Why is the discharge brown? What does dark brown discharge mean?

The color of leucorrhoea is one of the characteristic signs by which the state of a woman’s reproductive health is judged. A change in shade is not always a sign of pathology. Individual characteristics of the body affect the state of hormonal levels, the composition and coagulability of blood, and the production of vaginal mucus. The appearance of brown discharge in women is often associated with normal physiological processes, but can be the result of a serious illness. It is important to find out the cause and, if necessary, receive timely treatment.

Content:

Why do such discharges occur?

The brown color of the discharge always indicates the presence of coagulated blood in it. The intensity of the color depends on its quantity, as well as on the consistency of the mucus. Liquid leucorrhoea is usually light brown, almost pink. The discharge is thick, containing stagnant blood or clots, and is dark brown.

The causes of bleeding may be:

physiological processes associated with damage to blood vessels (these include menstruation, ovulation, implantation of the embryo into the endometrium, postpartum self-cleaning of the uterus);
hormonal changes in the body leading to menstrual irregularities;
damage to the epithelial membranes of the genital organs during abortion, gynecological procedures, sexual intercourse;
age-related changes in the structure of the vaginal mucosa;
damage to the surfaces of the cervix and vagina as a result of inflammatory processes;
processes in the uterus and ovaries, leading to improper development of their tissues and blood vessels;
genital injuries;
inflammation of the bladder.

Normal discharge

Normal brown discharge is not abundant, does not have an unpleasant odor, and is uniform in composition. Such discharge appears when using hormonal contraceptives, with slight damage to the capillaries of the vagina during douching, examination by a gynecologist, sometimes after violent sexual intercourse, as well as at the beginning and after the end of menstruation, during ovulation, implantation of a fertilized egg.

Brownish leucorrhoea can also appear after nervous stress or physical fatigue.

Pathological discharge

They can be abundant or spotting depending on the type of pathology. They have an unpleasant odor, contain dark clots of blood or particles of dead tissue, and may contain pus, lumps, or foam. Often alternate with bright red bleeding.

A clear sign of pathology is the appearance of spotting on any day of the cycle, if it is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and other menstrual irregularities occur, infertility is observed.

Pathology is indicated by the appearance of bloody leucorrhoea during menopause (after menopause). A sign of serious illness may be the constant appearance of spotting after sex.

Brown discharge is pathological, accompanied by itching and burning in the vagina, frequent urination, and fever.

Diseases and pathologies that cause bloody leucorrhoea

Ectopic pregnancy. This is a dangerous condition in which the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterine cavity (most often in the fallopian tube, less often in the cervix). The cause may be inflammation of the appendages, the formation of adhesions and tumors in the uterine cavity. Damage to the tissue at the site of attachment of the embryo leads to the appearance of spotting dark brown leucorrhoea. They are also associated with rupture of the membrane of the ovum, its rejection, and “tubal abortion.” One of the most dangerous scenarios is a rupture of the fallopian tube at 6-8 weeks.

Erosion, cervical dysplasia. The diseases are associated with changes in the structure of the epithelium of the pharynx of the cervix, which extends into the vagina, ulceration of the surface and damage to small vessels.

Colpitis, cervicitis– inflammation of the vagina and cervix. Thinning and atrophy of the mucous membranes occurs, and bleeding cracks form on them. Disruption of the microflora leads to the development of fungi (thrush), facilitating the penetration of pathogens of sexually transmitted infections into the genitourinary organs. Brownish discharge has an unpleasant odor and unusual consistency.

Endometritis. The inflammatory process in the uterus causes purulent brownish discharge to appear instead of normal periods. Pain in the lower abdomen occurs, and body temperature may rise. The chronic process causes infertility.

Endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis. Pathological growth of the endometrium leads to various menstrual disorders, the appearance of spotting dark brown leucorrhoea with clots after menstruation, as well as between them.

Polyps. Their formation is considered one of the manifestations of endometrial hyperplasia. Polyps are round growths in the basal layer. Most often they are found in women of menopausal age.

Ovarian cysts. Manifestations depend on the type and origin of such neoplasms. Spotting brown discharge may appear before and after menstruation. At the same time, the duration and total volume of blood loss increase. Blood clots may appear.

Tumors of the uterus. Manifestations depend on their location and size. Bloody, spotting discharge appears when the tumors are large enough, which makes early diagnosis of such diseases difficult.

Brown discharge that appears at different periods of the cycle

The appearance of brown discharge in women can be both normal and pathological. If in any doubt, it is better to consult a doctor.

Before your period

If dark discharge occurs in a woman 1 day before menstruation, this is normal and indicates the beginning of endometrial detachment. Their appearance several days before the onset of menstrual bleeding may be associated with the use of hormonal contraceptives, as well as with the presence of diseases of the genital organs.

Video: Why bloody leucorrhoea appears before and after menstruation

In the middle of the cycle

Light brown discharge normally appears in the middle of the cycle due to ovulation, when the follicle ruptures and a mature egg is released. They are scanty, do not cause discomfort, and last no more than 2 days.

