Patient's question:
I haven't had my period for two months. I bought a pregnancy test to check if I'm pregnant. My discharge is much clearer than usual. Why is that? Please answer the question about wanting a baby, including the onset and duration of this condition:I started menstruating at 15, with a cycle of over 40 days. In 2002, I had an abortion and took emergency contraception a few times. But since last July, I haven't used any contraception. Last July, I treated irregular menstruation by establishing an artificial cycle, which basically returned to normal. However, on September 13, 2006, I had a period, and as of November 5, I still haven't had one.
Current condition:
Medical history: Irregular menstruation, had an abortion two years ago.
Additional tests: None.
Please help! Thank you.
Doctor's answer:
Hello! First of all, I wish you a speedy recovery! Based on your statement, let me discuss the issue of "leukorrhea" with you.Leukorrhea is a viscous white liquid secreted from the vagina of women. It is composed of secretions from the greater vestibular glands, cervical gland secretions, endometrial secretions, exudate from vaginal mucosa, and shed vaginal epithelial cells. Leukorrhea contains lactic acid bacteria, lysozyme, and antibodies, which help inhibit bacterial growth. After marriage, leukorrhea can also lubricate the vagina, making sexual intercourse more comfortable.
The formation of leukorrhea is closely related to estrogen. Therefore, girls before puberty generally do not have leukorrhea. After puberty, the ovaries begin to develop and secrete estrogen to promote the growth of reproductive organs, and leukorrhea then appears. During each menstrual cycle, the quality and quantity of leukorrhea change due to the fluctuating levels of estrogen. Generally, around the middle of the menstrual cycle (equivalent to the ovulation period), estrogen secretion reaches its peak. Excessive estrogen stimulates the cervical glands to secrete more mucus, resulting in increased leukorrhea that is clear, thin, and egg-white-like, with a viscous consistency that can be stretched into threads. The outer genital area may feel moist. After ovulation, progesterone increases and inhibits cervical mucus secretion, causing leukorrhea to become less abundant and thicker. In the days leading up to and following menstruation, due to pelvic congestion, vaginal exudate increases, leading to more leukorrhea. Because it contains more shed cells, the leukorrhea may appear cloudy. Additionally, leukorrhea may increase during pregnancy, after sexual arousal, and after sexual intercourse.
After menopause, due to the decline in ovarian function and a lack of estrogen in the body, the vagina becomes dry and leukorrhea disappears.
### 1) Why Do Women Have Leukorrhea?
Leukorrhea is a secretion from the female vagina, primarily composed of cervical mucus and vaginal exudate, containing shed cells from the reproductive tract and bacteria.
1. Cervical Mucus: This is a transparent, viscous fluid secreted by the cervical glands. Estrogen promotes its secretion and makes it thin, while progesterone makes it thicker.
2. Vaginal Exudate: This is plasma and lymph fluid that seeps from the capillaries and lymphatic vessels of the vaginal wall, mixed with shed vaginal epithelial cells. The vaginal epithelium lacks glands, and during the days before menstruation, pelvic organs become congested, increasing exudate.
Both cervical mucus and vaginal exudate are influenced by ovarian hormones. After puberty and during the reproductive stage, the ovaries begin to function and enter a period of peak activity, leading to leukorrhea. During pregnancy, the placenta secretes estrogen and progesterone, causing even greater pelvic congestion and increased leukorrhea. In young girls and elderly women, ovarian function is either not yet activated or has declined, resulting in low estrogen levels, no cervical mucus secretion, and no vaginal exudate, leading to dry outer genitalia and vagina.
### 2) Abnormal Leukorrhea
1. Pathological Leukorrhea: Such as inflammatory leukorrhea, leukorrhea caused by tumors, and leukorrhea due to foreign bodies. Leukorrhea is composed of exudate from vaginal mucosa, secretions from cervical glands and endometrial glands, secretions from the greater vestibular glands, and sebum from the labia majora and minora. The main components are the first two. Leukorrhea contains shed vaginal epithelial cells, white blood cells, and lactic acid bacteria. It is divided into physiological and pathological types, with different causes, etiologies, and characteristics.
2. Physiological Leukorrhea: This is a white, thin, viscous liquid with no odor. Under normal conditions, leukorrhea helps moisten the labia and vagina. The labia secrete viscous, milk-like fluid; the greater vestibular glands secrete colorless, clear, acidic fluid; the vaginal epithelium lacks glands, and its white, thin, viscous fluid is exudate from the vaginal mucosa, which is acidic. Cervical mucus is alkaline and egg-white-like; endometrial secretions are thinner and less abundant than cervical mucus. The amount of leukorrhea varies depending on age, estrogen levels, and congestion of the reproductive organs.
After puberty, as the ovaries mature and secrete estrogen and progesterone, the characteristics and quantity of leukorrhea change with the ovarian cycle. Around the mid-cycle (before ovulation), due to the abundant secretion of cervical glands, the leukorrhea becomes more abundant, clear, thin, and egg-white-like, facilitating sperm passage. After ovulation, leukorrhea gradually decreases and becomes thicker. Before menstruation, due to pelvic congestion, vaginal exudate increases, leading to more leukorrhea, which may sometimes appear slightly bloody or brown if the corpus luteum function is insufficient.
