Vaginal discharge is normal for every healthy woman. Normally, the discharge does not have a sharp and unpleasant odor, is not abundant and does not cause discomfort in the form of itching, irritation of the genitals and pain when urinating. It’s a completely different matter when a woman has a sour smell from the vagina and heavy discharge at the same time.

Very often, women complain specifically about the appearance of vaginal discharge with a sour odor. This condition can be complicated by pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, itching in the genital area, irritation and redness of the mucous membrane.

Causes of sour vaginal odor

If a woman is not bothered by the above symptoms, but there is a sour smell from the vagina, this may mean that menstruation is coming soon. As a rule, 1-2 weeks before the onset of menstruation, vaginal discharge may intensify, acquiring a mild sour odor. This is normal and should not be a cause for concern.

A sour odor from the vagina can be the cause of intensive proliferation of candidal fungus in the body. Normally, Candida fungi are found on the vaginal mucosa of any woman, without causing any unpleasant phenomena or inconvenience.

However, under the influence of certain factors, candida fungi begin to actively multiply, suppressing the normal vaginal microflora and changing its environment to an acidic one. At the same time, the woman develops abundant cottage cheese-like flakes, which lead to the appearance of a sour odor.

The following conditions lead to pathological proliferation of candidal fungus:

• Decreased immunity;
• Abuse of baked goods, fresh baked goods and spicy dishes;
• Frequent change of sexual partners;
• Wearing tight underwear made of synthetic fabrics.

One of the reasons for the appearance of a sour odor from the vagina is infection of a woman with ureaplasma, mycoplasma, chlamydia and other protozoa. When attacked by pathogenic microflora, a woman’s immune system weakens, the physiological vaginal environment is disrupted, and pathological flora begins to actively multiply on the mucous membrane of the internal genital organs, thereby causing a sour odor from the genital tract.

The appearance of something unpleasant may be a symptom of the development of inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, for example, adhesions in the fallopian tubes, proliferation of ovarian cysts and other pathological processes.

Most women, having discovered the appearance of a sour odor from the vagina, do not rush to the gynecologist, but try to mask it on their own with the help of deodorants, frequent hygiene procedures and changing panty liners.

An unpleasant odor from the genital tract may indicate the development of a serious pathological process in the organs of the reproductive system. By neglecting, a woman only aggravates her condition, because many inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs lead to female infertility!

Vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea) accompanies a woman every day, regularly followed by menstruation. By the appearance, color, consistency and smell of leucorrhoea, you can determine the woman’s health status and the day of her menstrual cycle.

Sometimes women notice a change in the smell and color of the discharge. The leucorrhoea becomes thick, white, similar to cottage cheese and smells like kefir. You should find out why your vaginal discharge smells sour. Is this normal or evidence of a disease?

The causative agents of this disease are yeast-like fungi from the genus Candida, representatives of which are often present in the vaginal microflora of a healthy woman.

For a long time, the causative agents of thrush do not manifest themselves in any way, however, with a decrease in immunity or under the influence of various factors, the fungi begin to multiply intensively, causing an inflammatory process in the vagina. This is manifested by the following, quite specific, symptoms:

• Curd-like thick vaginal discharge. They can be white, but when dry they change to yellow.
• Strong sour odor, comparable to the smell of kefir or sour milk.
• Itching in the vagina, perineum. In advanced cases or with severe damage, the itching can be unbearable.
• Burning in the vagina during and/or after sex, urination.
• Signs of perineal irritation: redness of the labia, appearance of rashes.

Inflammation

Symptoms of vaginosis:

• Copious discharge, liquid, uniform gray in color.
• There is a strong sour or fishy odor.
• Itching, irritation, burning in the vagina.

If a sour odor appears from the vagina, you need to visit a gynecologist's office and undergo a simple examination. It is recommended to take a vaginal smear for flora and degree of purity, as well as bacterial culture of the smear. Additionally, you may need a blood test with a formula and a general urine test. This examination will identify the pathogen and prescribe treatment, if necessary.

