Leucorrhoea: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Treat

Leucorrhoea is a clear or white liquid that comes out of a small gland in the vagina. This liquid is useful for keeping the vaginal area clean and moist and useful for protecting it from infection. However, there are several conditions in which vaginal discharge is said to be abnormal and a sign of a health problem.

What is vaginal discharge?

Discharge is released from the vagina every day to remove old cells and dirt, so that the vaginal area is kept clean and moist.

Leucorrhoea is part of the body’s mechanism for lubricating, cleaning, and fighting infection-causing bacteria in the vaginal area. Therefore, vaginal discharge is a normal thing.

However, if there is a change in color, texture, aroma, or amount than usual, this could be a sign of a certain health problem.

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Symptoms of Normal Leucorrhoea

Leucorrhoea is said to be normal if it is clear or white. The discharge should be odorless and the thickness can change depending on your menstrual cycle.

Characteristics of normal vaginal discharge, including:

• Texture: watery, thick, or sticky. This is normal and caused by hormonal changes.
• Color: clear, milky white, or ivory white
• Aroma: vaginal discharge can smell but should not have a strong and unpleasant odor.
• Volume: Depends on the individual and several other factors. However, it should not change drastically

Symptoms of vaginal discharge is not normal

The following are characteristics of abnormal vaginal discharge, including:

• Texture: Sticky and frothy accompanied by pain and discoloration
• Color: Dark yellow, brown, green, or gray
• Aroma: Fishy and pungent odor, and accompanied by changes in color and texture
• Volume: The amount of fluid that changes suddenly.

These signs can indicate a problem in the vaginal area, such as a bacterial infection.

Please also note, vaginal discharge can have a variety of colors and each color indicates a certain health condition.

Clear

Leucorrhoea is generally clear or slightly white in color with a slippery or egg white-like consistency.

You may feel a clear, slippery vaginal discharge before ovulation, when you are sexually aroused, and during pregnancy.

Red

The red color category can vary, from bright red to dark red, tending to brown. This color usually appears during menstruation.

If your vaginal discharge is red when you are not menstruating, it is advisable to visit a doctor.

If you have gone through menopause and have not had your period in the past year, then you need to consult a doctor if bleeding suddenly appears. This condition can be a sign of a serious condition, such as uterine cancer.

White

The white color category varies from ivory white or bright yellow. If a vaginal discharge of this color appears but is not accompanied by other symptoms, then this white color is a sign of healthy lubrication.

However, if vaginal discharge has a thick white consistency or is accompanied by a strong odor, then you should consult a doctor, because there is a possibility of infection in the female area.

White, thick, strong smell is usually associated with fungal infections.

Yellow Green

If vaginal discharge is bright yellow, this does not indicate a particular problem.

However, if the vaginal discharge is yellow, greenish yellow, or green, this is generally a sign of a bacterial infection or sexually transmitted disease.

Gray

Gray vaginal discharge can be a sign of a bacterial infection, which is usually called bacterial vaginosis (B.V.).

This bacterial infection is usually accompanied by pain, irritation, a strong feminine odor, and redness around the vulva.

Causes of Leucorrhoea

Leucorrhoea is part of the body’s function and comes from changes in estrogen levels in the body. The amount of vaginal discharge can increase from ovulation, sexual stimulation, birth control pills, and pregnancy.

However, changes in color, aroma, and texture of vaginal discharge can be affected by changes in the balance of bacteria in the vagina.

The following are some of the causes of changes in the balance, including:

• Take antibiotics or steroids.
• Bacterial vaginosis, which generally occurs in pregnant women or women who have multiple sex partners.
• Take birth control pills.
• Cervical cancer.
• Sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
• Diabetes.
• Postoperative pelvic infection.
• Trichomoniasis.
• Drying of the vaginal walls during menopause.
• Vaginitis, irritation in or around the vagina
• Fungal infection.

When to See a Doctor?

You need to consult a doctor if vaginal discharge has an abnormal odor and appearance.

Some of the symptoms to watch for include:

• Painful.
• Pain or discomfort.
• Lumpy vaginal discharge.
• Experiencing bleeding when not menstruating or after menopause.
• Bleeding after regular sexual intercourse.
• Gray, green, or yellow vaginal discharge.
• Strong unpleasant odor in the female area.
• Burning sensation when urinating.

Diagnosis of Leucorrhoea

The doctor will start by examining the medical history and asking about the symptoms you are feeling. The questions asked are generally about the characteristics of the vaginal discharge that you are experiencing. Apart from that, the doctor will also ask about other symptoms such as pain or pain that you are experiencing.