Why am I experiencing an increase in vaginal discharge? 8 possible causes

Vaginal discharge, which is the fluid that comes out from the vagina, is normally watery or slightly thick. It could even have a slight odour. Whereas some expertise it each day, others could not have it ceaselessly. Generally, the fluid is a sign of vaginal well being and cleanliness. So it’s pure for girls to fret in case of heavy discharge and marvel concerning the causes of vaginal discharge and whether it is regular. Is it an indication of being pregnant, a daily characteristic of your menstrual cycle or an an infection that you’ll want to get handled for? Learn on to get all of your doubts cleared.

What’s vaginal discharge?

It’s a fluid produced by the glands within the cervix and vagina to assist clear in addition to shield the vaginal surroundings. “It’s made up of mucus, micro organism, vaginal secretions, and previous cells that the physique naturally sheds,” says obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sadhna Singhal Vishnoi.

The discharge out of your vagina performs an important position in sustaining vaginal well being by:

• Maintaining your vagina clear: It flushes out micro organism and useless cells, which might forestall infections.
• Sustaining vaginal potential of hydrogen (pH) stability: The vagina has a barely acidic pH, which is round 3.8 and 4.5. “Sustaining it may well assist forestall dangerous micro organism from rising,” says the professional.
• Lubrication: It retains the vaginal partitions moist, which helps forestall dryness and discomfort.
• Supporting fertility: Throughout ovulation, discharge turns into slippery and stretchy, serving to sperm attain the egg.

Vaginal discharge, which is normally white in color or clear, varies with the modifications in hormone ranges, as per analysis revealed in Singapore Medical Journal in 2020. “The quantity varies, however as much as one teaspoon of vaginal discharge in a day is taken into account regular,” says the professional.

What are the causes of an elevated vaginal discharge?

A rise in vaginal discharge could also be as a result of following causes:

1. Ovulation

Across the center of your menstrual cycle (days between 10 and 14) estrogen ranges peak, and results in a rise in vaginal discharge. “This makes the cervix produce extra cervical mucus, which turns into clear, slippery, and stretchy,” says the professional. This helps the sperm transfer simply and improve the possibilities of being pregnant.

2. Being pregnant

Whereas anticipating, estrogen and progesterone ranges improve, resulting in a rise in vaginal discharge. “This skinny, milky white fluid with no odour helps forestall infections and maintains a wholesome surroundings for the infant,” says the professional.

3. Sexual arousal

When you’re sexually aroused, the Bartholin’s glands, situated close to the vaginal opening, produce a transparent, watery fluid. This lubricant helps cut back friction whereas having intercourse. “The cervix additionally releases mucus, rising vaginal discharge,” says Dr Vishnoi.

4. Contraception

Oral contraceptives, hormonal intrauterine gadget, or hormone substitute remedy may cause a rise in vaginal discharge. Throughout a 2022 research, revealed in Contraception, individuals skilled elevated quantities of discharge within the first few months after beginning contraception. “This occurs as a result of fluctuating estrogen and progesterone ranges,” says the professional.

5. Vaginal yeast an infection

A vaginal yeast an infection happens when Candida albicans, which is a kind of fungus, overgrows within the vagina. “It usually occurs after utilizing antibiotics, consuming a whole lot of sugar, stress, being pregnant, or diabetes. These are a number of the components that may disrupt the pure vaginal pH, and result in thick, white heavy discharge,” says the professional

6. Bacterial vaginosis

It’s brought on by an imbalance in vaginal micro organism, the place the dangerous ones outgrow the nice micro organism or lactobacilli. “You possibly can expertise skinny, gray or white discharge with a powerful fishy scent,” says Dr Vishnoi. Bacterial vaginosis is the most typical reason behind irregular vaginal discharge, together with heavy discharge, as per analysis revealed within the Worldwide Journal of Replica, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2021.

7. Sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis may cause a rise in vaginal discharge as a result of irritation and an infection. “These infections unfold by means of unprotected intercourse, and may result in a discharge in yellow or inexperienced color with a powerful odour,” says the professional.

8. Menopause

Throughout menopause, estrogen ranges usually fluctuate. “Vaginal dryness is widespread amongst girls of their mid-40s and 50s. Some girls may expertise a rise in vaginal discharge, which is skinny and watery, as a result of hormonal shifts,” says the professional.

deal with a rise in vaginal discharge?

Therapy is determined by the reason for heavy vaginal discharge:

1. Yeast an infection

In case your discharge is thick, white, cottage cheese-like fluid, and you’re feeling itchy down there, it may be as a result of a yeast an infection. “Antifungal medicines and probiotics may help to revive vaginal flora, and eliminate the an infection,” says the professional.

2. Bacterial vaginosis

Greyish-white heavy discharge with a powerful fishy odour and slightly little bit of itching are indicators of bacterial vaginosis. “Antibiotics like metronidazole or clindamycin, in oral or vaginal gel kind, could assist,” says the professional. Additionally, keep away from vaginal douching, because it disturbs vaginal flora.

3. Sexually transmitted infections

Aside from a rise in vaginal discharge, it results in greenish-yellow frothy fluid with foul odour and intense itching. “Antibiotics like metronidazole and tinidazole could also be prescribed by your physician to deal with trichomoniasis,” says Dr Vishnoi. In case of chlamydia, you might expertise white or yellowish discharge with an disagreeable scent. As for gonorrhea, the fluid is normally skinny and inexperienced or yellow in color. “Antibiotics like azithromycin or doxycycline could also be given for chlamydia, and ceftriaxone for gonorrhea,” says the professional.

4. Hormonal imbalances

In case you expertise a rise in vaginal discharge throughout being pregnant, ovulation or menopause, it could be as a result of fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone ranges. “In case of an excessive amount of estrogen, weight loss program modifications like consuming extra fibre-rich meals, and managing stress could assist stability hormone ranges naturally,” says the professional.

A rise in vaginal discharge could also be as a result of completely different causes, together with being pregnant. If it’s an an infection, you might be given medication. Generally, even making small modifications in your weight loss program may help.