When a sour odor occurs, it is important to identify the possible problem and take appropriate action. Often girls who are faced with this problem try to mask the sour odor with various deodorizing products (intimate gels with a strong fragrance, scented panty liners, etc.).

Even more often, various drugs are used, often completely unsuitable for eliminating the problem, which erase the clinical manifestations. All these actions can lead to the disease becoming chronic, provoking further development of the process.

Treatment will depend on the type of pathogen. So, for thrush you will need antifungal drugs, and for a bacterial infection - antibiotics. In all cases, prebiotics and probiotics can be prescribed to restore normal vaginal microflora.

The normal microflora of the vagina is capable of independently suppressing the growth and reproduction of opportunistic flora. Helps create an acidic environment. Provides a protective barrier against various infectious agents.

To avoid the appearance of acidic vaginal discharge, you must follow very simple rules:

• Observe personal hygiene measures.
• Wash yourself using special intimate hygiene products.
• Wash strictly from front to back, that is, in the direction from the pubis to the anus. This will prevent the entry of various pathogenic agents (Escherichia coli, yeast-like fungi, etc.) from the rectum into the genitourinary system.
• Use underwear made from natural fabrics, as synthetics can cause genital irritation.
• When the first symptoms appear, contact a gynecologist rather than self-medicate.
• Visit your gynecologist regularly for examination. The frequency of visits should be at least once a year (ideally once every 6 months).
• Use barrier methods of contraception (condom) if you are not sure about your sexual partner.

Only a specialist can identify the cause of the appearance of leucorrhoea with the smell of kefir. In addition, treatment is always prescribed based on the individual criteria of the patient’s body. Therefore, you should not try to self-medicate “on the advice of a friend.” Remember: diseases detected in a timely manner are much easier to cure!

White discharge with a sour odor is most often not the norm. As a rule, this is how the disease manifests itself: candidiasis, or thrush, as many call it.

There are several reasons for its appearance:

• infection from a sexual partner, and the man himself can only be a carrier of these fungi, without experiencing any discomfort and without suspecting that he is infected;
• hormonal changes in the vaginal flora during pregnancy;
• taking antibiotics that kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria.

The symptoms of thrush are quite recognizable and do not present difficulties in diagnosis for a doctor. In addition to a visual examination, the gynecologist will take a flora smear for examination, which will give a more accurate answer about the cause of the ailment. Symptoms typically include a white discharge with a sour odor during pregnancy as well as in non-pregnant women. A cheesy coating is characteristic, found on the external genitalia and inside the vagina. In addition, a woman may experience quite severe pain during sexual intercourse, vaginal itching and dryness, and the mucous membrane of the external genital organs becomes covered with small cracks.

White discharge with a sour odor in women, caused by the appearance of candida fungi in large quantities in the vaginal microflora, in some cases can have a negative effect on the fetus. Therefore, expectant mothers need to especially carefully monitor their health.

How does the disease spread?

Candidiasis usually spreads quite quickly. Minor cheesy discharge, if left untreated, within a few hours is localized throughout the mucous membrane of the external genitalia, producing a special odor and unbearable itching. Due to the acidic environment, which leads to tissue irritation, many microcracks form on the mucous membranes, which will not be able to heal until the fungus is destroyed. Without taking medications, the disease will go away only after 2 weeks, leaving behind a swollen mucous surface covered with multiple ulcers. It will also take a lot of time to heal.

The speed of spread of the disease, as well as the speed of healing, largely depend on the state of the woman’s immunity, as well as on associated negative factors, such as taking strong medications, washing with intimate products with an inappropriate pH level and fragrances, and frequent douching.

Treatment of candidiasis

1. Douching and washing with herbal infusions.

One of the most popular herbs in the fight against thrush is chamomile. A tablespoon of dry inflorescences must be poured with water no warmer than 50 degrees and allowed to brew for half an hour. The resulting decoction can be used for washing and douching.

In addition to chamomile, you can also use calendula flowers and brew with water no hotter than 50 degrees. You can alternate herbs, for example, wash with chamomile in the morning, and calendula in the evening. However, the fight against thrush with herbs will last for several days and will have only temporary success.

