Female genitals emit a small amount of mucus that has an unobtrusive smell. But if sour smell   discharge from women, this should be alerted. And if hygiene is observed, then the female body signals a health problem.

The causes of the unpleasant phenomenon

Normal normal discharge whitish color without an unpleasant shade, together with them from the vagina out dead cells, which are exfoliated from its walls. Symptoms of abrupt unpleasant smell   may appear due to uncleanliness of a woman, when she does not follow the elementary rules of personal hygiene, rarely changes her underwear and sanitary pads.

An unpleasant smell can be the result of a violation of the microflora of the vagina, while the beneficial bacteria die and the pathogens begin to multiply rapidly. The reason for this problem may be colds, frequent change of sexual partners, or taking certain medications.

Another reason that whites have an unpleasant sour odor is vaginal candidiasis. In this case, a woman may feel itching and burning in the genital area. Most often, thrush occurs due to hormonal disruptions in the body during pregnancy or when taking hormonal contraceptives.

Vaginal infections, such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia, can also cause sour odors. These diseases are sexually transmitted and cause severe itching   and burning sensation. The discharge is yellow with a strong odor. Sexual intercourse with such diseases causes pain.

Liquid with a pungent odor can sometimes be observed. This problem occurs in athletes or girls whose work is associated with heavy physical labor. In these cases, liquid may leak out. bladderIn order to eliminate such a problem, it is necessary to consult an urologist.

If white or very thick and smell sour, the cause may be streptococcal or gonococcal infection. At the same time, affected dead tissue gets into the discharge, forming pus. With very strong or chronic inflammatory process   discharge may be dark or greenish. In this case, you must contact your gynecologist to begin treatment as soon as possible.

The reason for discharge with a sour sharp flavor is sometimes climate change or taking antibiotics that destroy beneficial bacteria. The cause may be the sexual partner, which is the carrier of the fungus. Often such a discomfort appears in women suffering diabetes mellitusor HIV-infected.

Thrush

What methods of treatment exist?

Before treatment, the doctor will definitely conduct a thorough examination of the woman and prescribe the necessary tests. First of all, you should not get rid of the smell, but from the cause that caused the indisposition. If the cause is an infectious disease, then antibacterial drugs, ointments and creams will be required. Before making a diagnosis, a non-stained and stained vaginal smear must be examined under a microscope. In the case of thrush, be sure to conduct a study to determine the type of fungus.

If the malaise is caused by thrush, it is necessary to use antifungal drugs, for example, Pimafucin, Diflucan or Vagisil, in the form of vaginal suppositories. Syringing antiseptic solutions in this case is undesirable, from such procedures, the vaginal microflora will only be further disturbed. At the time of treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon sexual contact until the thrush disappears completely.

During treatment for thrush and after it, girls should be washed as often as possible with warm running water. It is necessary to wear underwear only from natural fibers. You will also have to abandon the sharp and sweet dishes. Preference should be given to vegetables, fruits and dairy products.

If the normal environment of the vagina changes due to bacterial vaginosis, the treatment should be comprehensive. Apply medications nitromidazole groups, for example, Metronidazole or Metrogil. The doctor may prescribe these drugs in the form of vaginal suppositories, tampons or tablets. Comprehensive treatment   includes vaginal irrigation with special antiseptic solutions.

Sometimes it can be considered as a variant of the norm, however, as a rule, they indicate the presence of a disease. In such a situation, you should definitely contact a specialist to provide adequate assistance.

Yellow is not the norm, because even if the natural selection and have a similar texture, they do not differ in a similar flavor.

Such a "mucous daub" may appear directly at the end of menstruation. But she quickly passes.

Yellow discharge with a pungent odor may have several causes. As a rule, this is due to the presence of certain diseases. Let's look at the main ones:

Every woman should know that with any inflammatory disease genitourinary system   yellow discharge may appear with a sour odor or even without it.

Such discomfort is not only unpleasant, but also quite dangerous. Therefore, when such signs are detected, it is necessary to take measures:

1. If there are discharge that go beyond the norm, it is necessary to consult with a specialist. A woman needs to visit a gynecologist. If there is a likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, it is necessary to consult a dermatovenereologist.

2. Pass an additional examination. In the event that it is required to identify the type of infection and its presence in principle, it is necessary to pass additional tests. Sometimes (at the discretion of the doctor), ultrasound diagnosis, computed tomogram or even a tissue biopsy may be required.

If yellow discharge and appeared, it is necessary, in addition to the survey, to strictly follow all medical prescriptions, to undergo a course of treatment to the end.

If yellows are combined with pain and impaired urination, then it is imperative to register for an urgent consultation with a gynecologist. Any delay in treatment can cause chronic development of the disease and a number of serious complications.

