Brown discharge in women: dark and light, copious and spotting. All about vaginal discharge: causes and treatment
Many women consider vaginal discharge to be a sign of “uncleanness” or illness, not realizing that it is just a type of normal physiological secretion, such as gastric juice, tears or saliva. On the other hand, the color and structure of female discharge is one of the factors for determining the various ones, says an obstetrician-gynecologist, doctor highest category and candidate medical sciences Alexander Voloshin.
“The appearance of any unusual changes in a woman’s sexual sphere should be a reason for a visit to the gynecologist. Since medical practice Quite often one has to deal with a combination of various pathological processes with atypical manifestations for a particular disease, then it is impossible to establish a reliable diagnosis based only on the color and nature of the discharge. Of course, in this way one can assume the development of a certain pathological process. However, the final diagnosis, as well as individual selection of treatment, are possible only after laboratory and instrumental examinations"- said Voloshin.
As is known, normal vaginal discharge performs a protective barrier function in female body. Let's first find out where they come from and what their composition is. So, the composition of female secretions includes:
- mucus that forms in the glands of the cervical canal;
- epithelial cells that are constantly exfoliated from the walls of the vagina and cervical canal;
- vaginal microflora, which can be represented by various microorganisms of 5-12 species.
Normal discharge
Discharges of this kind, as a rule, have no odor or have a slightly sour odor due to the lactic acid bacteria that are part of this secretion. Externally, the discharge has a mucus-like structure. Normally, such discharge begins to be recorded no earlier than a year before the start of menstruation. Subsequently, with a regular menstrual cycle, the quantity and quality of discharge may change - from scanty and transparent to abundant, mucus-like, slightly beige in color (on the days of ovulation).
When releasing such a completely physiological secretion, a woman should not experience burning, pain or itching. If she experiences at least one of the above, then this is a cause for concern and see a doctor.
Dark gray discharge
A concentrated, very, very viscous secretion of dark gray or yellow color characteristic of . With this disease, a woman experiences discomfort in the form of burning and itching in the external genitalia.
Grayish-white discharge
Heavy discharge grayish secretion white With unpleasant smell rotten fish against a background of mild itching in the external genitalia are accompanying signs. After sexual intercourse, all symptoms may intensify. If left untreated, the secreted secretion becomes yellow-green in color and has a sticky structure.
Yellow discharge
In the acute phase, the discharge also has a yellow color. However, unlike chlamydia, with gonorrhea the secretion is not so concentrated and dense. With this disease, a woman may experience pain in the lower abdomen and pain when urinating. Intermenstrual bleeding in this case is also not uncommon.
Greenish-yellow discharge
A cloudy secretion from yellow to yellowish-green color, having a foamy structure and the smell of rotten meat is characteristic of. The secretion is accompanied by a strong burning sensation and pain. When urinating, a woman also experiences pain.
Copious cloudy discharge
A very copious discharge of secretion, transparent or slightly cloudy in appearance, may indicate the presence of an infection such as. And although there are those among specialists who do not consider these manifestations to be a sign of illness, the majority classify ureaplasmosis as a sexually transmitted infection.
Yellowish cheesy discharge
A thick and abundant secretion, visually similar to pieces of white or yellowish cottage cheese, accompanied by unbearable itching, swelling and irritation of the external genitalia - these are signs of so-called thrush. Self-treatment with advertised medications is not always successful, since in this case, as in any other, effective technique A cure for this infection can only be determined by a qualified doctor.
According to research, vaginal discharge is as physiological as the production of saliva, sweat or tears. They perform certain functions in the body and are absolutely healthy women. Heavy vaginal discharge is completely normal and contains cervical mucus, epithelial cells, and 5 to 12 types of microorganisms (normal).
Normal vaginal discharge is acidic, which is possible due to the presence of lactobacilli. But under certain conditions, the nature and composition of the discharge may change. In this case, we can talk about pathological discharge indicating diseases genitourinary system.
Discharge after menstruation
Vaginal discharge after menstruation can be physiological and pathological. Normally, postmenstrual discharge is dark brown in color. This is due to increased blood clotting at the end of menstruation and its slow release. Physiological secretions are odorless.
An unpleasant odor accompanying vaginal discharge before and after menstruation indicates the possible presence of chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma or.
If discharge does not appear immediately after menstruation, but after a few days, then an uterine or ectopic pregnancy can be suspected. In this case, the woman needs to contact a gynecologist.
Normal discharge
Normal vaginal discharge comes in many varieties. This variety will depend on the woman’s age, sexual activity and hormonal status.
It is possible to determine which vaginal discharge is normal and which is pathological thanks to some general criteria:
- slightly sour smell or its complete absence;
- homogeneous thick consistency (liquid sour cream), lumps up to 3 mm are acceptable;
- transparent or with a white tint;
- the total amount of discharge does not exceed 1 to 4 ml per day.
Physiological discharge is never accompanied. However, when changing sexual partners, the amount of vaginal discharge may increase.