Instead of menstruation

The reason that spotting brown leucorrhoea appears instead of normal periods may be:

the onset of pregnancy (including ectopic);
hormonal contraception;
use of hormonal medications, antidepressants and anticoagulants;
sudden weight loss, nervous or physical fatigue;
gynecological diseases;
onset of puberty or menopause.

After menstruation

Spotting brown discharge can be observed after the end of menstrual bleeding if her blood clotting is reduced, the tone of the uterus is weakened, and also if in the last days of her period the woman was too physically active. If such discharge appears within 1-2 days, it is not dangerous. If they last longer and are accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, the cause may be endometriosis, polycystic disease, or uterine tumors.

When using oral contraceptives and IUDs

The cause of spotting and bloody leucorrhoea is an artificial change in hormonal levels in order to suppress ovulation. The body adapts to the new state within about 3 months. If the brown spot appears longer, then you need to choose another drug or method of contraception.

After intercourse

If there is insufficient mucus production in the cervix, microcracks can form on the walls of the vagina, which leads to the appearance of scanty brownish mucus. Dryness may be a consequence of a woman's low arousal during sex. Most often, this condition occurs during menopause.

Video: Causes of brown discharge after sex

During pregnancy

After pregnancy, there should be no true menstruation, but instead, scanty brownish-pink discharge may appear. This occurs when a woman has low progesterone levels, causing the endometrium to partially shed.

“Menstruations” after a delay can be either normal implantation bleeding or a sign of early miscarriage, as well as a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy.

In teenagers

The instability of hormonal levels in the first years after the onset of puberty leads to the fact that menstruation comes chaotically. Instead, scanty brown discharge may appear.

During menopause

A sharp decline in the production of female sex hormones leads to the gradual disappearance of menstruation. In this case, prolonged delays occur, menstruation turns into irregular dark brown discharge. This is a natural process, but the same condition is also characteristic of various serious diseases. In particular, similar symptoms are observed in the presence of malignant tumors. Moreover, the likelihood of their occurrence in women over 50 years of age is increased. Therefore, after the onset of menopause, it is especially important to undergo an examination if suspicious signs appear.

What to do if brown discharge appears

Since the reasons for their appearance can be quite serious, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. It is impossible to make a correct diagnosis on your own. At the same time, getting rid of an advanced disease is much more difficult. If the cause of the pathology is not identified in time and treatment is not started, infertility, severe complications and dangerous conditions are possible.

If signs of obvious pathology appear, or even if you simply have doubts about the origin of the brownish discharge, you need to go to the doctor. Smear, blood and urine tests will help detect inflammatory and infectious diseases. An ultrasound will show the presence of tumors. If necessary, blood tests for hormones will be prescribed. You may need to consult a urologist and endocrinologist.

Brown vaginal discharge may not be a dangerous symptom of any disease. If such discharge characterizes the end of your period, then most likely this is the norm for you. The thing is that the color and consistency of menstrual flow is a purely individual matter. For example, brown discharge indicates that menstrual fluid comes out slowly and has time to come into contact with air, which naturally leads to its pigmentation.

But what to do if brown vaginal discharge appears a few days after the end of menstruation? Could this be a sign of a disease? Let's look at the cases in which brown discharge after menstruation poses a health hazard.

Chronic endometritis

The cause of brown vaginal discharge is often a disease such as endometritis. Its chronic form is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity. The disease can be caused by intrauterine interventions during the prenatal period or the process of inflammation after an abortion. Brown discharge with endometritis can occur either at the beginning, at the end or in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Moreover, in the latter case, the discharge is accompanied by aching pain in the lower abdomen.

Endometriosis

Nodular, small cystic formations or growths in the cervical area cause virtually no pain and are difficult to diagnose in a timely manner. An alarming symptom of the disease is brown vaginal discharge. They usually appear a few days after menstruation. They have an unpleasant odor and sometimes contain small blood clots.

A collective name for various pathological processes in the uterus. The inner mucous membrane of the uterine body is susceptible to a huge number of diseases, from delayed embryonic development during pregnancy to fibroids and. In any case, if you suddenly have brown discharge outside the menstrual period, this is a good reason to consult a specialist.

Inflammatory diseases of the vagina

Drugs to stop bleeding

Often young (and sometimes not so young) people, having read women’s forums on the Internet, resort to independently purchasing drugs that stop bleeding in any phase of the menstrual cycle. It should be remembered that drugs such as dicynon, vitaxol or transekam should be used only as prescribed by a doctor. Some hemostatic agents, especially in early pregnancy, can cause irreparable harm to health. So for any bloody discharge, be it brown or bright red, first see a doctor - and then go to the pharmacy!

And finally...

