Love from the point of view of psychology. White thick discharge in women

Vaginal candidiasis can appear absolutely unexpectedly, even for no apparent reason. Some mistakenly classify this disease as a sexually transmitted disease, which is not true. Frequent relapses are dangerous by the transition to chronic form. To get rid of the problem for a long time, you need to understand where it comes from.

Features of candidiasis

Thrush ( vaginal candidiasis) — infection mucous membrane. Provocateurs are conditionally pathogenic microorganisms - fungi of the genus Candida. A certain number of them are included in normal microflora vagina, mouth and intestines. As long as fungi are in balance with other microorganisms, they do no harm.

A small failure in the body is enough to reduce the number of lactobacilli, which provokes changes in the mucosal environment towards alkali. For fungi, such an atmosphere is favorable, and they begin to actively multiply, provoking the development of candidiasis and causing discomfort.

Candidiasis is successfully treated with antimycotic drugs. The inflammation of the mucosa disappears, the symptoms disappear, and the "extra" fungi die. But if you do not figure out where the thrush comes from, and do not eliminate the cause of the reproduction of microorganisms, after the end of therapy, the process may begin again.

Running thrush is fraught with the following problems:

urethritis;
erosion of the cervix;
ectopic pregnancy;
infertility.

In addition, the fungus can affect other internal organs- ureters, kidneys, bladder. This in turn will trigger other diseases. If a pregnant woman who is preparing for childbirth suffers from candidiasis, the disease is transmitted to the child. Baby may have thrush oral cavity from the first birthday.

External factors

Despite the fact that fungi are already constantly in the body, an additional amount of microorganisms from outside can provoke thrush. Increases the likelihood of infection a slight decrease in immunity.

Sexual intercourse. Men can get thrush too. It does not apply to sexually transmitted diseases, but can be transmitted from partner to partner and vice versa. With a strong immune system turn on defensive forces organism and suppress foreign fungi, but a weakened person will be infected. The danger is also oral sex if one of the participants is sick with oral thrush. Even if unprotected intercourse is practiced between a permanent couple, if one partner is ill, the second partner must definitely undergo treatment. Otherwise, the disease will be transmitted in a circle constantly, from which complications will appear sooner or later.
Water. Chlorinated or dirty water in natural waters can adversely affect the pH balance of the vaginal environment. Normal biocenosis is broken, and fungi begin to multiply. Also dangerous are hygiene items used by people with candidiasis - soap or a towel.
Sanitary napkin. Scented sanitary napkins protect linen, but can be harmful to the body. Their top layer prevents normal air circulation. Humidity and temperature increase in the perineal area, creating a comfortable environment for the fungus. Gynecologists advise using pads only when absolutely necessary.
Underwear. For regular wear, gynecologists advise only comfortable cotton underwear. Synthetics, like gaskets, do not allow air to pass through. Thongs can carry dangerous germs from the anus to the vagina. Stale linen also poses a certain danger - dried whites become a source of infection.
Cosmetics. Women should wash themselves at least twice a day, but only special gels with a neutral pH can be used. regular soap violates the microflora of the vagina and dries the mucosa. Beneficial bacteria are killed, and fungi are active.
Douching. Douching is allowed only as prescribed by a doctor, and special liquids and solutions are used for this. Uncontrolled conduct of the procedure is dangerous as a violation of the balance of microflora: beneficial bacteria are washed out, pathogenic ones begin to prevail.
Insufficient hygiene. Fungi can live not only on the mucosa, but also on the surface of the ano-genital zone. They can get into the vagina during use. toilet paper or through underwear. Water procedures cleanse the skin of fungi, preventing their possible reproduction.

Internal causes

The appearance of candidiasis contributes to a decrease in immunity, from which the body's defenses weaken. Violations can be caused by a variety of reasons.