Types of vaginal discharge
There are many types of vaginal discharge, which can have both physiological and pathological origins. In case the discharge has bad smell, purulent consistency or are accompanied by a burning sensation, pain or other manifestations of discomfort, you should immediately consult a doctor.
We answered the question about what types of vaginal discharge there are in more detail below.
Watery discharge
Watery vaginal discharge may indicate inflammation of the fallopian tubes or cervical erosion. This is due to the fact that during inflammation fallopian tube the secretion of the cells exits through the uterine cavity into the vagina.
Normally, liquid vaginal discharge may occur in pregnant women. The appearance of vaginal discharge like water is not an independent sign of the disease, but signals the presence of a pathological process in the body.
Purulent discharge
Purulent discharge from the vagina may indicate inflammatory diseases, such as bacterial vaginitis, salpingitis, cervicitis, as well as some venereal diseases ().
The discharge becomes liquid or foamy, has an unpleasant odor and is yellow-green in color. They are often abundant.
Transparent selections
Transparent vaginal discharge accompanies the normal functioning of the genital organs. They are an indicator of cyclical changes in the body associated with normal operation ovaries.
Transparent mucous discharge from the vagina is a physiological fluid, which contains epithelial cells, lymph, mucus and microorganisms. Abundant transparent discharge from the vagina can become pathological only in girls under 10 years of age.
Mucus discharge
Mucous discharge from the vagina is normal in most cases; it is due to the nature of the uterine secretion. If vaginal discharge looks like snot, is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and is streaked with blood, then this may indicate cysts and erosions present in the body.
In addition, jelly-like vaginal discharge may indicate the presence of inflammatory diseases of the uterus and ovaries. Mucus discharge from the vagina mixed with blood can also occur during an ectopic pregnancy.
Bloody discharge
Usually, bleeding from the vagina in small quantities before and after menstruation. Also bloody issues from the vagina may appear in women taking oral contraceptives in the first 2 months from the start of use.
If vaginal discharge with blood is not associated with the physiological cycle, it may be a manifestation of cervical cancer pathologies, endometriosis or advanced erosion. In this case, it is best to consult a gynecologist to find out the nature of such discharge.
White discharge
White vaginal discharge with a cheesy consistency almost always indicates... At the beginning of the disease, the discharge of leucorrhoea from the vagina is small, but if left untreated, it can become profuse. Often white thick discharge from , itching and .
Upon examination, the mucous membrane of the external genital organs is covered with a curdled or milky coating, which is easily removed.
Brown discharge
Brown vaginal discharge normally occurs at the end of menstrual cycle and at the beginning of sexual activity. Pathological vaginal discharge Brown occur with thrush, trichomoniasis or inflammation of the vagina.
Brownish vaginal discharge is also observed when the menstrual cycle is disrupted.
Yellow discharge
If yellow vaginal discharge has a faint yellow tint and is not accompanied by discomfort, then this is normal.
If the vaginal discharge is yellow in color and has a rich hue and is accompanied by itching, pain or an unpleasant odor, then we can say that this is observed with inflammation of the uterine appendages and sexually transmitted infections. Besides, yellowish discharge from the vagina are also observed with cervical erosions.
Black discharge
Most often, black discharge from the vagina can occur during inflammatory diseases or when using hormonal contraceptives.
Pink discharge
Normally, pink vaginal discharge may appear during ovulation. If the discharge Pink colour from the vagina are accompanied by discomfort in the lower abdomen, then doctors may suspect cervical erosion.
Light pinkish vaginal discharge, aggravated pain syndrome, may indicate different .
Dark discharge
Dark vaginal discharge normally occurs before, after and in the middle of the menstrual cycle. If the discharge is accompanied by abdominal pain or other discomfort, then cervical erosion, pelvic inflammation, or the presence of sexually transmitted diseases can be suspected.
Orange discharge
Orange vaginal discharge that appears after unprotected sex indicates infection with trichomoniasis or. If there is no sexual activity, such discharge may indicate bacterial vaginosis.
Gray discharge
Serous vaginal discharge is considered normal if it is not accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, itching, or unpleasant odor. If gray discharge from the vagina accompanied painful sensations, then you can suspect the presence of infections such as ureaplasmosis or mycoplasmosis. Consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.
Foamy discharge
Foamy vaginal discharge can be caused by stress, nervous fatigue, or recent unprotected intercourse. Most often, foamy discharge is accompanied by trichomoniasis.
Discharge flakes
Flaky vaginal discharge is most common with vaginal candidiasis (thrush). They also have a characteristic white color and sour odor.
Brown discharge
Typically, brown vaginal discharge is considered normal only at the beginning and end of menstruation. In other cases, these are pathologies, the causes of which are determined in the laboratory.
Creamy discharge
Quite often, creamy vaginal discharge may indicate pregnancy, and if there is discomfort, it may indicate pregnancy. pathological diseases genitals.
Colorless discharge
More often colorless discharge from the vagina, not accompanied by physical discomfort or odor, are completely normal. If you are also concerned about discomfort in the genital area, you should consult a doctor.