Absolutely at any age, a special secret is secreted from women in the vagina, which performs protective functions - prevents the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the organs of the reproductive system and moisturizes the mucous membranes, thus preventing their damage. Normally, this secret has no smell and does not cause discomfort. But under the influence of external and internal factors, its character may change. For example,sour smell of discharge in women   may occur as a result of hormonal disorders in the body or development gynecological diseases. And how to determine the exact cause of its occurrence and what to do with it, you will find out now.

Before considering the factors provoking the appearance of secretions with a sour smell, it should be immediately noted that they can relate not only to pathological, but also physiological. The most common occurrence of such an aroma from intimate zone   is a consequence of various changes in the body, not associated with the development of any disease.

The work of the organs of the reproductive system is directly dependent on the hormonal levels. Depending on the phases of the menstrual cycle, the production of certain hormones in the body periodically slows down, then vice versa, is activated. For example, in the first half of the menstrual cycle, the ovaries actively produce estrogen, which ensures the normal and timely maturation of the egg. After the onset of ovulation (it happens on the 12-16th day of ovulation), the synthesis of this hormone slows down and progesterone comes to replace it, which is responsible for maintaining pregnancy after fertilization of the egg.

Regardless of whether a woman is sexually active or not, such hormonal surges are mandatory and natural, since they provide the normal flow of the menstrual cycle.

It should be noted that in the female vagina there is a special microflora, in which lactic acid bacteria are present. Under the influence of hormonal jumps, their growth is also accelerated, then suppressed. thereforedischarges with the smell of sour milkOccurring periodically in women are considered natural and do not require a specific therapy.

However, in addition to fermented milk bacteria, conditionally pathogenic microorganisms live in the vaginal environment, among which are fungi of the genus Candida and gardnerella. When conditions are favorable in the cavity of the vagina, their growth can be activated, which is the cause infectious diseases, which can also be manifested by the appearance of girls and women discharge with a sour smell. But more on that later.

WHO (World Health Organization) has established a certain framework that characterizes the normal allocation of women:

• Quantity: not more than 4-5 ml per day.
• Consistency: liquid or mucous.
• Smell: odorless or slightly sour smell.
• Color: transparent or white.
• Tastes: brackish or sweetish.

At the same time, normal vaginal discharge is not accompanied by any extraneous symptoms, such as itching or burning. The secreted vaginal mucus contains the secret produced by the glands located on the cervical canal and dead epithelial cells. The intensity of discharge depends on age. For example, in young women their number is much higher than that of mature ones, which is caused by hormonal jumps. After menopause, the synthesis of sex hormones slows down, and therefore the amount of secreted vaginal secretion decreases after 45 years.

Under the influence of hormonal,sour discharge   may often occur in pregnant women. In addition to the fact that during this period, progesterone production increases, cell division is actively taking place in the body. New ones appear, the “old” ones peel off and get into the cervical mucus, which is what causes the appearance of heavy discharge.

Important! If the white discharge with a sour odor during pregnancy begins to be accompanied by irritation in the intimate area, burning sensation, and other symptoms uncharacteristic of the normal state, then this should be urgently reported to the doctor. The appearance of such a clinical picture always signals the development of pathologies.

Pathological causes

As mentioned above, conditionally pathogenic microorganisms live in the vaginal environment, when activated, there are discharges with an unpleasant odor.

If we talk specifically about the appearance of a sour smell from the intimate area, then most often it is caused by Candida fungi, which are the causative agents of candidiasis (thrush). Their active reproduction can occur under the influence of the following factors:

• Poor immunity.
• Acceptance of antibacterial drugs.
• Frequent douching.
• Very frequent intake of alcohol.
• Stress.
• Acceptance of hormone-containing drugs.
• Inadequate hygiene or lack of it for several days.

When candidiasis develops, white creamy secretions or discharges may appear, which look like granular curd. In this case, the clinical picture necessarily includes the following symptoms:

• Discharges smell like kefir or sour milk;
• The outer small and large lips swell and redden;
• The urge to urinate more frequent and is accompanied by rezmy;
• There is severe itching and burning in the intimate area.

If you have white cheesy discharge, which are accompanied by the above symptoms, you should urgently go to the doctor. As if to postpone the treatment of candidiasis, the infection can spread to other internal organsprovoking the occurrence of pathological processes in them. As a rule, when this happens, the woman has brown discharge   outside of menstruation.

It should be noted that with this disease yellow discharge with a sour odor may also appear. Their occurrence is caused by the presence in the vaginal secretions of a large amount of fungi and the oxidation process. When the secret comes out of the vagina, it reacts with oxygen, which leads to a change in its shades.

What is the danger of candidiasis?

Candidiasis is dangerous not only the appearance of itching and burning in the intimate area, but also high risks of complications in its background. If a woman does not receive adequate treatment, the infection can spread to the kidneys and other internal organs, causing them to develop pathological processes.