The gynecologist often does not care what color your vaginal discharge is. The light or dark brown color of the discharge indicates the presence of blood in it. And if you have spotting, bloody brown discharge that is not associated with menstruation, this is already a reason to think about its cause. So don’t self-medicate and wish you good health!

Dmitry Belov

Vaginal discharge is a secretion produced by the glands of the vagina and uterus, characterized by the absence of odor, mucous consistency and lack of color (the whitish color of the secretion is also considered normal). The secretion contains mucus secreted by the cervical canal of the cervix, dead cells of the epithelium of the cervical canal and vagina, bacteria that provide an acidic environment for the vagina and the secreted secretion, which in some cases causes the sour smell of the discharge. The amount, consistency, color and odor of vaginal discharge varies according to the phase of the cycle, due to changes in hormone levels. Vaginal discharge is a natural physiological process of the female body. Normally, vaginal discharge is not accompanied by unpleasant sensations: itching, burning, vaginal dryness and irritation of the external genitalia. The acquisition of discharge of an uncharacteristic color, odor, consistency and the appearance of accompanying symptoms indicates the development of pathological processes in the uterus and vagina.

The nature of brown discharge

Brown discharge is a natural secretion mixed with blood, which indicates the pathological nature of the discharge. Bloody periodic discharge is the norm for a healthy woman of reproductive age. Normally, the color of menstrual discharge varies from bright red to dark shade, which is due to the presence of enzymes in it. Menstrual bleeding lasts from 3 to 8 days in a healthy woman. The appearance of spotting (brown discharge) in any other phase of the cycle is a deviation from the norm. Brown discharge appears in 80% of women. Depending on the reasons causing uncharacteristic discharge, they speak of a physiological norm or a pathological disorder.

Brown discharge in women: norm and pathology

Brown discharge in girls in the middle of the menstrual cycle is considered normal in the following cases:

The use of various hormonal contraceptives (oral, intrauterine devices, patches);
Possible injuries to the walls of the vagina or cervix (during personal hygiene, aggressive sexual intercourse);
At the first sexual intercourse;
On the eve of menstrual bleeding (in some cases, brown discharge appears several days before the expected menstruation, which only indicates the scarcity of menstrual flow, during which the blood has time to clot);
After the end of menstrual bleeding for several days.

Brown discharge in girls in these cases is a normal variant due to hormonal changes, but the amount of discharge, its consistency, and smell should also be taken into account. If the discharge acquires a brown tint, becomes abundant, has a heterogeneous consistency, and is characterized by an unpleasant odor, then in such cases a pathological process occurs. Brown discharge that appears during the period of ovulation (usually between days 11 and 19 of the cycle) is also considered a normal variant. Discharge may appear during egg implantation, and the discharge may be accompanied by stabbing pain in the lower abdomen. Such discharge is short-term in nature and spotting. In this case, they talk about implantation bleeding.

Brown discharge in women is a sign of pathology in the following cases:

The appearance of pathological discharge in the middle of the cycle if the woman does not take hormonal contraceptives;
Brown discharge during menopause in the absence of normal menstrual bleeding for 1 year or more;
Regular occurrence of bleeding after sexual intercourse;
Discharge accompanied by pain, itching, burning, and increased body temperature.

In case of any pathological discharge, it is necessary to consult a doctor for a full examination, since brown discharge in women is a symptom of various gynecological diseases, which, if not properly treated, can result in infertility, the development of benign and malignant neoplasms.

Brown discharge: causes of appearance at different stages of the cycle

Brown discharge, which is essentially natural vaginal discharge mixed with blood, is divided by gynecologists into the following types:

Intermenstrual bleeding;
Uterine bleeding.

When diagnosing intermenstrual brown discharge, the causes may be:

The use of hormonal medications that affect the menstrual cycle;
Mental shock (emotional outbursts, shock, states of constant stress);
Hormonal imbalances of various etiologies;
Injuries to the genital organs, some types of gynecological procedures;
Inflammatory processes, gynecological diseases, STDs;
Intrauterine device.

Determining the causes of pathological discharge is necessary to prescribe effective therapy.

When diagnosing uterine brown discharge, the reasons may be:

Tumor processes of the uterus and appendages;
Pathological processes of the endometrium (endometritis, endometriosis);
Cervical erosion;
Cystic formations of the ovaries.

Brown discharge after menstruation: when to see a doctor

Brown discharge after menstruation is normal in the following cases:

Scanty spotting, not accompanied by itching or burning;
No pain, symptoms of inflammation, fever;
The amount of discharge gradually decreases;
The duration of such discharge does not exceed 3 days, and in total with the period of menstrual bleeding, menstruation lasts no more than 8 days.

Brown discharge after menstruation is a residual phenomenon, the removal of excess blood from the uterus. The discharge acquires a brown tint due to the fact that blood clotting increases at the end of menstruation.

If brown discharge after menstruation appears a few days after menstrual bleeding has completely stopped, then the following examinations must be carried out:

Pregnancy test, ultrasound to exclude ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage;
Smear, PCR analysis for the presence of chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, gardnerella, CMV, herpes virus.

