What is bacterial vaginosis? What is trichomoniasis? What about other infections? Can vaginal discharge be prevented or avoided? After using the toilet, always wipe from front to back. This may help prevent getting bacteria from your rectal area into your vagina. Wear cotton underpants during the day.
Avoid wearing tight pants, pantyhose, swimming suits, biking shorts, or leotards for long periods. Change your laundry detergent or fabric softener if you think it may be irritating your genital area. The latex in condoms and diaphragms and the sperm-killing gels that are used for birth control can be irritating for some women. If you think one of these things is a problem for you, talk to your doctor about other types of birth control.
Avoid hot tubs. Bathe or shower daily and pat your genital area dry. Avoid feminine hygiene sprays, colored or perfumed toilet paper, deodorant pads or tampons, and bubble bath. Vaginal discharge treatment There are different treatment methods, depending on what is causing the abnormal vaginal discharge.
How are yeast infections treated? How is bacterial vaginosis treated? Bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotic medicine, usually a pill. How is trichomoniasis treated? Should my sex partner be treated?
Living with vaginal discharge Abnormal vaginal discharge is completely treatable. Questions to ask your doctor What is the likely cause of the changes in my vaginal discharge?
Do I need any tests, such as tests for sexually transmitted infections? What do my test results mean? Based on the cause of my symptoms, what treatment do you recommend? Will I need medicine? How do I take it? When can I expect relief from my symptoms? Will my sexual partner need treatment?
Is it safe for me to have sex? Last Updated: February 18, This article was contributed by: familydoctor. Tags: bacterial , discharge , infection , sexually , vaginal , vaginitis , yeast. Related Articles. Visit our interactive symptom checker Visit our interactive symptom checker Get Started. Close Modal Close Modal. Here are some tips for managing heavy vaginal discharge:. Excess vaginal discharge can occur as a result of arousal, ovulation, or infections.
Normal vaginal discharge ranges in color from clear or milky to white. The consistency of vaginal discharge also varies from thin and watery to thick and sticky. Generally, healthy vaginal discharge should be relatively odorless. A female can speak with a healthcare professional if they notice any symptoms of an infection. Some symptoms to look out for include:. Doctors can easily treat most vaginal infections using antimicrobial medications.
Depending on the severity of the infection, people may see their symptoms improving within a few days to weeks. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS affects how the ovaries work and is linked to a hormone imbalance.
A lack of ovulation can lead to fertility problems. Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection caused by an imbalance of naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms include a grayish discharge…. Many treatments are available for a yeast infection, some of which a person can administer at home. This article looks at 8 home remedies, including…. Vaginal discharge often changes colors, depending on the time of the menstrual cycle.
Some colors indicate that the area is healthy, while others can…. Vaginal discharge is a normal occurrence. However, changes in color or smell could signal an underlying health issue. Learn more about discharge types…. Causes of heavy vaginal discharge. Arousal Ovulation Hormonal imbalances Vaginitis Bacterial vaginosis Yeast infection Trichomoniasis Healthy discharge Seeing a doctor Treatments Management Outlook Regular vaginal discharge is a sign of a healthy female reproductive system.
Share on Pinterest Arousal, ovulation, and hormonal imbalances can each cause heavy discharge. Hormonal imbalances. Bacterial vaginosis. Yeast infection. What is healthy discharge? When to see a doctor. Possible treatment options. Tips for managing heavy vaginal discharge. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?
Related Coverage. What is polycystic ovary syndrome? Hormonal imbalances due to stress or other health conditions, like polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS , may also cause increases in vaginal discharge. PCOS affects some 10 percent of reproductive-age women. While some women experience less vaginal discharge, others report having more.
Other symptoms include anything from excess facial and body hair and weight gain to irregular periods and infertility. Just like on other parts of the body, allergic reaction is possible in or around the vagina. Common offenders include things like cleansers, douches, sex toys, clothing, and even toilet paper.
Antibiotics can help with a number of illnesses, but they can also disrupt the bacteria balance in your vagina. This can lead to a yeast infection, which is often characterized by an increase in cottage cheese-like or watery discharge. For example, you may put in a new tampon before taking out the previous one. Or you may simply forget about one if your flow is light, like at the end of your period. In either case, you may experience excessive, foul-smelling discharge in a range of colors from yellow to green or pink to brown.
Other symptoms include:. Some people anecdotally report anything from brown to watery to smelly discharge with IUDs. While a range in discharge can be normal , some changes may be a sign of infection. See a doctor if you experience:. Hormonal birth control can have some major pluses, like protecting against pregnancy and helping to treat heavy periods, acne, and cysts. This includes an increase in vaginal discharge while your hormones adjust. Almost all people experience an increase in vaginal discharge with pregnancy.
It helps to protect the fetus from infections that might travel up the vagina and into the uterus. Your discharge may also be thin and clear or white in color. Other early pregnancy symptoms include:. Lochia is a type of vaginal discharge you may experience in the weeks after delivering a baby.
When you breastfeed, this discharge may increase in volume. It typically begins as dark red bleeding and then changes to a watery pink or brown before tapering off in a creamy yellow color. Lochia generally stops four to six weeks after you have your baby.
However, women in later stages of breastfeeding anecdotally report increased discharge of varying texture. Yeast infections affect up to 75 percent of women at one time or another.
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