Cloudy discharge
Cloudy vaginal discharge is most common with bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted diseases.
Sticky discharge
Sticky vaginal discharge may indicate the presence of thrush or other genitourinary infections. One way or another, the situation requires medical intervention.
Light discharge
Light-colored vaginal discharge - white, transparent or slightly tinged with pink or yellow- are a variant of the norm. However, it is worth remembering that normally their number is minimal, and any discomfort, itching or burning in the vaginal or labia area indicates the presence of infections, which requires contacting a gynecologist.
Green discharge
Green vaginal discharge indicates increased content leukocytes. Greenish discharge from the vagina, thus, indicate bacterial inflammation of the uterus and its appendages.
Treatment of discharge
Many women practice self-treatment vaginal discharge. But this may not only be ineffective, but also harmful in itself, since with or chamomile decoction, beneficial microorganisms are washed out of the vagina. Therefore, treatment for vaginal discharge should be prescribed and monitored by a doctor.
If pathological discharge appears, you must contact a gynecologist to diagnose the disease that caused it. After identifying the cause, the doctor will prescribe treatment for the underlying disease, as well as procedures aimed at restoring the vaginal microflora and increasing the body’s immunoresistance.
Vaginal discharge in a child
Vaginal discharge in a child can be either a physiological process or a sign of a disease.
Vaginal discharge in a girl before puberty should not be observed; they appear about a year before the start of menstruation. The causes of pathological discharge in children may be:
- diabetes;
- inflammation of the vagina;
- worms;
- upper respiratory tract diseases;
- antibiotic therapy;
- thrush;
- allergic reactions.
Vaginal discharge in adolescents practicing sexual relations, may indicate sexually transmitted diseases. Often the onset of sexual activity is normally accompanied by discharge that does not cause physical discomfort.
Discharge in newborns
Physiological vaginal discharge in newborns can occur in the first week of life during a hormonal crisis. This is due to the fact that their body gets rid of the mother's hormones and begins to form its own hormonal background. If vaginal discharge in a baby is accompanied by pain or itching, you should immediately consult a doctor to determine the cause of these symptoms.
Causes of discharge
The main causes of vaginal discharge are due to one of physiological processes in the body, unless they are accompanied by itching, pain or an unpleasant odor. If they change their character and cause discomfort to the woman, then they are already talking about pathological discharge. They can occur with bacterial inflammation of the genital organs, erosion, polyps, polycystic disease, venereal and fungal diseases.
It is possible to reliably determine the reason why vaginal discharge suddenly changed its properties only by laboratory methods.
Discharge from a cold
When you have a cold, vaginal discharge can become fungal in nature. This is due to the fact that hypothermia and viral diseases disrupt the balance of normal microflora. Most often, thrush can develop against the background of a cold. It also manifests itself as cheesy vaginal discharge.
If an inflammatory process in the ovaries begins during a cold, the discharge becomes abundant and may even contain streaks of blood.
Discharge during menopause
Vaginal discharge during menopause is not normal. They may indicate inflammatory diseases, tumors and neoplasms in the breast and genitals. As a rule, discharge during menopause can be in the form of exudate, which indicates inflammation, or transudate - in diseases of a non-inflammatory nature.
The exudate has a mucous consistency and contains protein. It may be catarrhal, purulent, serous, fibrinous or hemorrhagic. The consistency of the transudate is liquid and does not contain protein. It is either straw-colored or transparent with an admixture of blood and other body fluids.
Discharge during defecation
It should be noted that vaginal discharge during defecation is a pathological process. Copious discharge with an unpleasant odor is observed mainly with. Bloody discharge indicates hemorrhoids or intestinal fistulas. If the discharge becomes purulent or mucous in nature, an inflammatory process or tumor disintegration can be suspected.
Taste of discharge
The taste of vaginal discharge largely depends on the nationality, the nature of the food consumed and the presence of certain diseases of the genitourinary system. In general, a healthy woman's discharge tastes like sour milk.
Salty discharge
Salty vaginal discharge appears when an alkaline environment forms in the vagina. This is a pathological phenomenon that occurs during bacterial infections and inflammations that require medical intervention.
Acid discharge
Acidic vaginal discharge is normal. If the sour taste becomes pronounced, this may indicate a fungal infection of the vaginal mucosa - thrush (candidiasis). In this case, you need to see a gynecologist and probably undergo a course of treatment.
Vaginal discharge is a unique indicator of a woman’s gynecological health. Normally, they are present in all representatives of the fair sex, even in non-leading ones. sex life and at a very young age. Let's figure out what types of vaginal discharge are and in which case you need to see a doctor.
Fine
Vaginal discharge is considered normal. light color– whitish, slightly yellowish, without a pronounced odor, liquid or mucous consistency. Normal vaginal discharge also does not cause genital itching.
The amount of discharge may vary. So, every woman notices an increase in discharge in the middle of the menstrual cycle. This is due to hormonal changes due to ovulation. This phenomenon Normally, it lasts no more than 1-3 days.