Brown discharge during pregnancy: norm and pathology

Brown discharge during pregnancy is considered a pathology. Normally, discharge may appear during implantation of the fertilized egg, when the integrity of the endometrium is disrupted for a period of 1-2 weeks. Spotting brown discharge may also appear during pregnancy in the first trimester on the days of expected menstruation. If you have any brown discharge, you should consult a doctor.

Causes of brown discharge during pregnancy:

Low levels of progesterone, which provokes endometrial rejection and poses a threat of miscarriage;
Ectopic (tubal) pregnancy;
Placental abruption, previa.

Any brown discharge during later pregnancy poses a risk of miscarriage.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Ideally, women should not have any bloody or brown discharge from the genital tract outside of menstruation. But often girls notice spotting before or after menstruation, as well as after sexual intercourse. It is necessary to pay attention to this; often such minor manifestations hide serious diseases. When should you sound the alarm and run to the doctor? In what cases can brown discharge between periods be normal?

Read in this article

Discharge is normal

Discharge from a girl's genital tract can change throughout the menstrual cycle. It depends on age, hormonal levels, the presence of various diseases and some other reasons.

During puberty, when puberty just begins, the body, saturated with estrogen, begins to stimulate the formation of mucus in the vagina. It can be transparent and whitish in color. Most often it has a viscous consistency, sometimes like “lumps”. All this indicates a favorable development of puberty, the girl’s complete health and the fact that her menstrual function will soon improve.

After sexual intercourse

Stormy intimate relationships, especially under the influence of alcohol or drugs, often lead to injuries to the genital organs. Moreover, their nature varies from small cracks to serious ruptures. In the first case, you don’t have to worry too much; a slight smudge will go away in a day or two. But with heavy discharge, it is often impossible to do without surgical intervention; you should seek medical help.

During the first sexual experience, spotting may also be detected, usually a few drops or a light spotting. They can be repeated up to 3 - 4 sexual contacts.

While taking oral contraceptives

In the first month of taking hormonal drugs, including for the purpose of contraception, various types of bleeding from the genital tract are often observed. This can be a short-term daub, or sometimes more abundant and long-lasting regulation.

Similar disruptions to the menstrual cycle are allowed during the first month. If symptoms persist, you should consult a doctor for examination. This may indicate an inadequate dose of the hormone in the drug or that it is not suitable for this girl.

This pathology occurs more often in premenopausal women, after numerous abortions and other interventions in the uterine cavity. But there are also cases of the disease in young nulliparous girls.

Most often, brown discharge occurs between periods without pain. Sometimes they can be mistaken for ovulation, but their constant nature forces us to look for a more serious cause.

Endometrial hyperplasia and polyps, in addition to intermenstrual discharge, are the cause of heavy, clotted periods.

Malignant neoplasms

The oncological process also manifests itself with irregular bleeding. Their nature can be different - from smearing to abundant. Their appearance is often noted, including after sexual intercourse.

Bloody discharge during menopause in 30% of cases indicates endometrial cancer.

Pathology of the cervix

In the presence of cervical erosion or a polyp of the cervical canal, periodic brown bleeding may appear between menstruation. They are provoked by sexual intercourse, physical activity, etc.

A characteristic feature of endometriosis is the appearance of spotting brown discharge on the eve of menstruation and after it. Usually their duration is more than 2 - 3 days. In this case, pain and discomfort may appear, including during sexual intercourse.

Pathology of the thyroid gland and other endocrine organs

The thyroid gland, to a greater extent than other internal secretion organs, affects the functioning of the genital organs and the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, with its pathology, disorders more often occur, including intermenstrual discharge.

Availability of an IUD

The intrauterine device can cause spotting on the eve of menstruation and after it. Moreover, sometimes they last up to 3 - 5 days, which brings considerable discomfort to the woman. All this can be accompanied by and. This is how the body reacts to such a foreign body. Only by removing the IUD will it be possible to get rid of the symptoms.

What does color tell you?

Bloody discharge may vary in color. But it is impossible to say based on this alone what the cause of the violations is.

So, we can highlight the following:

brown,
very dark, almost
bright scarlet, bloody.

If greenish shades are added to this, purulent in nature, as well as with an unpleasant, putrefactive odor, which indicates that the infection is attached to the underlying disease. In this case, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor.

Spotting after intercourse

“Contact” spotting that appears in a woman immediately or several hours after sex always alarms doctors. This is one of the most common and first signs of cervical cancer. That is why, in the event of such complaints, it is necessary to undergo a full examination in order to identify the pathology in an unadvanced form.

But not only with cancer of the cervix and vagina, brown discharge appears between menstruation; the causes may be hidden in a polyp of the cervical canal or uterine cavity, erosion, an inflammatory process and some others. Only a doctor can finally figure it out after an examination.

