Vaginal discharge (discharge, leucorrhoea or cervical mucus) is natural in women and is present from puberty to menopause. But a change in smell or color can sometimes suspect an infection.
Under the influence of estrogen, the vagina secretes secretions from puberty. This vaginal discharge also called “leukorrhea” Or “cervical mucus“, take on the appearance of a substance that is neither thick nor liquid, rather cream in color. These leucorrhoea are different from the fluids secreted during female ejaculation. It is then a discharge of a small quantity of whitish liquid, produced by glands located on either side of the urethra (external part of the conduit of the urinary system) and called Skene glands, or glands para-urethral.
What is cervical mucus?
Cervical mucus is a viscous substance produced at the cervix. Cervical mucus constitutes the protective barrier of the uterus: it is in fact what stops the intrusion of germs dangerous to health. It also prevents the progression of sperm outside periods favorable to fertilization. The consistency of cervical mucus changes naturally during the period close to ovulation. She is then less viscous to release sperm more easily trace the woman’s genital tract and optimize their chances of meeting the egg. Cervical mucus has a pH between 6 and 8.5, the ideal being between 7 and 8.5. A pH between 6 and 7 does not make fertilization impossible. Acidic cervical mucus, pH less than 6, may be linked to an infection or be idiopathic. It harms fertilization and must be taken into account if you want to become pregnant.
Why do we have vaginal discharge?
Vaginal secretions serve to protect and balance the vaginal flora by naturally cleansing the inside of the vagina by expelling potentially harmful substances and impurities. They also have a role during sexual relations by lubricating the vagina, thus allowing penetrationfertilization and therefore reproduction. “They also make it possible to target the period when ovulation can take place, but this does not prove ovulation“, specifies Dr Pia de Reilhac, president of the National Federation of Colleges of Medical Gynecology and gynecologist in Nantes.
These secretions, which are completely normal when they are cream colored and odorless, can sometimes take on a suspicious appearance and have a worrying odor. In this case, they may be a symptom of a pathology.
Losses are no longer normal “when their abundance changes, when they become white, green, beige or gray, but also if their appearance differs and they become stringy, thick, lumpy, sticky or runny, or when they have a pungent apple odor or rotten fish”lists Dr Pia de Reilhac, who also advises to be careful if there is “edema, itching, burning, irritation”.
• Yellow losses
• White discharge
• Brown losses
• Pink losses
When to worry and consult?
► Better to consult a gynecologist when these losses become very white and thick, as if they contained lumps of curdled milk. Generally associated with severe itching and inflammation of the lips, they announce a yeast infection.
► They can also become transparent and liquid, flow intermittently and develop a very strong odor. It is then a vaginosisthe origin of which is an imbalance in the vaginal flora and which must be treated.
► Vaginal secretions can also take a gray or greenish tint. They are most of the time a precursor to chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection. Greenish, foamy, abundant and nauseating (with a pungent odor), they can announce trichomoniasis, another sexually transmitted infection. Here again, it is better to consult your gynecologist without delay.
Before menstruation, the secretions may be thicker and abundant, sometimes yellowish. But during the period, there is no white discharge.
At the beginning of pregnancy, more abundant vaginal discharge than usual may be observed “because hormonal impregnation increases a lot and the vagina responds to it” explains Dr Pia de Reilhac. Classic in appearance (milky or transparent, white or light yellow), they reflect the hormonal change that accompanies pregnancy. If they change color or smell bad, they may indicate a possible yeast infection or infection. In this case, you must consult a gynecologist or midwife quickly.
The losses, which appear at puberty, are the expression of a good secretion of estrogens, the female hormones. Logically, they become rarer until they disappear at menopause, which marks the cessation of ovulation in women. “At menopause, there are no more vaginal secretions and therefore a possibility of dryness and discomfort, but this varies from one woman to another. The secretions are sometimes ocher and not very abundant, synonymous with vaginal atrophy. However, the vagina always responds to sufficient stimulation and the woman’s desire, resulting in good lubrication even at menopause.reassures Dr Pia de Reilhac.
Thanks to Dr Pia de Reilhac, president of the National Federation of Colleges of Medical Gynecology and gynecologist.