A lot of discharge is observed in the first hours after sexual intercourse, and not necessarily unprotected. In such cases, it is important to rely on nature and not try to “drain” the vagina yourself using douching - this can lead to other, more serious problems – vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.
Excessive mucous discharge from the vagina occurs in pregnant women. Especially in the first weeks after conception and in the last weeks before childbirth.
Gynecological and infectious diseases
Most often, the color and consistency of discharge changes due to three gynecological diseases:
- vaginal candidiasis;
- bacterial vaginosis (gardnerellosis);
- colpitis
All these diseases are provoked by opportunistic microorganisms, which, under certain conditions, begin to rapidly multiply in a woman’s vagina and provoke inflammation.
Candidiasis (thrush) is caused by Candida fungi. The symptoms of this disease are familiar to many. This is a profuse curd-like discharge in women that is white and sour smell. And the second characteristic feature- This unbearable itching, which forces women to frequently wash themselves and douche, and the second only provokes an exacerbation of the disease. Under treatment antifungal drugs(vaginal suppositories and oral tablets). If you do not treat for several days and continue sexual activity, ulcers and painful cracks appear on the mucous membrane of the labia and vagina.
A frequent companion of candidiasis is gardnerellosis. Its symptoms are a white vaginal discharge with a tinge of gray or green and a fishy odor. Symptoms are especially pronounced before menstruation and after sexual intercourse. The disease is treated with antimicrobial drugs medicines. In this case characteristic symptom What the doctor pays attention to is precisely the unpleasant odor of vaginal discharge, which spoils self-esteem and intimate life.
Colpitis, an inflammatory process in the vaginal mucosa, has similar symptoms. It is provoked by various sexually transmitted infectious diseases, as well as by taking antibiotics, douching and some chronic diseases, for example, diabetes. Unpleasant vaginal discharge and itching are provoked by E. coli, streptococci, gardnerella - in this case the disease is called nonspecific colpitis. Specific pathogens are Trichomonas, chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc. Yellow discharge from the vagina are often provoked by gonococci - the causative agents of gonorrhea. In addition, viruses play an important role in the development of colpitis. For example, the herpes virus and human papillomavirus.
All these diseases and infectious agents are detected in a vaginal smear. At the first symptoms, if the color of vaginal discharge, quantity, or smell has changed, go to the doctor.
Before the examination, do not douche under any circumstances - this will interfere with making an accurate diagnosis. Proper washing is enough. As for baths with medicinal herbs- they don’t always help. For example, with candidiasis, baths with chamomile can only make things worse - since chamomile provokes dryness of the labia and, accordingly, an exacerbation of symptoms. In addition, many herbs cause allergic reactions, which can further aggravate the situation.
You should also not prescribe medications yourself. At various diseases doctors prescribe different treatment. It is impossible to make a correct diagnosis on your own.
Extraordinary bleeding
Of course, all of the above diseases are very unpleasant, but not as dangerous as some pathologies that cause bleeding from the vagina in women during menopause, pregnant women, and also in women reproductive age, but outside the menstrual period.
1. Tumor diseases of the uterine body. These can be both malignant and benign neoplasms. Most often, bleeding in middle-aged women is caused by uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are a benign neoplasm, but large sizes and location directly inside the uterus, which provokes bleeding - recommended surgical intervention. Uterine fibroids can occur in women over 25 years of age, most often after 30-35 years of age. It grows slowly. Growth stops completely with the onset of menopause. The diagnosis is made when ultrasound examination uterus.
2. Endometrial hyperplasia – its growth in the uterus. There are several varieties of it. With adenomatosis, there is a possibility of hyperplasia degenerating into cancer. Endometrial hyperplasia is more often diagnosed in women in adolescence. That is, at all young girls and in women during menopause. The reason is an excess of estrogen against the background of a lack of progesterone. Diagnosis is made using ultrasound (which shows abnormal thickness of the endometrium), as well as hysteroscopy or aspiration biopsy. Treatment for large blood losses is surgical - curettage of the uterus and then hormonal drugs, in case of a malignant process - amputation of the uterus.
3. Erosion of the cervix and its mechanical damage. May occur as a result of rough sexual intercourse, masturbation with the help of various objects, or with improper insertion vaginal suppository, sanitary tampon. As a rule, in this case the bleeding is weak and short-lived; brown vaginal discharge occurs more often, which goes away on its own. In this case, anti-inflammatory treatment and sexual rest for several days are usually prescribed.
4. During pregnancy – threat of miscarriage, placental abruption. Bleeding threatens not only the unborn child, since as a result of placental abruption he loses contact with his mother, and therefore experiences acute hypoxia, but also to the woman herself. At longer periods, placental abruption is especially dangerous. And for short periods of time, in emergency medical care And bed rest may not cause a miscarriage.
However, in some cases, short-lived and not profuse bleeding may be considered normal.