Diagnosis of the presence of pathology

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12/09/2017 at 16:31

Hello! You describe the complaints a little chaotically, at least it’s not entirely clear to me)). So, it would be good if you answered the following questions:
1. Before or after menstruation, or regardless of it at all
2. Every month?
3. Height and weight, have there been episodes of elevated blood sugar levels?
4. Have you ever been examined for sexually transmitted infections using PCR or culture.
After this, you will be able to judge what is happening to you.

Regarding Metrogyl, do not worry, if pregnancy is ruled out, the drug will not cause harm. Another question is how much it will help). If you are very worried, try making an appointment, for example, at a private clinic, there is no queue. All the best!

Elena

I’m 14 years old and haven’t had my period yet, but I’ve had light brown and dark brown discharge for the last 4 days, what could this mean?

Daria Shirochina (obstetrician-gynecologist)

Hello! Bloody or brown discharge from the genital tract is either a sign of the onset of menstruation or other diseases. First of all, you should tell someone close to you - your mother, sister, etc. Adults familiar with menstruation can help you figure out if it's them). Also, pregnancy should not be ruled out, but only if you are sexually active. If the discharge continues to be spotty, or you cannot rule out pregnancy, you should consult a doctor. If they “transition” into normal heavy bleeding, this means the beginning of menstrual function. All the best!

Vaginal discharge: causes of its occurrence, as well as effective methods of treatment
Vaginal discharge are a fairly common condition that from time to time worries all representatives of the fair sex, without exception. In most cases, the occurrence of vaginal discharge causes fear in a woman. In fact, only a few can distinguish normal discharge from pathological ones. We note right away that vaginal discharge can be either odorless or odorless. Their color can vary from red-bloody to yellowish. Based on consistency, there are curdled, foamy, and jelly-like discharges. Along with their occurrence, a woman may also experience symptoms such as pain, itching, and irritation. After reading the information presented in this article, you will be able to familiarize yourself with the most common forms of vaginal discharge, as well as learn about methods of diagnosis and treatment of pathologies in which they occur. In addition, this article will provide information regarding the problem of vaginal discharge during pregnancy.

Does vaginal discharge always indicate the presence of a disease? In what cases is vaginal discharge considered normal?
Vaginal discharge can occur even in completely healthy women, and this condition is considered normal. Signs of healthy vaginal discharge include:

Clear, liquid discharge ( jelly-like, mucus)
Discharge without a noticeable odor
A small amount of discharge
Discharges that do not cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs
Discharge not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, pain or discomfort in the genital area.

If a woman is completely healthy, then vaginal discharge most often resembles mucus in consistency, which is produced by the glands of the cervix. This type of discharge is considered to be normal, since with its help it is possible to cleanse the genital tract, as well as protect the genitals from the effects of certain infections. Both the amount of normal vaginal discharge and its consistency are determined not only by the general health of the fairer sex, but also by the phase of the menstrual cycle. For example, a particularly large amount of liquid vaginal discharge is observed as ovulation approaches.
An increase in the amount of this type of discharge in a normal state of health is also possible in the case of excessive sexual arousal, against the background of stress or the use of certain pharmaceuticals, due to changes in climatic conditions.
Quite a large amount of copious liquid discharge is also observed in pregnant women, and in the last months of pregnancy there is even more of it. The increase in their number during pregnancy is easy to explain. The fact is that during this period, an increase in the number of sex hormones occurs in a woman’s body.

Vaginal discharge - what can it be?
Below, readers will be presented with information regarding the most common forms of vaginal discharge, as well as the reasons that provoke their development.

Vaginal discharge of varying colors, smells and consistency
We already said a little higher that all healthy representatives of the fairer sex experience watery, transparent and colorless vaginal discharge. If they acquire a different consistency, a specific smell or some color, then, most likely, some kind of disease has settled in the woman’s body:

Bloody (red) vaginal discharge - is a signal that there is blood in the vaginal discharge. In most cases, this type of discharge occurs two to four days before the onset of menstruation, after which it turns into heavy discharge along with the onset of menstruation. It is worth noting that this type of discharge tends to occur several days after menstruation. If the discharge is not abundant, then it is better for the woman not to panic. This phenomenon is especially common in women who wear IUDs.
Quite often, spotting is blackish or brown in color, which indicates the fact of oxidation and destruction of blood in the vagina.
There are also cases when a woman experiences spotting, which contains a small amount of blood. As a rule, perimenstrual bleeding does not have a specific odor.

Sometimes light spotting is observed at the time of ovulation, as well as in women who wear a spiral or use oral contraception. In the case of a constant occurrence of this phenomenon while wearing an intrauterine device or using contraceptives, it is necessary to discuss this fact with a gynecologist, having previously made an appointment with him for a consultation.
If bloody vaginal discharge is in no way related to the menstrual cycle, then it can be considered a signal of the presence of some pathology.
In most cases, this type of discharge makes itself felt:

For menstrual irregularities
Endometriosis ( adenomyosis)
Cancer or cervical erosion. In this case, the discharge is especially abundant after sexual intercourse.

