese discharge come out of the vagina? does it come out on its own or can one assist by taking out (literally by taking a finger and scooping it, i know gross). it is not exactly a douching method as your finger does not spray chemicals to clean it. any thoughts on this?
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.