Patient's question:
Doctor, hello. I usually have a very busy job, and I have to work overtime every day until very late. Maybe because I've been working for too long, the lower part of me has been feeling particularly uncomfortable. It feels sticky and sometimes itchy. I don't know if I have some gynecological disease, but I don't have time to go to the hospital.Doctor's answer:
Hello, methods for women to self-examine gynecological conditions can be summarized in three words: "Observe, Smell, Touch."Observe — Place a small mirror in the private area and move it around to observe with the help of the mirror's reflection. Additionally, by examining the color, clarity, and consistency of secretions such as leukorrhea and menstrual blood, you can detect subtle signs. Normal leukorrhea is a clear, thin liquid, while normal menstrual blood is bright red or light red, sometimes with small blood clots.
Smell — Use your nose to smell the secretions, menstrual blood, or any odor from the private area. Generally, a normal smell is a mild fishy odor, sweaty acid smell, or no smell at all. If an unpleasant odor, such as a fishy smell, rotten smell, or unusual odor appears, it may indicate a problem.
Touch — First, wash your hands thoroughly. Use the "palm" (commonly referred to as the "fingertip") of your index and middle fingers to gently touch the area from the mons pubis downward, in order, from the outside to the anus. Normally, the outside should feel smooth and soft, without pain when touched lightly. Of course, under normal circumstances, no small lumps or bumps should be felt. Otherwise, it may suggest an issue.