If a woman experiences bloody vaginal discharge that is in no way related to menstruation, then she should immediately discuss this issue with her doctor.
As for sudden red discharge, it can be caused by an unexpected miscarriage in the first months of pregnancy. If an ectopic pregnancy develops, a woman experiences very strong, prolonged bleeding. If, in addition to discharge, a woman also exhibits some symptoms of pregnancy, then she should be immediately taken to the hospital.
Yellow and whitish vaginal discharge is especially often observed with the development of certain infectious pathologies that tend to be sexually transmitted. The yellow or whitish color is due to the accumulation of a huge number of leukocytes and microbes in the secretions.

Purulent vaginal discharge are observed in such infectious pathologies as chlamydia, trichomoniasis, thrush, gonorrhea and others. As a rule, this type of discharge also causes a feeling of discomfort in the genital area and itching. Sometimes women also complain of pain in the lumbar region or lower abdomen. During pregnancy, whitish, viscous vaginal discharge is considered to be a normal condition if the expectant mother does not experience other symptoms of the disease.

Curdled, foamy, thick vaginal discharge
A change in the consistency of vaginal discharge is also considered to be one of the clear signs of the presence of a particular pathology. We already said a little higher that normal discharge must be liquid, similar to mucus. If the discharge is white, cheesy or foamy, then most likely the woman has some kind of infectious disease.

Vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor
The appearance of vaginal discharge with a specific odor indicates the presence of an infectious pathology. The smell in this case can be either sour or rotten or reminiscent of the smell of fish. It occurs against the background of the activity of pathogenic microorganisms, which tend to decompose nutritional components, while releasing gases with a very unpleasant odor.

Vaginal discharge before and after sexual intercourse
At the moment of sexual arousal, the vaginal glands of the fair sex tend to intensively synthesize vaginal lubrication, so that a large amount of liquid transparent discharge, which is noted before and during sexual intercourse, is considered to be the norm. Women should not be afraid of the occurrence of thick, profuse discharge even after sexual intercourse. The fact is that if sexual intercourse took place without using a condom, then it is quite possible that in this way the vagina is trying to cleanse itself of sperm. In most cases, this type of discharge disappears in a fairly short period of time.
If a woman experiences spotting during or after sex, then most likely she has cervical erosion.
The appearance of yellow, purulent, white, gray or greenish discharge several days or weeks after sexual intercourse is considered to be a signal of the occurrence of some infectious disease.

Vaginal discharge as a symptom of infection
Vaginal discharge is considered to be a clear sign of the development of an infectious pathology of the genital tract in only a few cases. The largest number of pathologies in which vaginal discharge is noted are infectious and transmitted during sexual intercourse.
The most common causes of vaginal discharge include:

Candidiasis ( thrush)
Urogenital trichomoniasis

Urogenital trichomoniasis as a cause of vaginal discharge
Urogenital trichomoniasis is an inflammatory pathology of the genital tract of men and women, which is infectious in nature. This disease occurs as a result of exposure to a microorganism in the human body. Trichomonas vaginalis . Infection with this pathology occurs during sexual intercourse. A clear sign of the development of this disease is considered to be inflammation of the vaginal mucosa. In medicine, this condition is called vaginitis. If vaginitis develops, a woman experiences very strong foamy vaginal discharge with a very specific odor. With chronic vaginitis, the discharge becomes thick, yellow or white. In most cases, in addition to the discharge, the woman is also bothered by very severe itching in the external genital area.

Diagnosis of urogenital trichomoniasis
It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis of urogenital trichomoniasis, taking into account only the presence of discharge and some other symptoms of this pathology.
To identify this pathology, studies such as:

A cultural research method is the cultivation of colonies of microorganisms taken from the vagina on special nutrient media and their further study.
Microscopic examination of unstained ( native) a smear taken from the vagina.
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) research method involving the study of genetic material Trichomonas vaginalis .
Microscopic examination of a stained vaginal smear. It is painted with special dyes.

Therapy for urogenital trichomoniasis is possible only if the woman has been given a truly accurate diagnosis of this pathology. Among the most effective medications used in the fight against this pathology are: Nimorazole, Metronidazole , Ornidazole, Tinidazole and others. It is very important that the treatment of this disease is carried out under the vigilant supervision of a doctor. Self-treatment in this case is not recommended, since this pathology can become chronic if not treated properly. As a rule, during therapy for urogenital trichomoniasis, vaginal discharge initially becomes weaker, and then disappears completely. It is also important to draw the attention of readers to the fact that the absence of discharge does not mean complete healing, so the course of treatment must be completed to the end. How long it will last will be determined by your attending physician.