When the disease flows into the chronic form, frequent relapses occur, in which not only white appear. thick discharge   with a sour smell but also painful sensations   in the lower abdomen, which indicate the occurrence of complications such as cervical erosion and inflammation of the ovarian appendages.

Candidiasis often provokes the development of bacterial vaginosis, which is characterized by active growth of gardnerellas in the vagina, which is caused by a decrease in the level of lactic acid bacteria.

Quite often, abundant white discharge occurs in pregnant women. And if they are accompanied by symptoms of candidiasis, you must immediately notify your doctor. Since the fungal damage of the reproductive organs reduces the elasticity of the uterus and cervical canal, which in the initial stages of pregnancy can cause miscarriage, and during childbirth serious breaks.

Important! If a pregnant woman has candidiasis, it should be treated immediately, as there are high risks of infecting the child as he passes through the birth canal, as a result of which he may have serious health problems after birth.

Treatment

In the event that the patient has a discharge of white color, having a taste of sour milk, the occurrence of which was provoked by non-pathological reasons, no treatment is prescribed. It is used only when heavy discharge   are the result of hormonal imbalance in the body. In this case, special preparations are used that provide the replenishment of reserves of missing hormones. Such medications are prescribed strictly individually after receiving the results of laboratory blood tests for hormones.

If the allocated curd discharge from the vagina occurred against the background of active development of candidiasis, the treatment involves the use of antifungal drugs. Moreover, in this case, both local remedies in the form of vaginal suppositories and external gels and ointments are used to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms that cause the disease.

In addition to antifungal drugs, women may be prescribed multivitamin complexes, allowing to strengthen the immune system, as well as adherence to a special therapeutic diet (the doctor should tell about it in detail). During treatment, a woman is not recommended to have intimate relationships. If she has a permanent sexual partner, then he must necessarily undergo a course of treatment.

To establish the exact reason why a woman had this kind of vaginal discharge and how to treat them, can only a doctor. Do not self-medicate, as this can lead to serious consequences. Remember, the treatment is always individual in nature and even for the treatment of the same candidiasis all women use different drugs. They are selected taking into account the general state of health of the patient and the severity of the course of the disease.

Medicine has long established that vaginal discharge from women is an integral part of their lives. The presence of whiter due to the physiological characteristics of the female body. Some varieties of secretions are characterized by cyclicality (that is, they appear at certain time intervals). Some types of mucus stand out from the vagina due to the fact that the woman has an active sex life or accepts specific medications.

Overwhelmingly vaginal discharge   are normal (that is, they are due to nature and do not pose a health hazard). However, there are other types of mucus that may indicate the presence of a disease. In order for women to confidently separate normal and pathological discharge, it is necessary to consider all the reasons for their appearance in detail.

01 The crux of the matter

Before considering all the prerequisites for the appearance of mucus, you must first find out what this substance is by its nature and what it consists of. In principle, secretions from female organs can be produced by different components of the reproductive system. It can be glands, epithelial layer, waste products of microflora. The composition of each fluid may be different, but, as a rule, it includes 3 components:

1. 1. Mucus produced by the glands of the cervical canal.
2. 2. Epithelial cells of the vagina, as well as the cervical canal. These cells are regularly separated from the walls, getting into the vaginal canal.
3. 3. Elements containing up to 12 types of all kinds of microorganisms (fungi, viruses, bacteria). These elements, in addition to the vagina, can colonize the uterine neck, fallopian tubes, ovaries. Under the normal state of health of a woman, her microflora is represented by bacteria of the lactic acid type (lactic acid bacteria, so-called Dederlein sticks). There may be other elements, but with their small number, the functioning of the reproductive system is not disturbed, and the secretions themselves do not acquire a pathological character.

The appearance of secreted mucus may be different. In particular, liquid, thick, gelatinous, creamy, foamy substances can be observed. As for color, there are red, yellowish, gray, brown, white mucus. Quite often, vaginal discharge is completely colorless. According to the tactile sensations secrete fluidish, sticky and viscous substances.

As for smell, it is either absent or sour in normal health. This shade is due to the presence of lactobacilli that create an acidic environment inside the vagina.

02 Normal processes

Presence of natural vaginal discharge   due to a number of factors. Among them are the following:

• the flow of the menstrual cycle, which is peculiar to all female representatives of reproductive age;
• the beginning of an active sex life (and the nature of the mucus produced may depend on the frequency of sexual contacts, the availability of contraception, its type, the number of sexual partners);
• taking specific medications (for example, hormonal drugs);
• therapy of concomitant pathologies that are not related to the reproductive system (for example, discharge may be a reaction to taking any strong medication or undergoing a medical procedure).