A more effective folk method is douching with soda. Baking soda restores an alkaline environment in the vagina and kills Candida fungi. But today there are more modern and safer medications for treating thrush.

2. Taking medications

Herbal treatment should be secondary. The first priority should be the selection of specific antifungal drugs that will bring relief within a few hours. Treatment must be carried out on both sexual partners, otherwise it loses all meaning.

During pregnancy, when oral administration of antifungal drugs is undesirable, you can use external solutions created on the same basis as tablets, as well as vaginal suppositories.

It is important not to self-medicate, since thrush can be confused with another, no less unpleasant gynecological disease - vaginosis. It also involves white discharge and itching, and, like thrush, can be triggered by taking antibiotics, hormonal changes and improper care of the genitals. It is possible to accurately distinguish vaginosis from candidiasis only with the help of laboratory tests. The main visual difference is that with vaginosis there is a smell of rotten fish and the discharge has a greenish tint.

Prevention of thrush is not always effective. In most cases, it is impossible to speak with confidence about completely eliminating its occurrence when using preventive measures, which are:

• treatment of both sexual partners;
• simultaneous use of antifungal drugs along with strong antibiotics;
• regular intimate hygiene.

At absolutely any age, women secrete a special secretion from the vagina, which performs protective functions - it prevents the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the organs of the reproductive system and moisturizes the mucous membranes, thus preventing their damage. Normally, this secretion has no odor and does not cause discomfort. But under the influence of external and internal factors, its character can change. So, for example,sour smell of discharge in womenmay appear as a result of hormonal disorders in the body or the development of gynecological diseases. And now you will find out how to accurately determine the cause of its occurrence and what to do about it.

Main reasons

Before considering the factors that provoke the appearance of discharge that has a sour odor, it is necessary to immediately note that they can be not only pathological, but also physiological. Most often, the appearance of such an aroma from the intimate area is a consequence of various changes in the body that are not associated with the development of any diseases.

The functioning of the organs of the reproductive system directly depends on hormonal levels. Depending on the phases of the menstrual cycle, the production of certain hormones in the body periodically either slows down or, on the contrary, becomes more active. For example, in the first half of the menstrual cycle, the ovaries actively produce estrogen, which ensures normal and timely maturation of the egg. After ovulation occurs (this happens on days 12-16 of ovulation), the synthesis of this hormone slows down and is replaced by progesterone, which is responsible for maintaining pregnancy after fertilization of the egg.

Regardless of whether a woman is sexually active or not, such hormonal surges are mandatory and natural, since they ensure the normal course of the menstrual cycle.

It should be noted that in the female vagina there is a special microflora in which lactic acid bacteria are present. Under the influence of hormonal fluctuations, their growth is also either accelerated or suppressed. That's whydischarge with the smell of sour milk, which occur periodically in women, are considered natural and do not require specific therapy.

However, in addition to lactic acid bacteria, the vaginal environment is inhabited by opportunistic microorganisms, including fungi of the genus Candida and Gardnerella. When conditions favorable for them arise in the vaginal cavity, their growth can be activated, which is the cause of infectious diseases, which can also be manifested by the appearance of discharge with a sour odor in girls and women. But more on that a little later.

WHO (World Health Organization) has established certain frameworks that characterize normal discharge in women:

• Quantity: no more than 4-5 ml per day.
• Consistency: liquid or slimy.
• Odor: odorless or slightly sour odor.
• Color: transparent or white.
• Taste: salty or sweetish.

In this case, normal vaginal discharge is not accompanied by any extraneous symptoms, such as itching or burning. The secreted vaginal mucus contains secretions produced by the glands located on the cervical canal and dead epithelial cells. The intensity of discharge depends on age. For example, in young women their number is much greater than in mature women, which is caused by hormonal fluctuations. After menopause, the synthesis of sex hormones slows down, and therefore the amount of vaginal secretion decreases after 45 years.

Under the influence of hormonal levels,acidic dischargemay often occur in pregnant women. In addition to the fact that during this period the production of progesterone increases, cell division actively occurs in the body. New ones appear, “old” ones peel off and get into the cervical mucus, which causes heavy discharge.

