Patient's question:
I am 34 weeks pregnant and have been experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge for the past two months. The discharge is yellowish in color, abundant in quantity, and accompanied by a burning sensation and pain in the external genital area. Is this a normal phenomenon during pregnancy or a sign of a condition? If it is a condition, how should it be treated? Can medication be used?Doctor's answer:
Leukorrhea, also known as vaginal discharge, is a white, viscous liquid that is generally odorless. It is composed of secretions from the vaginal mucosa, cervical glands, endometrium, and fallopian tubes, containing shed vaginal epithelial cells, white blood cells, and vaginal bacteria.The amount of leukorrhea is primarily influenced by hormone levels. In women of childbearing age, sudden amenorrhea and increased leukorrhea are caused by elevated estrogen levels and pelvic congestion. In combination with other symptoms, pregnancy should be the first consideration, and medical attention should be sought for confirmation.
After pregnancy, the corpus luteum of the ovary secretes large amounts of estrogen and progesterone to maintain the implantation and development of the fertilized egg. After 12 weeks, the placenta forms and gradually takes over the function of the corpus luteum, continuing to synthesize large amounts of estrogen and progesterone. Therefore, pregnant women maintain a high estrogen and high progesterone state. As a result, estrogen- and progesterone-dependent cells undergo significant changes: the external genitalia become soft and moist, vaginal epithelium thickens, blood vessels become congested, and the amount of exudate and shed cells increases. The cervix becomes enlarged, soft, and congested, with hyperactive glandular secretion. The secretion of cervical glands mixes with vaginal exudate and shed cells to form leukorrhea, which is continuously expelled from the body during pregnancy.
However, if leukorrhea increases after pregnancy along with itching of the external genitalia and a peculiar odor, medical examination should be conducted.