Like the well-being of any other organ of the body, vag!na health is crucial to a woman’s overall well-being.
A healthy vag!na dispenses a healthy amount of discharge that sloughs off dead cells and unwanted bacteria, keeping the vag!na safe and infection-free. It also lubricates the vag!na and prevents dryness.
An unhealthy vag!na is more susceptible to vag!nal yeast infections like genital and vulvovag!nal candidiasis).
Approximately 75 percent of all women are likely to contract a vag!nal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Any minor infections, if not treated timely, present the threat of exacerbating into complex health issues. Therefore, consulting your gynecologist at the first sign of a vag!na malfunction is crucial.
Here are warning signs that indicate your vag!na is unhealthy.
1. Itching & Burning
A constant itching and burning sensation indicates the onset of a number of vag!nal infections.
When the harmful bacteria outnumber the good bacteria in the vag!na , the imbalance manifests itself through the physical symptom of itching and burning.
A certain amount of yeast is essential to ward off harmful bacteria in the vag!na l area. However, an overproduction of yeast can result in a yeast infection, causing symptoms that include itching and burning.
Itching can also be a reaction to chemicals or ingredients in soaps, creams, contraceptive foams and prepackaged douching mixtures. These mixtures can alter the bacterial balance and acidity of the vag!na that protect it against infections.
2. Smelly Discharge
It’s unlikely for your vag!na to smell like a bed of roses, but if you notice a recurrent strong odor, one that even transfers to your undergarments, it might be a sign of an infection. A foul-smelling vag!nal discharge is often the first and most common symptom of infection.
A “fishy odor” is one of the major symptoms of bacterial v aginosis, according to a 2011 study published in the International Journal of Women’s Health. This discharge may especially occur after interc0urse.
Preg.nant women who contract bacterial v aginosis run a risk of delivering their baby prematurely, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It also increases the risk of contracting s*xually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, and may sometimes lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Therefore, seek medical attention right away if you notice a vag!nal odor.
2. Discoloration & Excessive Discharge
Vag!na l discharge is the body’s natural mechanism to keep the vag!na lubricated and flush out harmful bacteria. Normal vag!nal discharge – clear or white and does not give off a bad odor.
A brown or red discharge that occurs right after a men-strual cycle is usually not a matter of concern.
However, if you experience brown or red discharge on normal days between periods, seek medical attention as it could be indicative of cervical cancer. If it occurs during early preg.nancy, it could signify a miscarriage.
A green or yellow, smelly and froth-like discharge is not normal and may be a sign of trichomoniasis, an STD.
A watery white, gray or yellow discharge might be a symptom of bacterial v aginosis. While the amount of discharge differs from woman to woman, recurrent and excessive discharge may also indicate bacterial v aginosis.
Seek medical attention right away if you notice a discoloration in your vag!nal discharge.
3. Abnormal Bleeding
A healthy vag!na dispenses a healthy amount of discharge that sloughs off dead cells and unwanted bacteria, keeping the vag!na safe and infection-free. It also lubricates the vag!na and prevents dryness.
An unhealthy vag!na is more susceptible to vag!nal yeast infections like genital and vulvovag!nal candidiasis).
Approximately 75 percent of all women are likely to contract a vag!nal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Any minor infections, if not treated timely, present the threat of exacerbating into complex health issues. Therefore, consulting your gynecologist at the first sign of a vag!na malfunction is crucial.
Here are warning signs that indicate your vag!na is unhealthy.
1. Itching & Burning
A constant itching and burning sensation indicates the onset of a number of vag!nal infections.
When the harmful bacteria outnumber the good bacteria in the vag!na , the imbalance manifests itself through the physical symptom of itching and burning.
A certain amount of yeast is essential to ward off harmful bacteria in the vag!na l area. However, an overproduction of yeast can result in a yeast infection, causing symptoms that include itching and burning.
Itching can also be a reaction to chemicals or ingredients in soaps, creams, contraceptive foams and prepackaged douching mixtures. These mixtures can alter the bacterial balance and acidity of the vag!na that protect it against infections.
2. Smelly Discharge
It’s unlikely for your vag!na to smell like a bed of roses, but if you notice a recurrent strong odor, one that even transfers to your undergarments, it might be a sign of an infection. A foul-smelling vag!nal discharge is often the first and most common symptom of infection.
A “fishy odor” is one of the major symptoms of bacterial v aginosis, according to a 2011 study published in the International Journal of Women’s Health. This discharge may especially occur after interc0urse.
Preg.nant women who contract bacterial v aginosis run a risk of delivering their baby prematurely, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It also increases the risk of contracting s*xually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, and may sometimes lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Therefore, seek medical attention right away if you notice a vag!nal odor.
2. Discoloration & Excessive Discharge
Vag!na l discharge is the body’s natural mechanism to keep the vag!na lubricated and flush out harmful bacteria. Normal vag!nal discharge – clear or white and does not give off a bad odor.
A brown or red discharge that occurs right after a men-strual cycle is usually not a matter of concern.
However, if you experience brown or red discharge on normal days between periods, seek medical attention as it could be indicative of cervical cancer. If it occurs during early preg.nancy, it could signify a miscarriage.
A green or yellow, smelly and froth-like discharge is not normal and may be a sign of trichomoniasis, an STD.
A watery white, gray or yellow discharge might be a symptom of bacterial v aginosis. While the amount of discharge differs from woman to woman, recurrent and excessive discharge may also indicate bacterial v aginosis.
Seek medical attention right away if you notice a discoloration in your vag!nal discharge.
3. Abnormal Bleeding
If you experience bleeding between periods, it is a cause for alarm. A men;strual cycle that lasts abnormally long may also be a sign that there’s a problem.
