women s health issues
Vaginal Discharge
Causes of Vaginal Discharge
An abnormal vaginal discharge is usually caused by Overview of Vaginitis (Vaginal Infection or Inflammation) , which most often results from irritation by a chemical or from an infection. Likely causes of a vaginal discharge depend on age. During childhood,common causes include An infection due to bacteria from the digestive tract Chemicals in bubble baths or soaps A foreign object (such as a piece of toilet paper or sometimes a toy) in the vagina An infection may occur when hygiene is poor. For example, young girls, especially those 2 to 6 years old, may transfer bacteria from the digestive tract to the genital area when they wipe from back to front or do not wash their hands after bowel movements. If a foreign object is the cause, the discharge may contain small amounts of blood. During the childbearing years,a discharge is usually caused by a vaginal infection. The most common are Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) None Vaginal Yeast Infection (Candidiasis) (a yeast infection) Trichomonal Vaginitis (trichomoniasis of the vagina), which is usually sexually transmitted Sometimes a discharge is caused by another infection, including sexually transmitted infections (such as Gonorrhea or a Vaginal infections are usually prevented by the protective bacteria (lactobacilli) that normally live in the vagina. These bacteria keep the acidity of the vagina in the normal range. When acidity in the vagina decreases, the number of protective bacteria decreases, and the number of harmful bacteria increases. The following make the growth of harmful bacteria more likely (and thus increase the risk of vaginal infections): Use of antibiotics (because they may reduce the number of protective bacteria) Menstrual blood or semen in the vagina (because they reduce the acidity of the vagina) Douching (because it can reduce the acidity of the vagina) Pregnancy Diabetes mellitus A foreign object, such as a forgotten tampon (because tampons provide a warm, moist environment where bacteria can thrive) After menopause,many women have an abnormal discharge. It occurs because the decrease inestrogenlevels causes the vagina to thin and become drier. A thin, dry vagina is more likely to become irritated and inflamed, resulting in a discharge. Symptoms that affect the vagina and urinary tract after menopause are called genitourinary syndrome of menopause. These symptoms include vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse, urinary urgency, and urinary tract infections. , Sexual abuse may be the cause. Such abuse can result in injury or a sexually transmitted infection. During thechildbearing years, the cause is sometimes a foreign object (such as a forgotten tampon). But in this age group, a discharge seldom results from inflammation alone (without infection). Inolder women, urine or stool may irritate the area around the genitals and anus, resulting in a vaginal discharge. Such irritation may occur when women are incontinent (involuntarily pass stool or urine) or bedbound. , various products that come in contact with the genital area can irritate it, sometimes causing a discharge. Such products include hygiene sprays, perfumes, menstrual pads, laundry soaps, bleaches, fabric softeners, and sometimes spermicides, vaginal creams or lubricants, vaginal contraceptive rings, diaphragms, Pessaries , and, for women who are allergic to latex, latex condoms. Rarely, women have abnormal openings (fistulas) between the intestine and genital tract, resulting in a discharge from the vagina. This discharge sometimes contains stool. Fistulas may result from any of the following: Damage to the vagina during delivery (mainly in developing countries) An infection that occurs in a surgical incision or tear of the opening of the vagina during childbirth Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) None Radiation therapy directed at the pelvis (the lowest part of the torso) Injury during pelvic surgery Tumors in the pelvis 