Vaginal discharges, which women most of the time regard as normal and therefore do not pay attention to, can in fact be a sign of major problems. Besides the discharges that occur physiologically in the vagina, there can also be pathological discharges.
What Is Physiological Discharge?
Physiological discharges and pathological discharges can easily be told apart from one another. Physiological discharges are colourless and odourless. Even if the amount of these discharges is large, they do not cause any kind of disturbing situation. Physiological vaginal discharges do not create symptoms such as itching or burning. These discharges are important for health. While the discharges prepare the ground for healthy sexual intercourse by making the area slippery, they also prevent irritation from occurring on the lips of the vagina. Physiological discharges take on a thicker form as the time of ovulation approaches.
Physiological discharges and pathological discharges can easily be told apart from one another. Physiological discharges are colourless and odourless. Even if the amount of these discharges is large, they do not cause any kind of disturbing situation. Physiological vaginal discharges do not create symptoms such as itching or burning. These discharges are important for health. While the discharges prepare the ground for healthy sexual intercourse by making the area slippery, they also prevent irritation from occurring on the lips of the vagina. Physiological discharges take on a thicker form as the time of ovulation approaches.
What Is Pathological Discharge?
Pathological discharges are known as the sign of a problem occurring in the vagina. When there are pathological discharges that appear as a symptom of inflammation of the vagina or inflammation of the cervix, it is essential to go to a doctor. Pathological discharges can, although rarely, also appear because of cancerous tumours. These discharges generally have a disturbing smell. Their consistency is thick and their colour is yellow, white or green. For discharges that are quite disturbing, treatment is definitely necessary. Fungus, sexually transmitted diseases and various bacteria also cause pathological discharges.
What Should Be Done to Prevent Discharges
To prevent discharges, genital hygiene must certainly be given importance. However, while doing this, it is necessary not to wash the inside of the vagina and not to use cosmetics that will change the pH value of the area. Products such as genital sprays, perfume or cream, and perfumed pads or tampons, should definitely not be chosen. Cotton underwear should be used, and very tight underwear, trousers or shorts should not be worn. Changing underwear daily, not sitting in a wet swimming costume and paying attention to general toilet hygiene are the measures that need to be taken to protect against vaginal discharges. Besides these measures, it is also quite important, both for general health and for the early diagnosis of a possible illness, that every woman has a gynaecological examination every six months and has a smear test regularly.