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6 causes of vaginal discharge every woman should know about

While every woman experiences vaginal discharge at some point, in some cases along with other symptoms, it could indicate either sexually transmitted infections or either one of these six diseases.

Written by Anuradha Varanasi | Updated : April 25, 2016 4:46 PM IST

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7 Causes Of Vaginal Discharge Every Woman Should Know About

Vaginal discharge plays an important role for the female reproductive system as this fluid helps in getting rid of bacteria and dead cells in the cervix and vagina. However, in some cases, when there is a discolouration of vaginal discharge along with a foul odour, it could be a sign of an underlying infection, says Dr Uma Vaidyanathan, Senior Gynaecologist, Max hospitals, Delhi. These are the 7 causes of abnormal vaginal discharge you should know about.

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Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV): This is an inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. The symptoms include itching burning and redness and the discharge tends to be either white, yellow or grey in colour with a foul smell.

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and Chlamydia can cause abnormal vaginal discharge around seven to 28 days after getting infected. In such cases, the discharge could become yellow or even greenish in colour with a foul smell. Other symptoms include pain during urination and sexual intercourse.  Also Read - Is it normal to hear cracking sound from your body during exercise?

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It Should Be Replaced, But Why?

Risks of fragrance-related illnesses are highest among women regularly exposed to scented products. In India, too, lax regulation around these label terms allows manufacturers to make these claims without disclosing the complete list of ingredients used. Following are a few harmful chemicals that you may have unwittingly exposed yourself to and want to check the product labels for:

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Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer: Don't get paranoid about having cancer just because of some abnormal vaginal discharge. The other signs and symptoms include blood along with your discharge, frequent bleeding in between your menstrual cycles, weight loss and back aches, other than experiencing pain during sex.