1. After menarche, within a year. While the menstrual cycle is being established, menstruation may not be regular, and the intervals between them may vary. It is important for mothers to monitor the amount of discharge (how many pads a girl uses per day) so that in case of severe and prolonged bleeding, consult a doctor in time.
2. After childbirth. The situation is similar to the one described above. The only reason for this is the hormone prolactin, which is produced in breastfeeding women and interferes with the normalization of the menstrual cycle.
3. In the first months of admission oral contraceptive– birth control pills. Bleeding may occur during the first three cycles of taking the drug. Later it goes away on its own.
Beli - pathological discharge from the female genitals. Normal physiological secretions are not abundant and do not cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. Leucorrhoea is an excessive and unusual discharge: watery, milky-white, yellow-green, with an unpleasant odor, etc. Appearing on the external genital organs, they cause discomfort, sometimes itching, burning. Leucorrhoea indicates a disease of the reproductive system or a general disease.
Discharge in normal conditions and in diseases
Normally, vaginal discharge is light, mucous, and may be slightly cloudy due to the admixture of epithelial cells; if you use the same panty liner throughout the day, there may be slight leucorrhoea on it. yellowish color. The nature and amount of discharge depends on the day of the menstrual cycle: in the middle of the cycle, when ovulation approaches, they become similar in consistency to egg white, more abundant than usual, more alkaline. The amount of discharge increases during sexual arousal, especially during intercourse. Normal discharge does not cause discomfort, does not cause unpleasant sensations: itching, burning and irritation of the genital organs. If you take a smear, there will be no increased amount leukocytes, and the flora will be dominated by rods.
Fresh vaginal discharge has virtually no odor; the odor appears when bacteria multiply in it.
Leucorrhoea have various reasons, but most often they are associated with gynecological diseases, mainly infectious nature. Any abnormal discharge may be a sign of a genital infection and requires immediate examination by a doctor.
| Nature of the discharge | Normal or deviation |
| Standard options | |
| Transparent stretchy, mucous, similar to egg white, often abundant in the middle of the cycle, the period before ovulation | norm |
| Creamy or jelly-like scanty discharge in the second half of the cycle | norm |
| Creamy or jelly-like, increasing discharge in last days cycle | norm |
| Transparent, white or slightly yellowish, in clots in the first hours after unprotected intercourse, when sperm enters the vagina | norm |
| Abundant white liquid the morning after unprotected intercourse | norm |
| Creamy white scanty discharge after sex with a condom or without ejaculation in the vagina | "used" vaginal lubrication, normal |
| Scarlet red bloody, worse at the beginning of menstruation, first day | norm |
| Discharge with blood, scarlet bloody streaks in the middle of the cycle (between menstruation) - happens shortly after ovulation in the middle of the cycle | variant of the norm |
| Fluid whitish light, milk-like, during pregnancy, usually intensifies as pregnancy progresses | normal if they do not irritate the external genitalia and do not have an unpleasant odor |
| Ichor, pink discharge like diluted blood, like “meat slop” | lochia after childbirth, normal |
| Constant, not changing during the cycle, with the exception of menstruation | happens when a woman takes hormonal contraceptives or suffers from infertility and does not have inflammatory processes in the vagina |
| Scarlet discharge- with blood | |
| Scarlet bloody leucorrhoea a few days before menstruation | cervical erosion, endocervicitis |
| Scarlet spotting during pregnancy | detachment of the ovum or placenta, threat of miscarriage |
| Scarlet spotting after sexual intercourse | microcracks in the vagina formed during sexual intercourse, cervical erosion, cervicitis. After an abortion, there may be bleeding, varying in quantity and color. After 1 week be sure to consult a gynecologist and perform a control ultrasound |
| White discharge
Infection or inflammatory process. The diagnosis is made based on a smear and ultrasound. |
|
| White mucous discharge or transparent mucous with white streaks at the end of the cycle, before menstruation | cervical erosion, cervicitis (inflammation of the cervical canal). Mucus secretion is somehow related to the cervix |
| White curdled or kefir-like leucorrhoea, white films or deposits between the labia majora and minora, on the clitoris, usually accompanied by a bready or sour-milk odor | thrush (candidiasis). Associated symptoms: itching, discomfort in the genital area - but these signs may not exist. The diagnosis is made on the basis of a gynecological examination based on characteristic discharge and smear results. |
| White or slightly greenish, grayish in color, flaking films, usually combined with a fishy odor | vaginal dysbiosis (gardnerellosis) |
| Yellow, yellow-green leucorrhoea
Bacterial infection. Treatment based on smear results. |
|
| Bubbling, frothy, yellow or Green colour | sexually transmitted infection (trichomoniasis, etc.). Diagnosis is made based on a smear. |
| Yellowish or greenish profuse leucorrhoea | acute bacterial infection in the vagina, acute adnexitis (inflammation of the ovaries), acute salpingitis (inflammation in the fallopian tubes) |
| Purulent discharge, green in color, thick, combined with mucus, aggravated by tension, after defecation | purulent cervicitis |
| Brown discharge