Bacterial vaginosis as a reason contributing to the development of vaginal discharge
Bacterial vaginosis is a very common pathology accompanied by discharge that has an unpleasant odor. This disease occurs as a result of a very strong growth of bacteria directly on the vaginal mucosa. In a healthy state, these bacteria are also present in the vagina, but only in very small quantities. These can be counted as Peptococci, so Gerdenerella vaginalis , Bacteroides and others. With the development of this pathology, a woman experiences white vaginal discharge with a fishy odor. To make a diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, information about the presence of discharge alone is not enough.

Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis involves the use of such research methods as:

pH-metry, or detection of the acidity of the vaginal environment. In a normal state, the vagina has an acidic environment, but in the case of bacterial vaginosis, it becomes alkaline.

As soon as the diagnosis is made, the doctor will immediately prescribe an effective treatment for this disease.

Therapy for bacterial vaginosis involves the use of local drugs, namely:

Vaginal suppositories clindamycin ( one hundred milligrams) – must be inserted into the vagina once a day for six days.
Metronidazole gel seventy-five percent - must be inserted into the vagina once a day for five days.

There are also cases when systemic medications are used in the fight against this pathology:

Ornisid forte should be taken orally five hundred milligrams in the morning and evening for five days.
Clindamycin Take three hundred milligram capsules in the morning and evening for seven days.
Metronidazole(Trichopolum) in the form of tablets of two hundred and fifty milligrams. You should take two tablets morning and evening for seven days.

Urogenital candidiasis (thrush) as a cause contributing to the occurrence of vaginal discharge
Urogenital candidiasis is an inflammatory pathology of the genital organs in women and men, resulting from exposure to fungi of the genus Candida. In women with the development of this disease, white thick discharge is observed. In addition, they may experience discomfort and itching in the genital area. Quite often, this disease also causes pain and cramping during urination.

Diagnosis of thrush involves the use of the following research methods:

Examination under a microscope of unstained smears taken from the vagina.
Examination under a microscope of smears taken from the vagina stained with special dyes.
Mycological study, which involves the detection of the type of fungus that provoked the development of urogenital candidiasis.

Therapy for urogenital candidiasis is determined by the pathogenesis of the disease: if a woman experiences infrequent exacerbations of this disease, then to combat it she is prescribed medications such as:

Clotrimazole vaginal tablets two hundred milligrams - must be inserted into the vagina once a day for three days.
Clotrimazole vaginal cream one percent should be inserted into the vagina once a day for seven to fourteen days.
Isoconazole– vaginal suppositories of six hundred milligrams. It is recommended to insert into the vagina once.

If exacerbations of urogenital candidiasis occur more than four times a year, and the woman experiences very strong, thick white discharge, then systemic medications in tablet form are used:

Itraconazole (Irunin, Orungal) should be taken two hundred milligrams once a day for three days.
Fluconazole ( Diflucan, Flucostat, Mikomax) - used according to several treatment regimens: one hundred and fifty milligrams once, or one hundred milligrams on the first, fourth, and seventh day of therapy.

In the fight against severe forms of this pathology, rather complex combinations and regimens of antifungal medications are used, which are prescribed to the patient by his attending physician.
Self-medication for any of the above ailments is impossible. Sometimes vaginal discharge is the result of several infectious pathologies at once. Under such circumstances, a course of therapy can only be prescribed by a specialist, and then only after he has the results of all the necessary studies.

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy
Vaginal discharge is especially alarming to expectant mothers, since during this period they are responsible not only for themselves, but also for the child. In fact, every pregnant woman should pay special attention to the nature of vaginal discharge in order to “sound the alarm” at the right time.

Discharge in early pregnancy
A little higher, we said that copious clear discharge in the first months of pregnancy, which is not endowed with a specific odor, is normal.
If a woman experiences bloody discharge during this period, then this may serve as a signal of an unexpected miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
Whitish or purulent vaginal discharge in the early stages of pregnancy is considered to be a sign of the development of one or another infectious pathology.

Discharge in late pregnancy
In the second trimester of pregnancy, in a healthy pregnant woman, vaginal discharge may acquire a thicker and more viscous consistency. This phenomenon is normal. If vaginal discharge is bloody, this may serve as a signal of the onset of premature labor or miscarriage, so in such cases, emergency hospitalization of the expectant mother is recommended. Brown vaginal discharge in late pregnancy quite often occurs due to minor bleeding from the vessels of the cervix. In this case, a pregnant woman should also visit a doctor.

When should you see a doctor about vaginal discharge?

Every woman and girl can have normal and pathological vaginal discharge. Normal discharge is caused by natural physiological processes occurring in the body, and therefore is not a sign of pathology and does not require visiting a doctor. But pathological discharge is caused by various diseases, so if they appear, you need to consult a doctor. Accordingly, in order to understand when you need to see a doctor for vaginal discharge, you need to know which discharge is pathological and which is normal.

Normal discharge is small in volume, translucent, transparent or whitish in color, watery, creamy or jelly-like consistency, with a slight sour odor. Normal discharge does not irritate the genitals and does not cause discomfort, itching, redness or swelling. Also, normal discharge does not emit a strong or unpleasant odor (for example, fishy odor, strong sour odor, etc.).

