TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – vaginal discharge is a discharge from the genitals that is not blood. Although common, be aware of the characteristics of abnormal vaginal discharge. So the advice of obstetrician dr. Cynthia Agnes Susanto from the University of Indonesia.
There are three times when vaginal discharge is common in women of reproductive age, namely before menstruation, after menstruation, and before ovulation. This is a physiological or normal vaginal discharge. The characteristics are clear color with a texture like raw egg, milky white texture, and slightly cloudy which is slightly thick without a strong odor. While pathological vaginal discharge is abnormal vaginal discharge.
“First candidiasis, it is white, thick, like cheese, usually sore and itchy. Because of the itching, we scratch and cause wounds on the external genital organs,” explained Cynthia.
Candidiasis can heal on its own. However, if this vaginal discharge recurs 2-3 times a year, he recommends seeing a doctor immediately. Then, whiteness due to bacteria which is white but thinner. The color can also be gray. Its main characteristic is a fishy smell.
Bacterial vaginosis is often caused by changes in the pH of the vagina. This change in pH makes it easy for bacterial and fungal colonies to multiply in the female organs.
Then, trichomonas which has a greenish-yellow characteristic that can be caused by a sexually transmitted infection. This type of discharge is very smelly. Vaginal discharge can also occur due to gonorrhea which is characterized by pain when urinating (anyang-anyangan) and pelvic and abdominal pain. This discharge can also come out of the penis, not just the vagina. Vaginal discharge occurs when cleanliness is vagina not properly maintained.
“Too clean or too dirty is also a risk factor,” he explained.
The wrong way to wipe can cause problems. He reminded to wipe from front to back, from the urinary tract to the anus. Do it in one direction, don’t go back and forth. If you wipe from back to front, bacteria in the anus can enter the vagina and pose a risk of urinary tract infection.
Clean the vagina with clean running water and don’t forget to dry it with a small towel or soft tissue without fragrance. When going to consult a doctor about vaginal discharge, take your partner with you so that both of them can be cured because the partner could also be infected during sex.
If only one person gets treatment and then recovers, reinfection can occur. Cynthia emphasized that openness and communication with a partner are the main keys.
“Never accuse each other, for example, immediately assume the couple is ‘snacking’. Maybe we don’t what are you doing only from public bathrooms but splashed and it became gonorrhea,” he said.
For people who experience vaginal discharge, he said pay attention to the color, time, smell, and whether the accompanying itching. If vaginal discharge occurs repeatedly and does not go away, he suggests that you immediately consult a doctor.
Usage pantylinEr is not recommended to treat vaginal discharge, especially if used every day, because it can make the vagina moist due to difficult air exchange. It’s better to change underwear, mainly cotton, more often than wearing pantyliner.
Also read: Can Cause Torn Anal Tissue, Here’s An Explanation About Anal Sex
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