Vaginal discharge, also known as leucorrhoea, is a liquid secreted by small glands in the vagina and cervix. No need to worry; this fluid comes out every day and helps remove dead cells and dirt to maintain the health of the female reproductive organs.
Leucorrhoea keeps the vagina clean and prevents infection. Leucorrhoea is normal. The color, smell, consistency, and amount of vaginal discharge differ for each individual and depend on the menstrual cycle time.
The smell may be different when the cleanliness is not maintained or when you are pregnant. Now, to understand it further, let's read the article we have prepared for you, Ladies!
Red
The red color varies from bright to dark brown. Generally, this red color occurs when you are experiencing menstruation on days 1 to 5. A little intermezzo, this red color, is caused by blood that comes out due to the decay of the uterine wall.
People who are postmenopausal or have not had their periods for at least one year should see a doctor immediately, as this may be a serious problem such as endometrial cancer.
Clear or White
Whites can look like cream, milky white, and egg white. This vaginal discharge indicates that there is healthy lubrication. It is important to pay attention if the discharge that comes out is yellow like cottage cheese or has a pungent smell because there is a possibility that a yeast infection has occurred so that the vagina feels itchy. This color also indicates that ovulation is happening, so this is the right time to have sex if you want to get pregnant.
Yellow-Green
If you find vaginal discharge that is darker than yellow, greenish-yellow, or even green, you may have a bacterial infection or sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, infection is not only shown by the consistency of thick vaginal discharge but also pay attention to the color. Go to the pharmacy or doctor when this happens. Ladies, you need to be aware of these colors!
Pink
Pink is always pretty! The pink vaginal discharge does indicate the start of menstruation. On the other hand, it can be other signs such as implantation bleeding, which is a sign of early pregnancy, vaginal or cervical irritation, small tears after sexual intercourse, use of sex toys, and abnormal bleeding in the uterus.
Gray
Gray vaginal discharge is a sign of being unhealthy. Generally, this color is a sign of a common bacterial infection, namely Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). This infection results in other symptoms, such as itching, irritation, pungent odor, and redness around the vaginal opening. This grayish vaginal discharge may also indicate a person has sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.
You need to check if the vaginal discharge is gray.
Quick Tips for Checking Whether Your Leucorrhoea is Normal or Not
How does it smell? Sting or not.
What's the color? Clear, white, red, yellow, or other colors.
How's the consistency? Liquid, thick, or sticky.
How's the texture? Slippery, wet, or rough. How many? Little, regular, or more.
Recognize early the possibility of abnormality that occurs.
If there are some things that are not supposed to happen, get yourself checked immediately, OK? The changes you experience are nothing to worry about. However, if the color, smell, and consistency of vaginal discharge look different than usual, even if you feel itching in the area around your vagina, you need to contact your doctor immediately to get the right treatment.
You can also take advantage of the doctor's consultation feature from Newfemme to get information about what you need to do next, Ladies!
Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Vaginal Discharge Color: What’s Normal and What Isn’t [Online] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/vaginal-discharge-mean/#:~:text=Healthy%20vaginal%20discharge%20ranges%20from,change%20throughout%20your%20menstrual%20cycle.
Medical News Today. (2020). A color-coded guide to vaginal discharge [Online] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322232#what-is-vaginal-discharge
United Kingdom National Health Service. (2021). Vaginal discharge [Online] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-discharge/
WebMD. (2022). Vaginal Discharge: What’s Abnormal? [Online] https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/vaginal-discharge-whats-abnormal