In addition, slight bloody or brownish discharge 2 to 4 days before and after menstruation is considered normal. Light spotting for several days during ovulation is also considered normal.

Bloody discharge not before or after menstruation, and also not during ovulation, is considered pathological. In addition, discharge of a greenish, yellowish, grayish, earthy color, containing impurities of pus, blood, flakes, bubbles, having a cheesy or other heterogeneous consistency, emitting an unpleasant pungent odor or causing itching, burning, swelling, redness and discomfort in the genital area, is pathological. organs.

Which doctor should I contact if I have pathological vaginal discharge?

For any pathological discharge, a woman should consult a doctor obstetrician-gynecologist (make an appointment). If the discharge causes discomfort, itching, redness, burning or swelling in the genital area, the woman can contact an obstetrician-gynecologist or venereologist (make an appointment), since such symptoms indicate the presence of an infectious-inflammatory process, which can be treated by both a gynecologist and a venereologist.

If, within two weeks after intercourse, the nature of the discharge changes, impurities of pus, mucus, flakes or bubbles appear in it, they turn greenish, yellowish, grayish or earthy in color, and begin to emit an unpleasant odor, then the woman can also consult a venereologist or a gynecologist, since such discharge indicates infection with an infectious disease.

What tests can doctors prescribe for vaginal discharge?

The list of tests and examinations that a doctor may prescribe for vaginal discharge depends on the nature of the discharge, accompanying symptoms and the results of the gynecological examination.

First of all, for any type of discharge, the doctor prescribes a gynecological bimanual examination (by hand) and examination of the tissues of the vagina and cervix in the speculum. These studies are considered routine and are carried out without fail when a woman goes to a medical facility regarding vaginal discharge of any nature.

Further, if there is quite heavy bleeding (blood discharge, as during menstruation, in the same or greater quantities), the doctor usually prescribes an ultrasound examination (endometrial hyperplasia. If the cervix is not damaged, then even with minor bleeding/ In case of bleeding, hysteroscopy, diagnostic curettage and ultrasound are prescribed.

For pathological discharge of an inflammatory nature (with a greenish, yellowish, grayish, earthy color, containing an admixture of pus, blood, flakes, blisters, having a cheesy or other heterogeneous consistency, emitting an unpleasant pungent odor or leading to itching, burning, swelling, redness and discomfort in the genital area) the doctor always prescribes first flora smear (sign up), which allows you to identify a number of the following infectious diseases: candidiasis, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis (bacterial vaginosis), gonorrhea (sign up). These sexually transmitted infections are the most common compared to others, and therefore at the first stage the doctor does not prescribe more expensive and complex tests, because a simple smear on the flora allows them to be detected.

If, based on the results of the smear, it was possible to identify candidiasis, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea, then the doctor can go in two ways - either immediately prescribe treatment, or take a smear from the vagina for bacteriological and mycological culture to determine which antibiotics and antifungal agents will be most destructive in relation to the infectious agent present in a particular case. If the immediately prescribed treatment turns out to be ineffective, the doctor prescribes bacteriological or mycological culture.

If, according to the results of the smear, no infectious agents were detected, but there is a picture of inflammation, then the doctor prescribes more complex tests to identify pathogenic microbes. Usually, first of all, an analysis of vaginal discharge is prescribed for the presence of Trichomonas and gonococci using the PCR method and blood test for syphilis (treponema pallidum) (sign up), since these are the pathogens that occur most often. If the results of the analysis reveal any, then treatment is prescribed.

If gonococci, Trichomonas or Treponema pallidum are not detected, then ureaplasma test (sign up), chlamydia (sign up), mycoplasma (sign up), gardnerella, bacteroides. Tests for these pathogens can be different - bacteriological culture, PCR, ELISA and various methods of collecting and staining vaginal smears. The choice of analysis is made by the doctor and depends mainly on the technical capabilities of the medical institution or on the financial capabilities of the patient, since the most accurate tests most often have to be taken in private laboratories for a fee.

If the test results reveal the absence of trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, syphilis, candidiasis, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia, mycoplasmosis and gardnerellosis, but there is an inflammatory process in the genitals, then the doctor may prescribe tests for the presence of viruses - herpes virus types 1 and 2, human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, which can also provoke inflammation in the female genital organs.

Pregnant women who suspect leakage of amniotic fluid are usually prescribed a vaginal smear test for scales. In addition, there are pharmacy, ready-to-use tests for leakage of amniotic fluid, which are similar in principle to pregnancy tests. A pregnant woman can use such tests independently. Otherwise, when inflammatory vaginal discharge appears, pregnant women are prescribed the same tests as non-pregnant women. And if bleeding occurs during pregnancy, women are sent to the hospital for examination, since in such a situation they can be a sign of pregnancy complications.