Important! If white discharge with a sour odor during pregnancy begins to be accompanied by irritation in the intimate area, burning and other symptoms unusual for a normal condition, then you must immediately inform your doctor about this. The appearance of such a clinical picture always signals the development of pathologies.

Pathological causes

As mentioned above, the vaginal environment is inhabited by opportunistic microorganisms, which, when activated, produce discharge with an unpleasant odor.

If we talk specifically about the appearance of a sour odor from the intimate area, then most often its occurrence is provoked by fungi of the genus Candida, which are the causative agents of candidiasis (thrush). Their active reproduction can occur under the influence of the following factors:

• Poor immunity.
• Taking antibacterial drugs.
• Frequent douching.
• Very frequent drinking of alcohol.
• Stress.
• Taking hormone-containing drugs.
• Insufficient hygiene or lack of hygiene for several days.

When candidiasis develops, a white, creamy discharge or discharge that looks like grainy cottage cheese may also appear. In this case, the clinical picture necessarily includes the following symptoms:

• The discharge smells like kefir or sour milk;
• The outer lips minor and major swell and turn red;
• The urge to urinate becomes more frequent and is accompanied by pain;
• Severe itching and burning occurs in the intimate area.

If you have white, cheesy discharge, which is accompanied by the symptoms described above, then you should urgently go to the doctor. Since if treatment of candidiasis is delayed, the infection can spread to other internal organs, provoking the occurrence of pathological processes in them. Typically, when this happens, a woman experiences brown discharge outside of her period.

It should be noted that with this disease, yellow discharge with a sour odor may also appear. Their occurrence is caused by the presence in the vaginal secretion of a large amount of fungal waste and the oxidation process. When the secretion comes out of the vagina, it reacts with oxygen, which leads to a change in its shades.

What is the danger of candidiasis?

Candidiasis is dangerous not only due to the appearance of itching and burning in the intimate area, but also due to the high risk of complications arising from it. If a woman does not receive adequate treatment, the infection can spread to the kidneys and other internal organs, provoking the development of pathological processes in them.

When the disease becomes chronic, frequent relapses occur, in which not only thick white discharge with a sour odor appears, but also painful sensations in the lower abdomen, which indicate the occurrence of complications such as cervical erosion and inflammation of the ovaries.

Candidiasis often provokes the development of bacterial vaginosis, which is characterized by the active growth of gardnerella in the vagina, which is caused by a decrease in the level of lactic acid bacteria.

Quite often, heavy white discharge occurs in pregnant women. And if they are accompanied by symptoms of candidiasis, you must immediately inform your doctor. Since fungal infection of the reproductive organs reduces the elasticity of the uterus and cervical canal, which in the initial stages of pregnancy can provoke a miscarriage, and during childbirth, serious ruptures.

Important! If a pregnant woman has been diagnosed with candidiasis, she must be treated immediately, as there is a high risk of infection of the child during its passage through the birth canal, as a result of which it may develop serious health problems after birth.

If the patient experiences white discharge with a taste of sour milk, the occurrence of which was caused by non-pathological reasons, no treatment is prescribed. It is used only when heavy discharge is a consequence of hormonal imbalance in the body. In this case, special drugs are used that replenish the reserves of missing hormones. Such medications are prescribed strictly on an individual basis after receiving the results of a laboratory blood test for hormones.

If curd-like discharge from the vagina occurs against the background of the active development of candidiasis, then treatment involves the use of antifungal drugs. Moreover, in this case, both local remedies in the form of vaginal suppositories and external gels and ointments are used to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms that manifest the disease.

In addition to antifungal medications, a woman may be prescribed multivitamin complexes to strengthen the immune system, as well as following a special therapeutic diet (the doctor should tell you in detail about it). During treatment, a woman is not recommended to enter into intimate relationships. If she has a regular sexual partner, then he must also undergo treatment.

