Is it serious for girls to have abnormal vaginal discharge?

For women, whether leucorrhea is normal is directly related to their reproductive health. Through the performance of leucorrhea, we can make a general observation to see whether there is a gynecological disease, and then go to the hospital for further examination. So when women have abnormal leucorrhea, they must be vigilant, as it may be caused by gynecological diseases. They should go to the hospital for scientific diagnosis in time.

Causes and common diseases

There are two main sources of pathogens that cause inflammation of the female reproductive tract: one is from the bacteria that parasitize in the vagina, and the other is from pathogens that invade from the outside. Common diseases include:

1. Fallopian tube inflammation

Increased vaginal discharge is the main symptom of salpingitis and fallopian tube obstruction. According to surveys, factors such as fallopian tube inflammation and fallopian tube blockage account for the number one factor of female inflammatory infertility, and fallopian tube blockage or poor circulation accounts for 1/3 of all female infertility.

2. Endometritis

Increased vaginal discharge is also an early symptom of endometritis. The endometrium plays a role in menstruation, reproduction, excretion and endocrine function. Once inflammation occurs, all of the above functions will be disturbed, leading to infertility. Severe endometritis, such as intrauterine adhesions, can destroy the integrity and function of the endometrium and lead to female infertility.

3. Drug factors

It is mostly caused by the use of estrogen drugs or physical weakness. It is often manifested as excessive vaginal discharge, accompanied by lower back pain and fatigue.

4. Infection

Common causes include trichomoniasis vaginitis, candidal vaginitis, chronic cervicitis, senile vaginitis, uterine effusion, vaginal foreign bodies and other purulent bacterial infections. It appears yellow or yellow-green and has a fishy smell.

Differential Diagnosis

1. Cheese-like or tofu-like leucorrhea: It is candidal vaginitis, often accompanied by severe vulvar itching or burning pain.

2. Thin, purulent, yellow-green, foamy, foul-smelling leucorrhea: characteristic of Trichomonas vaginitis, accompanied by vulvar itching.

3. Grayish white, thin, fishy-smelling leucorrhea: characteristic of bacterial vaginosis, accompanied by mild itching of the vulva.

4. Purulent leucorrhea: yellow or yellow-green in color, sticky, and often has a foul odor, caused by bacterial infection. It can be seen in Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaginitis, acute cervicitis and endocervicitis. Vaginal cancer or cervical cancer complicated with infection, pyometra or foreign body residue in the vagina can also lead to purulent leucorrhea.

5. Purulent and bloody leucorrhea: consider acute pelvic infection, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer with infection, uterine cavity pyometra, foreign body in the vagina, etc.

6. Watery leucorrhea: Vaginal discharge that is thin, watery or rice-like, and has a fishy odor: seen in advanced cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, or submucosal fibroids with infection. Intermittent discharge of clear, yellow-red or red watery leucorrhea should be considered as a possible cause of fallopian tube cancer.

7. Bloody leucorrhea: There is blood mixed in the leucorrhea, and the amount of blood varies. Cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical polyps, cervical columnar epithelium ectopia with infection or uterine submucosal fibroids should be considered. Insertion of an intrauterine device can also cause bloody leucorrhea.