Vaginal discharge is a normal occurrence for women between puberty and menopause and is a minute amount of fluid that flows out of a vagina that takes old cells out along with it. This helps in cleaning the vagina, keeping it lubricated and freeing it from a number of infections. If the vaginal discharge turns irregular, this could be a sign that a health problem is present.
A normal vaginal discharge should be clear or milky fluid in appearance and must not possess a disturbing smell. The discharge can be thick at certain times in the menstrual cycle, when breastfeeding or when a woman is sexually aroused. The thickness of the fluid depends per person.
Sometimes, there are changes in terms of color, amount or consistency, having an itchy feeling, discomfort, a rash or a burning sensation when urinating or presence of blood outside the menstrual period and having a strange odor.
If the vaginal discharge has a foul, fishy odor with yellowish, grayish or greenish color, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
The collective name referring to all diseases manifesting their symptoms through unusual vaginal drop off is vaginal discharge symptom. The five most prominent vaginal drop off symptoms are odorous vaginal emission, yellow and light-colored vaginal discharge, watery feeling or vaginal dryness, white, yellow or green vaginal drop off and recurrent vaginal infections of various types.
The most prominent vaginal discharge symptom is odor in the vagina which can indicate bacterial vaginosis. The odor is most of the time fishy and can sometimes be smelled following a vaginal intercourse. Rarely, this is linked with itching in the vagina and reddening as well.
Second is the yellow colored and light vaginal discharge which an indicated Chlamydia infection, a serious type of sexually transmitted disease.
The third most notable vaginal discharge symptom is vaginal dryness and watery vagina. The former might be a sign of diabetes. Moreover, a watery and blood-tinged discharge could suggest a more serious kind of disease like vaginal, cervical or uterus cancer.
The next most notable vaginal symptom is a vaginal discharge with white yellow or green color which could indicate leucorrhea. The last of the vaginal discharge symptom is recurrent vaginal yeast infection which can be oral too, and bacterial vaginosis. This could dangerously refer to HIV/AIDS. It is important that if a person suspects having an STD, a doctor should be consulted right away.