Any brown discharge- this is an admixture of blood. But this blood has time to clot, so we can assume that it is from the uterus or ovaries. If the bleeding is severe or prolonged, it is necessary to do a biopsy of the endometrium (uterine lining) to rule out endometritis (inflammation of the uterus) or other pathology of the uterus. When too heavy bleeding During menstruation, an ultrasound is necessary to assess the condition of the internal genital organs. Such bleeding may be symptoms of uterine fibroids or endometriosis, then if the thickness of the endometrium (uterine mucosa) is normal, curettage (as this procedure is called) may not be necessary. If the cause of bleeding is hypertrophy (increase in thickness) of the endometrium, endometrial or cervical polyps, then curettage must be performed. This will stop the bleeding and allow for histological examination, to exclude more serious pathology. |
|
| Brown dark spotting at the end of the cycle before menstruation (daub) or for a long time after menstruation | pathological process in the uterus (endometriosis, polyp or endometrial hyperplasia, etc.). Normally, only spotting is allowed no more than 2 days before and 2 days after menstruation. |
| Spotting during pregnancy, including in the early stages | old detachment of the ovum or placenta, which happened a few days or even a week ago. During pregnancy, there should be no bleeding normally! |
| Spotting in the first months of taking hormonal contraceptives | variant of the norm |
| Ichor, pink discharge like diluted blood, like “meat slop”, but with an unpleasant odor, usually before and after menstruation | chronic endometritis, chronic endocervicitis. |
| Brown leucorrhoea mid-cycle | may be a sign of progesterone deficiency, hyperprolactinemia or polycystic ovary syndrome, such conditions cause infertility and require treatment |
| Discharge in large clots during menstruation | bending of the cervix, blood clotting disorder - tendency to thrombus formation, hypovitaminosis of B vitamins, pathological process in the uterus (polyp, endometriosis, fibroids). Also, similar discharge occurs if a woman has an intrauterine device. |
| Liquid watery discharge, acquiring a dirty color on the pad, before and after menstruation | chronic endometritis, chronic endocervicitis |
Discharge before menstruation
The state of the vaginal flora and secretions depends on hormonal changes during the different phases of the cycle, so the color and consistency of the discharge may change before menstruation, it may become more cloudy, yellowish or white and more abundant (feeling of constant wetness), more viscous. But if their character remains the same even after menstruation, especially if these symptoms are accompanied by vaginal itching or pain in the lower abdomen, you should consult a gynecologist.
Bloody (brown) discharge can normally appear a day or two before the onset of severe menstrual bleeding. If spotting precedes menstruation for more than 2 days, or brown, pink, red-brown discharge appears in the middle of the menstrual cycle, this most likely indicates a disease.
Brown discharge before menstruation can signal: hormonal disorders, the presence of any infections (in particular, endometritis - inflammation of the endometrium), hematological diseases, adeomyosis. Very often, such phenomena accompany endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial polyps.
In particular, in combination with other symptoms (pain during menstruation, heavy periods lasting more than 7 days with clots), brown leucorrhoea is a sign of endometriosis.
Discharge after menstruation
At the end of menstruation, blood clotting increases, blood is released more slowly, has time to clot, and therefore, discharge and blood clots have more dark color, may be brown. If they have no smell, this is normal. If there is a smell, then you need to take a smear and PCR tests for chlamydia, gardnerella, mycoplasma and ureaplasma, herpes, CMV.
If blood appears a few days after your period or if your period lasts more than 7 days, you should take a pregnancy test to rule out ectopic pregnancy or threatened abortion.
Leucorrhoea during pregnancy
Discharge usually increases during pregnancy, unless it has an unusual odor or itching, this is usually normal.
Bloody, brown discharge during pregnancy- a very unfavorable symptom. This is a sign of a threatened miscarriage. Other diseases often have nothing to do with it. There may be increased bleeding on the days of expected menstruation.
The color of the discharge may also be yellowish. Limit sexual activity during this period to avoid the risk of miscarriage.
White leucorrhoea during pregnancy is most often a sign of thrush. Sufficiently abundant leucorrhoea, but not changed in color and consistency, may indicate the presence of coli. Bacterial vaginitis is also common during pregnancy. In these cases, treatment is also necessary.
Removal of the mucus plug later pregnancy before childbirth can also be mistaken for leucorrhoea (the plug liquefies and gradually flows out, it can flow quite profusely, sometimes even confused with leakage of amniotic fluid), but this normal discharge if you are more than 37 weeks pregnant.
Discharge after childbirth
Normally, spotting after childbirth goes away within 3 weeks, a maximum of a month. Otherwise, an inflammatory process in the uterus may be suspected, which requires examination and treatment.
Leucorrhoea after IUD insertion
Bleeding and spotting are complications of the IUD and usually stop within 2-3 weeks after insertion. Scanty bleeding during the intermenstrual period is also side effect this method of contraception. If a gynecological examination and ultrasound do not reveal any pathology in the location of the IUD in the uterus, then blood loss can be reduced by prescribing gestagens or prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors.
