Patient's question:
Doctor, what are the reasons for increased leukorrhea??If it's not treated, what are the consequences??
How is leukorrhea considered normal??
Thank you!!
Doctor's answer:
How old are you? Normal women have a small amount of white, odorless, viscous discharge in the vagina, called leukorrhea. During puberty, pregnancy, or the mid-cycle of menstruation, leukorrhea may slightly increase, which is a normal phenomenon. If leukorrhea increases in amount, changes in color, contains blood, or has an odor, it indicates a disease. Depending on age, the possible causes can be roughly categorized as follows.1) Childhood:
Mostly seen in young female external genital and vaginal infections. Due to poor development of the external genitalia and a lack of estrogen in young girls, the vaginal epithelium has low resistance, making it easy to become infected. Common symptoms include large amounts of purulent leukorrhea accompanied by itching of the external genitalia.
2) Adolescence:
Mostly seen in vaginal inflammation. If the leukorrhea becomes thin, foamy, and increases in amount accompanied by itching of the external genitalia, it is often trichomoniasis. Sometimes it may be purulent with an odor. If the leukorrhea is white, viscous, and resembles curd, accompanied by itching and burning pain of the external genitalia, it is more likely to be candidiasis.
3) Reproductive period:
In addition to vaginal infections, cervical inflammation is a common disease among women of reproductive age. Its main symptom is increased leukorrhea, which can be creamy and mucous or light yellow and purulent. Sometimes it may also be bloody leukorrhea. When larger uterine fibroids are present, due to the enlargement of the uterine cavity and increased glandular secretion, leukorrhea may also increase. Additionally, intrauterine devices can also cause small amounts of bloody leukorrhea.
4) Postpartum period:
Increased leukorrhea with a yellow color and odor during this period is often a sign of acute endometritis or myometritis.
5) Menopause:
Bloody leukorrhea may occur. First, it is important to be vigilant about the possibility of malignant tumors such as cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. Senile vaginitis can also cause bloody leukorrhea. If yellow, watery leukorrhea appears