After marriage, during sexual activity (including premarital sexual fantasies, self-stimulation, or sexual arousal), pelvic congestion occurs, leading to increased vaginal secretion and leukorrhea. The longer and more intense the stimulation, the more abundant the secretion. These are normal physiological phenomena and responses.
However, some women, despite maintaining good hygiene, may have excessive leukorrhea, a strong odor, or noticeable changes in color and consistency, indicating abnormal conditions. Married women experiencing these symptoms should first consider issues related to sexual activity.
### 3) Common Pathological Leukorrhea
1. Clear, Viscous Leukorrhea: Egg-white-like in texture, similar to cervical mucus during ovulation, but significantly more abundant. This may suggest chronic cervical endometritis, ovarian dysfunction, vaginal adenosis, or high-grade cervical adenocarcinoma.
2. White or Yellow-Green Foamy Leukorrhea: A hallmark of trichomoniasis, often accompanied by vulvar itching.
3. Cheese-Like Leukorrhea: A feature of candidiasis, often accompanied by severe vulvar itching or burning pain.
4. Gray, Homogeneous, Fishy-Smelling Leukorrhea: Common in bacterial vaginosis.
5. Purulent Leukorrhea: Yellow or yellow-green, viscous, with an odor, caused by acute vaginal infections (e.g., trichomoniasis, gonorrhea), cervicitis, or cervical canalitis. It may also be due to purulent discharge from the uterine cavity, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, or retained foreign bodies in the vagina.
6. Blood-tinged Leukorrhea: May indicate cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical polyps, or submucosal fibroids. The use of an intrauterine device (IUD) may also cause blood-tinged leukorrhea.
7. Bloody Leukorrhea: The presence of blood in leukorrhea should prompt consideration of cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical polyps, or submucosal fibroids.
### 4) The Relationship Between Abnormal Leukorrhea and Sexual Activity
After puberty, women's lower bodies are often moist, and underwear becomes dirty, either with clear, colorless discharge or creamy white discharge. Sometimes it may appear slightly yellow, bloody, or brown. Although there is usually no odor, if the vulva and underwear are not cleaned for a day or two, the smell becomes unpleasant. This is due to the influence of estrogen after ovarian development, which is medically referred to as leukorrhea.
### 5) Leukorrhea Secretion
Generally, leukorrhea is odorless and not excessive, but it varies depending on the individual and the stage of the menstrual cycle. For example, during ovulation, cervical gland cells secrete abundantly, leading to increased leukorrhea that is thin, clear, and egg-white-like. The cervical mucus can be stretched several centimeters without breaking, showing good elasticity. This phenomenon is not observed during the second half of the menstrual period. Two to three days before and after menstruation, due to pelvic congestion, vaginal exudate increases, leading to more leukorrhea, which may sometimes appear slightly bloody or brown if the corpus luteum function is insufficient.
After marriage, during sexual activity (including premarital sexual fantasies, self-stimulation, or sexual arousal), pelvic congestion occurs, leading to increased vaginal secretion and leukorrhea. The longer and more intense the stimulation, the more abundant the secretion. These are normal physiological phenomena and responses.
However, some women, despite maintaining good hygiene, may have excessive leukorrhea, a strong odor, or noticeable changes in color and consistency, indicating abnormal conditions. Married women experiencing these symptoms should first consider issues related to sexual activity.
### 6) Abnormal Leukorrhea
It is often a sign of reproductive tract inflammation. Married women have a higher risk of infection, largely due to frequent sexual activity. Factors such as a partner not washing their hands before sexual contact, long nails with dirt, lack of hygiene before intercourse (especially if the male has poor hygiene habits), phimosis or excessive foreskin in the male, and failure to urinate or clean after intercourse are all significant contributing factors or causes of abnormal leukorrhea in women.
### 7) Preliminary Diagnosis Based on Leukorrhea Color, Odor, and Consistency
1. Purulent Bacterial Infection: Leukorrhea is purulent, yellow or yellow-green, viscous, with an odor. Examples include senile vaginitis, endometritis, purulent discharge from the uterine cavity, and relatively common gonococcal vaginitis or nongonococcal vaginitis (chlamydia infection).
2. Fungal Infection: Leukorrhea is curd-like, accompanied by significant vulvar itching, such as candidiasis.
3. Trichomoniasis: Leukorrhea is creamy white and foamy, with severe vulvar itching.
However, abnormal leukorrhea may not be as typical as described above, and mixed infections often occur. Therefore, simple visual judgment cannot provide a definitive diagnosis. It is best to undergo a routine gynecological examination for a clear diagnosis and timely treatment. This is especially important if either partner has a history of unprotected sex. It is recommended to visit a dermatology and venereology department to avoid misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. Currently, the medical community has effective medications for bacterial (including gonococcal), fungal, and trichomoniasis vaginal infections. Once the cause is identified, targeted and effective treatment can be administered. Women with blood-tinged leukorrhea, especially older women or those who have been menopausal, should be particularly vigilant and seek medical attention promptly to avoid delaying tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, it should be emphasized that couples with gonorrhea or trichomoniasis must be treated together. Otherwise, if only the female is treated, the male remains a carrier of bacteria or pathogens, and the female may re-infect after treatment through sexual activity.
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