The IUD quite often leads to heavy, prolonged menstruation with large blood loss. If anemia (anemia) develops, the IUD is removed. If you feel well, you can try drinking decoctions of nettle, water pepper, yarrow, and cinquefoil 2-3 days before the start of menstruation, 50 ml 3 times a day; pure extract from water pepper, red viburnum, 40 drops 4 times a day - until the end of menstruation, massage the nipples of the mammary gland for 3 minutes 3 times a day, after consultation with a doctor - dicinone and cotarnine.
Discharge after sexual intercourse
Contact bleeding after sexual intercourse can be a consequence of pathology of the cervix (discovered during a gynecological examination) or pathology of the uterus itself - polyps, hyperplasia, fibroids, etc. To find out the reasons, it is necessary to do an ultrasound different periods cycle, functional diagnostic tests may be required.
Traditional methods of treating leucorrhoea.
Treatment is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease, clinical symptom whom leucorrhoea appeared. Douching, baths, and suppositories with medications are prescribed locally. Prevention consists of following the rules of personal hygiene and regular visits to the gynecologist.
Leucorrhoea is not independent disease, this is just a symptom, most often infectious diseases reproductive system, so to treat the cause, be sure to consult a gynecologist.
Folk remedies that alleviate the discomfort of leucorrhoea:
Pour 100 g of pine buds into 10 liters of boiling water, hold on low heat for 30 minutes and leave for 1 hour. Take hot baths for leucorrhoea. You can use pine extract.
Pour 2-4 tablespoons of St. John's wort herb into 2 liters of water, boil for 20 minutes, strain. Use for douching.
Take 20 g of yarrow herb, sage leaf and rosemary leaf, as well as 40 g of oak bark, pour 3 liters of boiling water over the mixture, put on low heat and keep covered for 5 minutes. Cool and strain through cheesecloth folded in several layers. Use for douching for itching.
Recipes for treating leucorrhoea from Vanga
At this time, girls need to walk less, especially in the cold, and eat better.
For watery leucorrhoea due to anemia, you should drink an infusion of periwinkle herb. Pour three pinches of periwinkle herb into a glass of water, leave and drink little by little. It is also good to drink a glass of barberry and viburnum juice a day.
It is useful to drink 2 - 3 cups a day of a decoction of yarrow flowers or wild strawberry roots.
Chew white acacia flowers often, swallowing their juice.
Hot baths of pine needles or their extracts also help. It is extremely important to abstain from sexual intercourse during the entire treatment period.
For leucorrhoea, douche with a decoction of immortelle flowers - 1 tablespoon per glass of water. Drink this decoction 0.5 cups 3 times a day an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 3 – 4 weeks.
Pour 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort herb with a glass of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, strain. Drink 1/4 cup 3 times a day.
Take a decoction of stone fruit leaves for leucorrhoea and other gynecological diseases. Drink 1/4 cup 3 times a day.
Yarrow herb – 20 g, sage leaf – 20 g, rosemary leaf – 20 g, oak bark – 40 g. Pour the collection into 3 liters of water, boil for 30 minutes, strain. Perform 2 vaginal douches daily.
Knotweed grass (collected) – 5 parts, nettle leaf – 3 parts, oak bark – 1 part, chamomile flowers – 1 part. Pour 2 tablespoons of mixture into 1 liter hot water, bring to a boil, simmer for 5 minutes over low heat, let cool, strain. Use for douching and vaginal tampons.
For garlic irrigation, a concentrated decoction is used. After the broth has infused a little, add 1 tablespoon of apple or garlic vinegar. It is best to irrigate over an empty basin, without moving the container further than 0.5 meters from the hip. Irrigation should be done slowly and gently, with water room temperature, within half an hour. Irrigation is contraindicated for pregnant women.
It is necessary to wash the genitals twice a day with carbolic soap and add a little potash to the water. Apply compresses of lead water or a cloth greased with boric vaseline to the genital slit.
Take 50 g of wintergreen leaves and stems per 0.5 liter of vodka. Leave for two weeks in a dark place, filter, store in a dark bottle. Apply as lotions.
Make lotions from the infusion - 20 g of bodanus thickifolia root per glass of boiling water.
The appearance of abnormal vaginal discharge ALWAYS indicates the presence of a disease and requires immediate contact with a gynecologist. Do not douche under any circumstances before visiting a doctor; your douching will only complicate the diagnosis of the cause of leucorrhoea and treatment. Any folk home remedies are not intended to treat the disease that caused the vaginal discharge, but to alleviate the discomfort and itching caused by the discharge itself. Even if you do not douche, vaginal discharge may stop on its own, which means that the disease has progressed to chronic stage and is almost asymptomatic, but with damage to the internal genital organs.
