Vaginal discharge is produced by glands in the vagina and can change throughout the menstrual cycle and even throughout a woman’s life. For example, there are women who detect changes in colour, odour, texture, and quantity, all of which are important as they help to determine the state of health....CONTINUE READING
For example, when more fluid appears than usual, some women are surprised and hesitate to go to the gynaecologist. It is important to bear in mind that before any change in the intimate area, it is advisable to consult a gynaecologist to make sure that there is no health problem or to start treating it as soon as possible.
In this article, I will focus on answering the common question about the causes of heavy vaginal discharge, and I recommend that, although it may be part of the normal process of the cycle, you consult your doctor, as it may be a disease, such as an infection.
What is leucorrhoea and what are its symptoms?
Leucorrhoea is the medical term for heavy vaginal discharge. It is a fairly common problem, as many women around the world suffer from it. In addition, women in puberty are more prone to this increase in vaginal secretions as they have a higher hormone load in their bodies. There are two types of leucorrhoea: physiological, or the body’s own leucorrhoea, and leucorrhoea caused by illness.
The symptoms of leucorrhoea, and others that usually accompany it, are as follows: several of them usually occur at the same time, not necessarily all of them.
Increased vaginal discharge.
Clear or whitish watery vaginal discharge.
Thick, viscous, foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
Itching in the vagina and vulva.
Tiredness and drowsiness.
weakness.
pain in the hips.
Backache in the lower back.
Stomach pain and nausea.
Headache.
constipation.
Irritability and nervousness.
So, if you notice that you have abundant discharge that is clear like water, thick with a bad smell but whitish, and if you have any of the other signs mentioned above, I advise you to see a gynaecologist.
Why do I have a heavy vaginal discharge? –causes
Leucorrhoea or heavy vaginal discharge can occur for different reasons. As we have pointed out at the beginning, there are two types: so it can occur as a normal part of the menstrual cycle, due to some slight alteration in it, or due to some disease or condition that must be diagnosed and treated. The main causes of heavy flow include the following:
Excessive or insufficient ovarian hormones.
Stress and anxiety.
Sexual intercourse.
Cancer of the uterus.
Trichomonas vaginalis infection.
Cervical infections.
Candidiasis.
Below, I’ll explain each of the above possible causes of heavy vaginal discharge. However, remember that only a gynaecologist can tell you for sure what the reason for this increased discharge is in your case.
Heavy discharge and fluid due to ovulation
Among the causes of excess discharge that turn out to be physiological in origin, i.e., those that cause physiological leucorrhoea, the main reason is ovulation. Women’s genital fluid is made up of the normal secretions of the vagina and cervical mucus. Thus, the production and quantity of this depends on the hormones that act in this area, i.e., it depends on the levels of oestrogen and progesterone.
For this reason, the normal ovulation cycle may have moments in which there are more secretions. For example, during the fertile period, it is usual to secrete more secretions during the time of ovulation and the days prior to the menstrual period. In addition, in the phase prior to ovulation, the follicular phase, the discharge is abundant, transparent, and watery.
Likewise, it is more frequent that in adolescence, when hormones are still regulated, there are also times of more or even less quantity, as it depends on whether these hormones increase a lot, which is common, or if at some point their levels drop.
Therefore, as long as the woman is in one of these phases and the discharge has the aforementioned texture and colour, without any strange odour or other changes, there is no health problem.
Is heavy flow a symptom of pregnancy?
There are several symptoms that a woman can detect in her own body when she is beginning to gestate, and, in fact, heavy flow is a symptom of pregnancy. However, this sign alone does not confirm pregnancy.
The reason is that oestrogen increases, and, as mentioned above, this causes vaginal secretions and cervical mucus to increase.
Also, as pregnancy progresses, the discharge increases further due to the increase in oestrogen and to prepare the body for childbirth. It is therefore quite normal for pregnant women to have more vaginal discharge than usual.
Sexual intercourse, a normal cause of heavy discharge
During sexual intercourse, increased vaginal discharge is perfectly normal as the body prepares for this moment. Without adequate lubrication, intercourse is uncomfortable and even painful, and intercourse becomes very difficult.
For this reason, secretions from the vagina naturally increase in response to arousal and stimulation. When there is insufficient lubrication, it is necessary to use lubricants and discuss it with the gynaecologist in case there is a problem that can be solved with a treatment.
Stress and anxiety
Both stress and a high level of anxiety are capable of altering the normal functioning of the body in almost any way. Thus, before really stressful situations or periods, one of the signs that a woman can detect as a warning sign that she is suffering from too much stress is an abundant vaginal discharge. Irregularities and changes in menstruation are also common in these cases, and in severe cases, they may even disappear until the period of anxiety or stress is over.
Vaginal infections
Finally, among the causes of leucorrhoea that are due to health problems, we highlight vaginal infections, which can be caused by bacteria or fungi.
Candidiasis: This infection is caused by the fungus Candida albicans. It is a fairly common condition, and its symptoms are constant itching and abundant, thick, white discharge with lumps. It is a fungus that proliferates in our body when we have an imbalance in the bacterial flora of the vagina, among other reasons. So, if you think “I have a lot of thick, white discharge” and you have a lot of itching, it is likely that you have this infection, but only a gynaecologist can tell you and give you the right treatment.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common infection in women. It is easily recognised by a fishy-smelling discharge that is whitish, greyish, or yellowish in colour and more abundant, as well as itching, burning, and pain in the area. Because it is caused by bacteria, the treatment must consist of antibiotics prescribed by a gynaecologist.
Trichomoniasis is an infection that affects the membrane or outermost layer of the skin of the vagina and cervix. The parasites that cause it are known as Trichomonas and are transmitted during sexual intercourse. As a result, many women are unaware they have the disease.In fact, the most noticeable symptoms are usually increased discharge and inflammation.
In addition, uterine cancer can also present excess vaginal discharge, although this is not its main symptom, and there is usually a change not only in the quantity but also in the colour, becoming more pink or even brown.
This article is purely informative. I do not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatment or make any kind of diagnosis. Consult a doctor if you have any type of condition or discomfort.
Thanks for reading; Like share and comment your opinions in the comments section below.