Only a doctor can determine the exact reason why a woman has this kind of vaginal discharge and how to treat it. You should not self-medicate, as this can lead to serious consequences. Remember, treatment is always individual and even to treat the same candidiasis, different drugs are used in all women. They are selected taking into account the general health of the patient and the severity of the disease.

Yellow discharge with a sour odor is a special combination of symptoms of various pathologies; there is also the possibility of the absence of disease. Today we will analyze the possible options for this phenomenon in women, and tell you what to do in the event of these manifestations.

When everything's alright

The yellow tint of the discharge does not indicate pathology. Among the normal variants of vaginal secretion, the presence of mucus in an amount of about 2 ml per day of a light yellow hue is allowed, provided there is no odor, discomfort, burning, itching, or rash.

A sour aroma is often noted in pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester when the pH of the vagina changes. The conditions are the same, the absence of any other pathological symptoms.

From this we get that yellow discharge with a sour odor without additional manifestations is allowed for expectant mothers after the 12th week. This rarely happens in the early stages.

Carefully! During pregnancy, a woman has a significantly increased chance of contracting candidiasis, since the fungus loves an acidic environment.

Pathological discharge

In this case, the specified smell is a symptom of thrush. Candida is an opportunistic microorganism that lives in different parts of the body of most people. When acidity increases and immunity decreases, fungi begin to multiply. In the process of life in a woman’s vagina, they corrode areas of the mucous membrane. As a result, the tissues become ulcerated, thin, crack, and even atrophy. The glands cannot function normally, which leads to insufficient hydration of the vagina. Dryness is especially noticeable during sex. Dead candida, their waste products and the leukocytes that come to fight them come out in the form of a curd-like white discharge with the smell of sour milk. The consistency is dense and granular or thick and creamy.

Destruction of the vaginal mucosa leads to itching, burning, inflammation in the form of redness and swelling. Candida quickly enters the woman’s urethra, which causes painful urination and frequent urge.

Attention! Many infections, including thrush, go away without significant symptoms.

Why is the discharge yellow?

There are several reasons for this:

1. The woman saw them on her underwear, where they had oxidized and turned yellow. The color of the secretion must be assessed upon exiting the vagina.
2. Urine leakage, which affects pregnant women, the elderly, women after childbirth, and simply plump women, colors the discharge.
3. The disease is in an advanced stage, when damage to the upper layer of the mucosa occurs with the opening of capillaries. Microbleeding in the vagina turns the secretion into a bright yellow-orange or brown color.
4. Candidiasis is combined with cervical erosion, which leads to a similar result. The pathology is characterized by pain during deep penetration, contact smear of red or brown color. Any infection or injury can lead to erosion in a woman.
5. Thrush is adjacent to a bacterial infection. Most of them provoke profuse purulent discharge of green and yellow shades. These are also sexually transmitted pathogens that appear as a result of sex with a carrier. And the inhabitants of the intestines that enter the vagina through hands, dirty laundry, improper washing, anal-vaginal contact. Opportunistic bacteria of the vagina itself. They usually have their own very unpleasant smell.
6. The combined presence of inflammation of the internal organs - the uterus, tubes, ovaries and candida in the woman’s vagina. It manifests itself as attacks of pain in the abdomen, side, lower back, and sacrum. Sometimes the temperature rises and you feel unwell. Such problems lead to disruption of menstruation, delays or heavy bleeding from the vagina.
7. Uterine polyps appear as yellow discharge, and fungi give off a sour smell. With formations, contact bleeding, exacerbation of infections often occur, and a woman has problems conceiving. The polyp provokes spasms of the uterus, which is felt as cramping pain.
8. Oncology leads to a decrease in immunity, which causes thrush with a sour odor, and the tumor itself is characterized by purulent discharge with ichor from the vagina, but it has a pungent odor that will overcome the sourness from the fungus.

Interesting fact! It often becomes a sign of pregnancy for a woman.

Provoking factors

Thrush with a sour smell is caused by the following circumstances:

• Diabetes mellitus;
• Eating with a lot of simple carbohydrates - sweets, buns, potatoes and other things;
• Dirty underwear, hands, vulva, anal area;
• Pregnancy due to an acidic environment;
• Treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids;
• Hypothermia;
• Increased body weight;
• Colds and viruses;
• Chronic general diseases;
• Bad habits of women.