A woman’s intimate life largely determines her mood and affects her overall well-being and self-esteem. In moments when something goes wrong, it is difficult to enjoy life or think about a career - first of all, every woman strives to resolve personal issues. What problems can ruin your mood? Most often, the appearance of discharge and the associated unpleasant odor creates an uncomfortable situation.
If you are experiencing such problems, there is no need to panic. Let's try to understand the question: what should be the “correct” and “incorrect” vaginal discharge, and what to do if there are concerns about your health.
If everything's alright
Even the healthiest woman secretes about 1-2 ml of transparent or whitish secretion from the vagina per day. The “medical” composition of these secretions is as follows:
● mucus of the cervical canal and discharge from its cavity (in small quantities);
● secretion of the glands of the vaginal part of the uterus and the vagina itself;
● vaginal transudate (physiological);
● dead epithelial cells and single leukocytes;
● lactobacilli and isolated representatives of the coccal flora.
As you can see, such secretions contain normal microflora, no pus or other impurities. This is why there is an unpleasant odor physiological secretions absent. They do not stain laundry and do not irritate the mucous membranes. The microbial flora they contain consists of Doderlein bacilli, a natural component that protects female organs from bacteria, and a single coccal flora, sometimes found there a small amount of macrophages.
Microbes "good and bad"
However, things don't always go smoothly. Per condition vaginal flora There are many factors that can cause it to change for the worse. This may include:
● unhealthy lifestyle and nutrition, excessive use antibiotics, especially without a doctor’s prescription;
● decreased immunity;
● childbirth, abortion, miscarriages;
● frequent change of sexual partners, “unprotected” sex;
● failure to maintain genital hygiene;
● chronic diseases and inflammatory processes internal genital organs and urinary system.
Because of all this, instead of Doderlein's rods, a variety of abundant coccal and anaerobic flora (atopobium, mobiluncus and gardnerella) appear in the vagina and bacterial vaginosis (dysbiosis) occurs. Type and composition vaginal discharge changes: they become abundant, cloudy, yellowish or grayish in color and acquire the smell of stale fish. Itching and discomfort may occur during sexual intercourse. Sometimes painful cracks appear in the genital mucosa. This is where you need to immediately pay attention to your health, but...
My own gynecologist
For some reason, many women, despite such pronounced symptoms, do not understand the essence of the issue and diagnose themselves, usually believing that it is thrush. But with thrush, completely different symptoms are observed. In this case, the discharge is also abundant, but it is white and cheesy (hence the name of the disease) and does not smell like rotten fish. As a result, women prescribe treatment for themselves and struggle for a long time with a non-existent illness, while the vaginal environment worsens even more and dysbiosis increases, which, as it progresses, can cause unpleasant consequences:
● increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections;
● ectopic pregnancy;
● infertility;
● the likelihood of complications after various gynecological operations increases;
● endometritis (after abortion, caesarean section, childbirth);
● pathological uterine bleeding;
● spontaneous abortions, late miscarriages, premature births in pregnant women;
● intrauterine infection and, as a result, intrauterine growth retardation, the birth of a baby with a body weight below normal.
What to do?
Not every woman, due to her workload and other reasons, can visit a gynecologist, but before you prescribe any medicine for yourself, you need to at least understand the problem. You can find out what happened by passing a simple test, based on the results of which you can already understand the cause of your “female” problem. If the test results reveal that you may be suffering from some kind of disease of the female genital area, you need to consult a doctor to clarify diagnosis and take smears for flora. Only after the tests are ready will it be possible to make a definitive diagnosis.
Sometimes even a simple swab does not give results and you have to resort to PCR ( DNA diagnostics), making it possible to detect even a small amount of the pathogen. If your doctor has prescribed such a procedure, be sure to undergo it. By identifying the pathogen, you can cure the disease as quickly as possible.
How to prevent vaginosis
● It is known that any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, when prescribing antibiotics, “protect” your microflora by using Lactagel. This product is very convenient, as it is available in special syringe tubes, and any woman can insert it into her vagina without the participation of a doctor.
● During menstruation, the pH value of the vagina changes noticeably. In the first days (2-3 days), the environment in it is almost neutral, pH 7.0. In the next 3 days, in healthy women it sharply becomes more acidic 4.0-4.5 and remains in this state until the next critical days. Development risk bacterial vaginosis increases during menstruation. The disease can be easily avoided by using Lactagel in the first days after the end of menstruation as a prophylactic agent.
● If you have intestinal dysbiosis, which threatens the occurrence of dysbiosis in the vagina, in a great way To avoid problems in the sexual sphere, use 1-2 tubes of Lactagel per week. This is done for preventive purposes.
● If dysbiosis does appear, then Lactagel will be a reliable assistant in the fight against it. It will help eliminate unpleasant odor and speed up the healing process.
● This product is not an antibiotic, is not addictive and can be taken for any period of time without any consequences.
However, it is worth remembering that even such a wonderful remedy will not replace visiting a doctor and taking the medications prescribed by him. medicines. If you still have questions, ask them to a specialist via the contact form. Answers to all questions here can be obtained absolutely free of charge.