Is it normal to have discharge after menopause?

Women will have menstruation for most of their lives. Except for the period of amenorrhea during pregnancy, menstruation will occur very regularly. Menopause is the phenomenon that at a certain age, the ovarian function gradually deteriorates and menstruation stops. We know that in addition to menstruation, leucorrhea also follows women's bodies, and some women still have secretions after menopause. So, is it normal to have discharge after menopause? Let’s take a look below.

Increased vaginal discharge after menopause

Postmenopausal leucorrhea refers to the increase in leucorrhea secretion in menopausal women, which exceeds normal levels. Leucorrhea is a female vaginal secretion. Normal female leucorrhea is an odorless, slightly acidic viscous substance that has the functions of moistening the vagina, excreting waste, and inhibiting the growth of pathogens. It is a normal physiological phenomenon. In healthy women, the increase in vaginal discharge is directly proportional to the increase in estrogen levels in the body. For example, increased leucorrhea may occur during ovulation or pregnancy, when the endometrium grows too long, or after the use of estrogen drugs.

reason

1. One of the reasons for increased leucorrhea after menopause is estrogen, which causes increased leucorrhea after menopause: after menopause, the vaginal mucosa proliferates, and when leucorrhea appears like that during the childbearing age, it often indicates that there is estrogen in the body. Clinically, it is occasionally found that ovarian follicles grow again and secrete estrogen after menopause. But we should also pay attention to the fact that some ovarian tumors and adrenal tumors also secrete hormones, which are medically called functional tumors. Hormone levels should be measured, and necessary tests should be done to remove the tumor.

2. The second reason for increased leucorrhea after menopause is senile vaginitis: After menopause, the vaginal mucosa becomes thinner, and the ability to resist infection and friction is greatly reduced, so it is very easy to be infected by pathogenic bacteria. When the amount of leucorrhea increases after menopause, accompanied by local itching, burning sensation, or even local tenderness, it often indicates senile vaginitis.

3. The third reason for increased leucorrhea after menopause is drug factors. With the improvement of living standards, the elderly use more tonics. Many longevity and nutritional medicines contain hormone components. Tonic Chinese medicines often contain a large amount of exogenous renal drugs, which can cause increased leucorrhea after menopause.

4. The fourth reason for increased leucorrhea after menopause is gynecological tumors: If women with increased leucorrhea after menopause have watery, bloody or purulent leucorrhea and symptomatic treatment is ineffective, gynecological tumors should be considered.

Mitigation methods

①Regular check-ups: Even if you do not feel any discomfort, you should still have regular check-ups and a comprehensive gynecological examination at least once a year.

② Seek medical treatment promptly: No matter what the situation is, if there is an increase in vaginal discharge or other discomfort, you should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment immediately.

③ Be sure to take the medication under the guidance of a doctor: if the medication is not suitable for your condition, it may aggravate the condition.

④ Wear less tight pants: Wear less tight pants (such as jeans); especially do not wear tight nylon underwear, it is best to choose cotton underwear.

⑤ Not using sanitary pads on weekdays: Some female friends are worried that leucorrhea will stain their underwear or are too lazy to wash their underwear, so they always use sanitary pads on weekdays. This practice is not advisable as it can easily breed a large number of bacteria. Therefore, try not to use sanitary pads when you are not menstruating. Wash the vulva with clean water and change underwear every night (it is best not to use various liquid medicines to clean the vagina. Doing so will destroy the internal environment of the vagina and cause vaginitis).

⑥ Enhance immunity: Exercise regularly to enhance physical fitness; ensure adequate sleep; eat more foods rich in vitamins; learn to regulate your emotions, as immunity will be enhanced when you are in a good mood. With the popularization of scientific knowledge, many elderly people also use lubricants locally during their sexual life. The drugs can cause local mucosal hyperplasia and increase leucorrhea after menopause. It is important to have a gynecological examination to confirm whether there is a tumor.