You might not have heard about this term, but you would have experienced this phenomenon. Leukorrhea is the thick whitish fluid discharge you produce from your vagina.
Leukorrhea is a normal phenomenon that almost all women experience once they have attended puberty and reached reproductive age. It only becomes an issue when the white discharge prevents you from getting pregnant.
So, what does leukorrhea do, and how does it cause infertility? Let’s discuss it in detail in this article.
Does leukorrhea cause infertility?
- Leukorrhea aids vaginal health and fertility, but persistent infertility despite normal discharge may signal underlying issues.
Long answer short, leukorrhea is normal and happens in most women. They only become a concern if there’s a noticeable change in their color or consistency.. This can sometimes cause pelvic inflammatory diseases, infertility, and other serious complications.
To better understand how your vaginal discharge causes infertility, you should first understand what they are and what role they have in your sexual health.
Leukorrhea is the vaginal discharge you might experience from time to time during your reproductive age. It is actually a normal and very healthy discharge that helps keep your vagina clean and infection-free. They also help maintain vaginal microclimate (vagina’s basal temperature).
You generally have this discharge during your ovulation. When your eggs are ovulating and ready to be fertilized, your leukorrhea will have a watery, clear, and stretchy consistency. This allows sperm to swim to the fallopian tube easily for fertilization.
When your ovulation ends, the discharge will turn into a cloudy, glutinous fluid, making it difficult for the sperm to swim through it and reach the egg.
If you still can’t get pregnant even when its consistency is normal, it might be due to other issues. You must know about infertility warning signs to understand what prevents you from getting pregnant.
Causes of Leukorrhea in Pregnancy
- Increased leukorrhea during pregnancy is normal, helping maintain vaginal cleanliness and protect the uterus, driven by elevated estrogen levels.
You don’t need to panic if you witness excess leukorrhea during pregnancy. Leukorrhea plays an important role during pregnancy by helping to keep the vagina clean and protecting the uterus and embryo from harmful germs and bacteria.
So, it is normal for you to have more than usual vaginal discharge during pregnancy. This can also be due to excess estrogen hormone secretion during pregnancy. Estrogen is one of the main causes of vaginal discharge during pregnancy and when you are nearing ovulation.
Types of leukorrhea
During your reproductive years, you may encounter three different types of leukorrhea. Here’s what you need to know about them.
1. Physiological leukorrhea
Physiological leukorrhea is a normal experience for most women and isn’t something to worry about. This natural discharge helps keep your vagina clean and maintains good hygiene.. It also maintains your vagina’s pH balance and preserves the flexibility of the vaginal tissues.
2. Inflammatory leukorrhea
Inflammatory leukorrhea is caused due to inflammation caused due to bacterial, fungal, or other infections. Your vaginal discharge might be yellow, foul-smelling, and accompanied by backache.
3. Parasitic leukorrhea
Parasitic leukorrhea is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, commonly called trichomonads. They might produce a thick, foamy discharge that’s white or yellow in color.
Symptoms of abnormal leukorrhea
- Normal vaginal discharge is usually clear or white with a mild odor; deviations like yellow, green, or gray discharge with a foul smell may signal infection or complications.
Your normal vaginal discharge will appear with either a clear and watery consistency or white and creamy consistency. They will also have a mild odor.
However, if you witness a discharge that is yellow, green, or gray in color with a foul odor, it can be due to infection or other complications. They might also be accompanied by other symptoms like
- Itching, swelling, or burning sensation around your private areas,
- Painful intercourse due to insufficient lubrication,
- Lower abdominal pain,
- Constipation, and
- Fatigue & tiredness due to loss of vital fluids as discharge.
When to call leukorrhea Abnormal
Your leukorrhea is abnormal if it does the following.
- Your vaginal discharge has the color, consistency, and other symptoms like the ones we discussed above.
- It does not change its consistency to thin and watery during ovulation. It remains thick and creamy, making fertilization and pregnancy difficult.
- It contains antibodies that can kill sperm and prevent them from fertilizing the egg.
- It doesn’t maintain your vaginal health and allows bacteria to enter your vagina and uterus, causing infections like cervicitis.
Steps to prevent abnormal leukorrhea
- To manage abnormal leukorrhea, practice good hygiene, wear breathable cotton underwear, and maintain a balanced diet while avoiding irritants
Leukorrhea is generally not a significant cause of infertility and can often be managed with proper hygiene practices and medication. Below are some steps you can follow to prevent abnormal leukorrhea and maintain your sexual health.
- Maintain cleanliness and good hygiene during your menstrual cycles.
- Stick to a balanced diet and try to limit your intake of junk food.
- Wear soft, cotton underwear, Avoid wearing tight-fit undergarments. They can cause friction while moving.
- Your private area is very sensitive. Avoid using scented products that can irritate them.
- Use an antibiotic solution to wash your undergarments and let them dry under the sun.
- Avoid foods that are too oily, spicy, sugary, sour, and fried. These foods can aggravate your condition and try to consume foods that increase your fertility.
Conclusion
Leukorrhea is a healthy discharge that can help keep your vagina clean and hygienic. They are also good during pregnancy. So you don’t need to worry if you get them often during pregnancy.
Leukorrhea is only dangerous when it has a different consistency and odor than normal. It is not a major cause of infertility, so you don’t need to worry too much about it. You can visit a fertility doctor and learn what you can do if you have this situation.
FAQs
Some factors that can cause abnormal vaginal discharge are
- Excessive consumption of oil, fried, spicy, or sugary foods,
- Overindulging in sexual activities,
- Hormonal imbalance,
- Unhealthy habits like smoking, alcohol, and drugs, and
- Not maintaining proper vaginal hygiene.
There are three types of leukorrhea based on their cause. They are
Physiological leukorrhea,
Inflammatory leukorrhea, and
Parasitic leukorrhea.
You don’t need to panic if you witness excess leukorrhea during pregnancy. Leukorrhea is actually very essential during pregnancy as it can keep the vagina clean and prevent any germs or bacteria from affecting your uterus and embryo.