
Most female patients phrase this question in a sheepish and embarrassed tone. These patients also tend to look as if they’d rather be anywhere else than in our consult room asking about vaginal discharge.
First of all, vaginal discharge is perfectly normal in ladies of childbearing age. It is produced by glands in your cervix & vagina and this mucus carries away dead cells and bacteria, keeping your female reproductive tract healthy!.
The amount and consistency of your vaginal discharge can vary depending on the time of your cycle as this is influenced by hormones. The colour may vary from milky white to yellow after exposure to air. During ovulation, vaginal discharge takes on a clear stretchy egg white texture.
This is a yeast infection that tends to cause thick clumpy white vaginal discharge & intense itching. It is treated with anti-fungal oral pills or vaginal pessaries.
This is a common bacterial infection that creates a characteristic fishy odour with thin watery vaginal discharge & discomfort, easily treated with a course of antibiotics.
Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Trichomoniasis – These conditions also cause abnormal vaginal discharge together with other symptoms like vaginal burning, painful intercourse, painful urination & bleeding.
There might be abnormal bleeding noticed after sexual intercourse or foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Most cervical cancers are due to HPV infections ( Human papilloma virus) hence cervical cancer vaccines such as Gardasil 9 are recommended for females before they become sexually active. Regular pap smears aid in early detection of any early cancerous changes & presence of HPV infections in the cervix.
It is important to have a proper consultation, examination and tests so that you will receive appropriate treatment.
Medications like birth control pills alter the hormonal balance and pH of the vaginal environment. Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria sometimes allowing overgrowth of yeast resulting in vaginal thrush.
Sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis are spread via sexual contact with infected partners. Bacterial vaginosis is also more common in women with multiple partners.
Diabetes causes raised blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance resulting in reduced immunity and increased susceptibility to infections such as yeast.
Douching, vaginal dryness, natural lack of lactobacilli in your vaginal flora all predispose to vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis.
The vaginal walls become thin and dry may cause increased number of vaginal & urinary tract infections.
Dora is the managing partner of Mint Medical Centre who possesses the sincere heart and warm pleasant demeanour of a caring family physician. She has always understood the holistic and varied nature of family medicine, so has clinical experience that encompasses children’s and adult’s emergencies, obstetrics & gynaecology, neurosurgery, respiratory medicine, anaesthesia, paediatric surgery, health promotion board (school health) and the government polyclinic.
Mint Medical Centre is the fulfilment of her bigger dream of providing ongoing care in a well-rounded, friendly family medicine clinic that serves all people; both locals and expatriates, young and old. She derives special satisfaction from helping those who are new to Singapore and enabling them to settle here well.