Bacterial inflammation, which turns the discharge yellow, in most cases provokes:

• Decreased immunity;
• due to the alkaline environment in the vagina;
• Unprotected sex, many partners;
• A combination of different types of copulation without washing the male member;
• Taking antibiotics;
• Hormonal disorders in women;
• Problems with hygiene.

As can be seen from the lists, factors favorable to pathogenic microbes sometimes coincide.

Attention! In more than half of cases, candidiasis in the vagina is combined with another infection, either self-infected or sexually transmitted.

How to find out the cause of the discharge?

If there are concerns or yellow secretion and a sour smell are not the only signs, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Next, diagnostic activities will begin:

Attention! Diagnostics is 50% of effective treatment, so you should not avoid prescribed tests and studies.

It is impossible to give an exact prescription based on complaints of vaginal discharge with a sour aroma and a yellow tint. Based on the woman’s diagnostic results, various treatment options are possible.

How to destroy candidiasis?

Thousands of remedies have been invented to treat thrush. The most famous are Diflucan, Flucostat, Nystatin, Fluconazole, Pimafucin. Today, local treatment in the form of suppositories is sufficient to completely cure vaginal candidiasis with acidic discharge. In rare cases, when the infection has spread to other organs and systems, oral forms are used. Many suppositories are allowed for pregnant women, sometimes the ban is only for the 1st trimester. Taking antifungal drugs to expectant mothers through the gastrointestinal tract is strictly prohibited.

To prevent relapse, the sexual partner should take one Fluconazole tablet, use Pimafucin cream or nystatin ointment. During the treatment of discharge, intimacy is prohibited!

Bacterial infections

Various antibiotics will help here. The drug is prescribed according to the pathogen, based on the results of bacterial culture. Use suppositories for treatment. When bacteria are combined with candida, Terzhinan and Polygynax are prescribed. These are complex local preparations for vaginal sanitation.

To treat an STD, a woman will need to consult a venereologist. Antibiotics may need to be given as injections or tablets.

Carefully! Antimicrobial agents do not always bring results; with viruses they will only worsen the condition.

Inflammatory processes

Adnexitis, salpingitis, oophoritis with yellow discharge are treated with a complex of drugs from various groups:

• Broad spectrum antibiotics;
• Vitamins;
• Analgesics and antispasmodics;
• Antihistamines;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Physiotherapy.

When is a surgeon needed?

In case of polyps, cysts, adhesions, fibroids, a decision is made about surgery. Before this, the woman is given a full examination and vaginal infections are treated. Today, gynecological interventions are performed either intravaginally using a hysteroscope or laparoscopically. This significantly reduces risks, reduces the recovery period, and the operation is easily tolerated.

In case of hormonal disorders with yellow pathological discharge, consultation with an endocrinologist and treatment with synthetic and herbal analogues of hormones will be required. For diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to prescribe a diet.

Attention! Obesity in women often causes endocrine pathologies, so it is important to lose weight to maintain health.

People's Councils

For example, it is impossible to cure syphilis with herbs alone, but home recipes will only help as auxiliary measures for discharge:

• Baths with soda at a concentration of 5 g per liter. Artificial alkalization inhibits candida, which provides relief from itching;
• Rinsing the vagina with a decoction of calendula or chamomile will help clear the mucous membrane of secretions so that the drug in the suppository is more effective. Therefore, it is better to carry out procedures before installing suppositories;
• Tampons with juice or decoction of celandine relieve women of polyps;
• Infusions of sage and boron uterus normalize hormonal levels.

Carefully! All herbs have contraindications; it is better to use them under the supervision of a doctor.

Conclusion

Yellow vaginal discharge with a sour aroma is too vague an indicator. For treatment, a woman must undergo a complete diagnosis, which will be prescribed by a gynecologist. Visiting a doctor every 6 months is the best prevention of genital diseases.