Every woman has a vaginal discharge at some point in their life. So they need to know which discharge is normal & which is not. Below are the types of vaginal discharge you should know as a woman.
1. Yellowish 2. Brown 3. Green 4. Pink 5. Thin white 6. Thick white 7. Creamy grey
1. Yellowish
Yellowish vaginal discharge with or without a smell may be a sign of bacterial infection, or sexually transmitted infection (STI), like Trichomoniasis. If you have this discharge, don't waste time. See your healthcare provider for evaluation & treatment.
2. Brown
Brown vaginal discharge may be due to; irregular menstrual cycles, uterine cancer, or cervical cancer. Brown discharge in a woman after menopause is often an early sign of cancer of the uterus. It's a pointer you shouldn't joke about. See your doctor immediately!
3. Green
Greenish vaginal discharge may point to the presence of a; bacterial infection, or STI, such as chlamydia. So anyone having a greenish discharge should see a doctor for tests & commencement of antibiotics.
4. Pink
Pink vaginal discharge occurs in vaginal irritation, bleeding from the cervix or after implantation. It's occasionally due to STI's like gonorrhea or chlamydia and may be accompanied by bleeding during sex. You should see a doctor if you have a pink vaginal discharge.
5. Thin white
Thin white discharge may be normal or abnormal. If it is CLEAR & mild it's usually normal e.g. during pregnancy, ovulation & around your period. But gonorrhea can increase the volume of clear discharge or turn it mucopurulent, with additional abdominal or pelvic pain.
6. Thick white
Thick white, curdy or cheese-like discharge that feels like thick yogurt, is often due to yeast infection or candida. 9 in 10 women have this infection at some point in their life. It may come with itching, redness, irritation, excoriation or a burning sensation in your vagina.
You can treat yeast infections with anti-fungal creams. But if your symptoms don’t improve or occur four or more times in a year, see your doctor. Another point is that there's currently no evidence of the need to treat the male partner who isn't showing symptoms.
7. Creamy grey
Finally, a creamy greyish-white vaginal discharge that adheres to the wall of the vagina & has a horrible odor, is usually caused by Bacterial vaginosis. You'll see this more during or following your menses. If you have it, see a doctor to prescribe antibiotics for you.
Summary,
In brief, if you have vaginal discharge, see a doctor when you notice:
1. Unusual odor, color, or consistency
2. Itching, burning or redness
3. Pelvic or abdominal pain
4. Blood in the discharge (not related to your period)
5. The discharge worsens after a week
Every woman has a vaginal discharge at some point in their life. So they need to know which discharge is normal & which is not. This will help them easily know when there's a problem & handle it early before it gets out of hand.
