When approaching menopause, many changes occur to a woman´s body. Hormonal fluctuations can affect the body in many ways, often leading to vaginal discharge during and after menopause. These changes can be frightening and uncomfortable, but rest assured that this is a common problem, and many women experience vaginal discharge.
Keep reading to find out more about the types of vaginal discharge during and after menopause.
Causes of Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge is common and can occur for a number of reasons. Glands inside your vagina and cervix produce small quantities of fluid that are discharged every day. This is normal and experienced by every woman, and it keeps your body healthy. During times of ovulation, sexual excitement or breasting feeding, the liquid can have a stronger white color and be thicker.
The vagina carries a bacterium, and this bacterium can be affected by the hormones and acids that control the menstrual cycle. Infections happen when the bacteria cannot be controlled any longer. This infection can happen at any time due to stress, exercise, a change in diet, as a result of menopause, and during pregnancy.
When approaching menopause, vaginal discharge can appear because your body’s hormone levels are changing. A woman can experience irregular vaginal discharge and shortened periods.
The most common types of vaginal discharge infections are:
• Yeast (Candida): a type of fungi that is normal in human skin but can also cause infections
• Gardnerella: a type of bacteria found normally in the female genital tract
• Trichomonas: a type of protozoa, an organism made up of one cell
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Vaginal Discharge and Menopause?
During menopause vaginal discharge can drastically change, and many women find they experience vaginal dryness, which can affect sexual life or vaginal discharge even when they are not menstruating.
Vaginal discharge can also occur after menopause due to the drop in hormone levels. It could be due to the fact that the vaginal wall is thinning.
Treatments for Vaginal Discharge
Reducing natural levels of vaginal discharge is very difficult because it is not usually caused by an infection. However, there are certain activities you can do that might help manage vaginal discharge.
Ways to Prevent Vaginal Discharge
• Bathe or shower daily and pat your genital area dry
• Avoid hot tubs
• Don’t douche
• Change your laundry detergent or fabric softener if you think it may be irritating your genital area
• The latex in condoms and diaphragms and the sperm-killing gels that are used for birth control can be irritating for some women, talk to your doctor about other types of birth control
• Wear cotton underpants during the day: cotton allows your genital area to “breathe.”
• After using the toilet, always wipe from front to back, which may help prevent bacteria spreading from your rectal area into your vagina.
• Wearing underpants at night.
• Wearing tight pants, pantyhose, swimming suits, biking shorts or leotards for long periods.
• Using feminine hygiene sprays, colored or perfumed toilet paper, scented pads or tampons, and bubble bath.
Besides the activities on the list above, there are also some lifestyle changes you can make to get your body back on the right track. Eating a healthy diet and exercising daily will help your body produce chemicals and hormones at a natural level.
Also on the market are alternative medicines available for vaginal discharge. They can help to ease pain and provide comfort when other treatments have proved ineffective.
If you experience pain or have noticed a dense or abnormal discharge, it is always good to discuss your symptoms with a medical professional. You know your body best: trust yourself.
Click on the following link to learn more about vaginal discharge treatments.
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