st and sealed.
Prior to the start of menstruation the discharge of white fluid is perfectly normal. Women shouldn’t worry about this event, because this type of discharge is normal at the beginning and end of the menstruation period.
It is also common to release white thick fluid during or after sexual intercourse. The fluid that released by female organ that acts a natural lubricant as well as hormones that causes sensation of arousal. If particular woman is sexually aroused, there is a natural phenomenon of excessive discharge of creamy white fluid from the vagina.
What is abnormal discharge?
As the color and consistency of the vaginal discharge is concern, it plays a significant role in determining your health condition. The vaginal discharge starts from normal color of milky white fluid to clear and brown color. However, if the discharge turned into unusual state of color such as yellow or green, pink, thick and white cheesy appearance and accompanied by recurring itch then it is a red flag condition.
Types & Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Discharge
1. Yellow or Green Vaginal Discharge
An appearance of this kind of discharge is not normal, especially if the fluid is thick and chunky and accompanied by pain and itching while urinating. This type of vaginal discharge is a symptom of sexually transmitted diseases, commonly known as Trichomoniais.
Fig.2 A magnification of Trichomonas Vaginalis, that causes Trichomoniais.
The Trichomoniais is caused by protozoan (single celled organism). This parasite is passed from an infected person to an uninfected during the unprotected intercourse. During the foreplay the parasite is being transmitted from the penile organ going to vagina, or vice versa, but it can also be spread from vagina to another vagina.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 70% infected people do not experience symptoms. If ever the parasite caused symptoms, they only range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. It is unpredictable also if get the infection, because some of the symptoms only develop within 5-28 days after being infected and others do not develop any sign and symptoms until much later.
CDC also reported that in the United States an estimated prevalence rate of Trichomoniais infection is about 3.7 million people but only 30% showed the symptoms. The infection is commonly reported among women than men, specifically older women than younger women.
2. Cloudy Yellow
Another distinction of vaginal discharge is the presence of cloudy yellow fluid. This discharge color imply Gonorrhea or known as the “clap” or “drip” gonorrhea. This type of sexually infection is contagious disease and can be transmitted through bodily fluids.
Gonorrhea is caused by bacterium known as Neisseria Gonorrhea, a venereal disease that thrives in the mucus membrane of the body. This type of organism can grow and multiply in warm, moist areas of the body such as for women they can live in the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes while for men they can inhabit in the urethra-the passage that releases the urine coming from the bladder. Furthermore, the infection can also proliferate in the mouth, throat and anus.
Fig.3 Computerized Illustration of Neisseria Gonorrhea.
Sexually active teenagers have one of the highest infection rates as reported by the CDC. In fact, in 2015 among ages starting from 15 years old to 25 has the highest infection rate in the US despite of their age group and gender preference. The study was conducted from selected STD Clinics, 5 regional Laboratories together with the collaboration with the CDC in order to measure the frequency of antimicrobial susceptibilities of N. gonorrhea in the United States.
The common symptom of Gonorrhea for women is sometimes tricky, because they are mistaken for a bladder infection or yeast infection. However, the most common signs are as follows
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding during or after sexual intercourse or between menstruation periods.
- Frequent painful urination
- Excessive fluid discharge
- Genital irritation
- Pelvic pain
- Swollen and p