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The secretory function of the body often becomes a cause of anxiety – it is often difficult for women to understand if everything is normal. Certain “signals from below” can be a reason for a visit to a specialist.
Vaginal discharge is a normal part of female physiology. By itself, the discharge is not an indicator of the activity of pathogenic organisms or diseases, but helps to determine the stage of the cycle or the general condition of the organism.
The main function of the secretions is to moisturize, protect and self-clean the vagina (nature has taken care of this as well). By the way, it is for this reason that gynecologists do not recommend girls to carry out too much hygiene of the genitals from the inside – you can disrupt the natural balance of microflora.
Maura Quinlan, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, is confident that there is no set amount of discharge that is considered normal for everyone. Therefore, if patients hope to find out about the acceptable amount in milliliters or other units of measurement, then no doctor will name them.
“I tell my patients that discharge is like sweat: some people don’t sweat very much, and some people don’t sweat very much,” says Dr. Quinlan.
An example scenario of changes in discharge during the month
The cycle is counted from the arrival of the first day of menstruation. Of course, blood will be the main discharge for several days, but dark marks before menstruation and in their last days are also considered the norm.
After your period is over, you may experience a dramatic decrease in your flow. This is due to a decrease in the production of cervical mucus and does not mean that your body is not secreting anything at all – the tissues of the vagina are constantly producing fluid.
As the cycle progresses, the body begins to prepare for ovulation, the level of estrogen rises – and with it the volume of secretions. It was at this time that many women get scared when they see “excessive” manifestations of the body’s work on their underwear. The discharge may have a yellowish, whitish tint.
“The consistency of normal discharge from this period is similar to egg whites,” says Dr. Shaffir. “This mucus helps the sperm to rise to the cervix to make it easier to get pregnant, this is its evolutionary practical meaning,” explains the gynecologist Quinlan.
If, after ovulation, pregnancy does not occur, then the body’s processes are started in the reverse order: the level of estrogen decreases, and the cervical mucus becomes less. At this time, the discharge takes on a thicker and more cloudy appearance. Then the cycle starts over.
Oral contraceptives
The use of oral contraceptives containing estrogen makes the discharge more stable throughout the cycle, and so much so that you may not notice any changes at all. But progestin-based contraceptives do not work exactly like that, which means that the discharge may look and feel as if you are not taking OK.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the level of estrogen in a woman’s body rises to ensure the correct and full development of the fetus. Therefore, the discharge becomes more abundant – and this is normal.
disease
Unfortunately, discharge often indicates the presence of intimate diseases, and not all of them are sexually transmitted. Gynecologists even have a small reminder about changes in secretions, which indicate the activity of “bad” organisms. But do not rush to fall into shock – similar signs are not yet an indispensable evidence of the presence of an illness, but they suggest that it is time to visit a doctor.
Bacterial vaginosis: gray, green, or white fluid discharge, possibly with a fishy odor
Chlamydia: green, white, or yellow discharge with an unpleasant odor
Gonorrhea: white or yellow discharge
Trichomoniasis: a gray, green, white, or yellow discharge that may smell like fish
Yeast infection: thick, white, curd discharge
If the discharge still raises questions and is alarming, it is better to consult a doctor and get tested – they will definitely show a reliable picture of the body’s work.