When vaginal discharge has some color, smell, thick or unusual consistency, it may indicate the presence of some vaginal infection such as candidiasis or trichomoniasis or the presence of any sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea.
Therefore, when vaginal discharge is not a transparent discharge and is white, yellow, green, pink or brown, it may indicate different problems such as vaginal infections, for example, it is important to consult your gynecologist to treat the problem. See when to go to the doctor on 5 signs that you should go to the gynecologist.
In this way, it is important to know what each color of vaginal discharge may mean, to understand when it is necessary to seek the doctor or gynecologist. So here are some tips on what each of the major types of vaginal discharge can mean:
White discharge
White, thick milk-like discharge is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, redness, and burning sensation in the vulva and vagina.
- What can cause : can be caused vaginal skin candidiasis, an infection in the vagina caused by the fungus Candida albicans . Learn more about the causes of white discharge in White Bleeding - What can it be ?.
- How to treat : Treatment is usually done with antifungal medicines such as Fluconazole, which can be taken as tablets or applied to the region to be treated as ointment. Learn more in detail how the treatment of vaginal candidiasis is done by clicking here.
When there is white discharge, similar to milk, homogenous and fishy smell can be colpite, a vaginosis caused by protozoa, fungi or bacteria.
Yellow or Yellow-greenish discharge
Yellow, greyish or greenish-yellow discharge, with a strong fishy smell that may be associated with other symptoms such as pain and burning sensation during intercourse or when urinating. Learn more about this discharge in Yellowish discharge.
- What it can cause : may be caused by trichomoniasis, a vaginal infection that is sexually transmitted.
- How to treat : Treatment is usually done with antifungal medicines like Metronidazole, Tioconazole or Secnidazole, which can be taken as single dose tablets or for 5 to 7 days of treatment. See how the treatment is done on How to relieve symptoms and cure trichomoniasis.
In addition, yellow discharge like pus may indicate the presence of Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease that can almost cause no symptoms. In this case, treatment is done with azithromycin, taken as a single dose or for 7 to 15 days of treatment. When the discharge is greenish, it may be a sign of Trichomoniasis or Vulvovaginitis. Learn more at Learn What Greenhead Can Do.
Brown or bloody discharge
Brown discharge or the presence of blood in the discharge is usually associated with other symptoms such as pain and burning when urinating.
- What it can cause : it can be caused by Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. Know other causes of brown discharge by clicking here.
- How to treat : Treatment can be done with antibiotic medicines such as Azithromycin or Ciprofloxacin taken as a single dose or for 7 to 10 days of treatment.
In addition, in more severe cases this type of discharge may also be signs of cancer of the vagina, cervix or endometrium, and it is therefore important to consult the gynecologist when the symptoms appear.
However, if you have been menstruating recently, brown, bloody or pink discharge is common in the days following the end of menstruation and in these cases is not cause for concern.
Grief in Pregnancy
The discharge in pregnancy when it arises is important to be treated as soon as possible, as to prevent complications and avoid harming the baby.
- What it can cause : can be caused by diseases such as Trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, Gonorrhea or even Candidiasis for example.
- How to treat : Treatment should be done with medicines such as antifungals or antibiotics, for example, prescribed by the doctor.
So during pregnancy as soon as the first symptoms appear it is very important to consult the doctor so that he can diagnose the cause and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Transparent Wearing
The clear, liquid discharge, similar to the egg white, may indicate that it is in the fertile period of the menstrual cycle and is therefore the ideal time for a woman to become pregnant if she is not under the influence of contraception.
This type of discharge lasts about 6 days and ends up disappearing naturally after that time.
Pink Flow
Pink discharge may indicate the onset of pregnancy, as it may be caused by fertilization of the ovum and is frequent within 3 days after intimate contact. Along with this type of discharge it is common to have mild abdominal cramps that are normal and end up going untreated.
What to do to not get runny
To prevent infections and vaginal diseases that can cause discharge, it is important to do good daily hygiene 1 to 2 times a day. For this, you should always wash the intimate area with plenty of water and a drop of soap without ever rubbing in exaggeration. After washing, you should thoroughly dry the intimate region and wear a washed panties.
So it's important:
- Wear cotton panties;
- Do not use daily protector like Carefree for example;
- Avoid using wipes or toilet paper with perfume;
- Avoid rubbing the intimate area too much, even with intimate soap.
These care helps prevent vaginal infections and protect the vaginal mucosa, thus preventing the development of fungi or bacteria that can cause some type of discharge.