Injuries. Any injury to the epithelium violates the integrity of the tissue. The damaged area is temporarily deprived protective properties and any infection can penetrate it. It is possible to injure the mucous membrane during rough intercourse, douching, insertion of the uterine ring. Also, injuries remain after an abortion or careless gynecological examination.
Antibiotics. Long-term use of antibiotics depresses the immune system and disrupts the natural microflora of the intestines, stomach and vagina. long-term use or strong drugs increase the likelihood of developing thrush. Antibiotics kill all bacteria, including beneficial ones, without affecting the fungus in any way. The parallel use of antifungal or immunostimulating drugs helps to reduce the likelihood of its occurrence.
Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through many different changes. For the body, the child is partially alien, and in order for the pregnancy to be preserved, the defenses weaken under the influence of hormones. The endocrine system begins to produce more gestagens, which disrupts the usual microflora and gives fungi the opportunity to multiply.
Medicines for infertility. The danger is posed by drugs that support the "phase corpus luteum"(for example, Utrozhestan or Dufaston). They are high in progesterone, a hormone that helps a fertilized egg attach to the wall of the uterus. It has a depressing effect on the immune system. Long-term use of such drugs provokes an increased formation of glycogen on the mucous membranes, creating an ideal environment for fungi.
Means of contraception. Many methods of protection negatively affect the hormonal balance. Violate it can: means emergency contraception, vaginal rings, implants, oral contraceptives. Even if the gynecologist approved the intake of certain pills, any remedy can lead to hormonal imbalance and increase the risk of developing thrush. If the specialist incorrectly installed intrauterine device, it injures the mucous membrane, which makes it vulnerable to infections. And the lubricant on some condoms contains dangerous ingredients that kill beneficial lactobacilli.
Age. Very young girls receive a “reserve” of protective hormones from their mother. The formation of the own microflora of the vagina begins only 3-4 weeks after childbirth. The mucosa in babies is very thin, and local immunity is not enough to protect. In children 2-7 years old, thrush appears very often. During puberty, hormonal physiological dysfunction is observed. Anovulation begins, the amount of estrogen is constantly changing. Because of this, thrush may occur in girls after a change in the usual microflora. In older women, thrush often occurs during menopause. Menopause is accompanied by severe hormonal changes. Atrophic processes are launched on the vaginal mucosa, and the amount of natural lubrication is significantly reduced, which increases the risk of damage to the epithelium.
Endocrine system. From state endocrine system directly depends hormonal balance and the work of all organs. With dysfunction of the glands, the natural microflora of the vagina changes, and immunity decreases. at: diabetes, hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis. Also, problems with the thyroid gland or adrenal glands often occur against the background of obesity, which affects the condition genitourinary system.
Operational intervention. Any surgical operations- serious stress for the body and a blow to the immune system. Often, the process is accompanied by long-term medication, which also affects the balance of microorganisms. If the intervention affected the area of the vagina (abortion, cauterization of erosion, laparoscopy) - the mucosa can be injured and sting.
Diseases. Any chronic or acute diseases, even if they are not venereal and do not directly affect the vaginal mucosa. An additional blow is delivered by the therapy necessary for treatment.

Necessary treatment

To quickly and effectively get rid of the disease, you need to find out where the thrush comes from. You must first visit a gynecologist and take a smear from urethra and vagina. Many symptoms sexually transmitted diseases resemble candidiasis, and the principles of dealing with different microorganisms are radically different.

Used to suppress fungus antifungal drugs. Duration of therapy and dosage medicines depends on the course of the disease and individual characteristics organism. Additionally, the following may be assigned:

immunomodulators;
vitamin and mineral complexes;
lactic acid;
antihistamines;
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory.

If thrush is a complication of another disease, it is necessary to get rid of it. Otherwise, pathogenic microorganisms will begin to actively multiply again immediately after the effect of the antifungal drug ends.

Throughout the treatment, you must adhere to a simple diet. Foods with high content carbohydrates, dough, sour, spicy and spicy, smoked meats and sweets (especially bakery products). You need to add as many vegetables and fruits, natural fruit drinks as possible. From bad habits it is desirable to refuse.

Usually the symptoms begin to subside after the first days of use. antifungal agent. If this does not happen, it is necessary to consult a doctor again to clarify the diagnosis. You will have to exclude bacterial infections, against which a fungal infection often occurs.

Prevention

Despite the fact that thrush is easily treatable, any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. To avoid candidiasis, it is advisable to adhere to simple rules. So, regular preventive visits to the gynecologist help to reduce the likelihood of diseases of the genitourinary system - at least twice a year. For any other pathological processes, it is worth contacting the appropriate doctor.

It is better to refuse uncomfortable synthetic underwear in favor of classic cotton panties. They should be as comfortable as possible. Sanitary napkins are used only when critical days and not daily. For washing, you should purchase a pH-neutral gel.

Discharge in women and girls should always be - this is the natural state of the vaginal mucosa. Moreover, thanks to the secretions, the vagina is independently cleansed of various bacteria, dead cells, menstrual blood, slime. Often natural secretions do not have color, but sometimes the appearance of white discharge in girls and women can raise a question - is this normal or are they pathological, indicating some kind of disease.

When is white discharge considered normal?

Often, white discharge in girls is somewhat more abundant than in women of reproductive, middle age, or women during menopause. This is due to the fact that the girls are just forming, starting to stabilize hormonal background, and in middle-aged women this process is already completed and is more permanent. Normally, both in girls and in women before menopause, the vagina has a slightly acidic environment, due to the presence of lactobacilli, which form lactic acid. This environment is detrimental to pathogenic microorganisms, it is unfavorable for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. So, what kind of discharge can be considered the norm?

Why does a girl have white discharge with a sour smell?

White mucous discharge in girls and women is commonly called whites. They are a natural waste product of the body, since the cells that cover the walls of the vagina are constantly being updated. Dead cells are constantly sloughed off, mixed with mucus. In addition, the discharge from the cervix is also part of the whites, therefore, physiologically during ovulation, the amount of discharge from the cervix increases, they become more stretchy, mucous. Therefore, it is normal if the selections are transparent or white color, while nothing more woman no worries, no, no burning, no pain.

However, if white discharge appears with sour smell, while itching or discomfort is either significant or disturbing only periodically, this may be a symptom of vaginal candidiasis. a lot - and hormonal changes, failures, reception hormonal contraceptives, during pregnancy, thrush very often occurs, hygiene disorders, abuse of flavored and antibacterial agents intimate hygiene, colored toilet paper, taking antibiotics, stressful situations, climate change, nutritional errors - sweet abuse, diets, synthetic underwear, douching too often ()

What discharge may indicate a disease?

With a decrease in local or general immunity, with a violation of hygiene, taking antibiotics, with hormonal disruptions, opportunistic organisms that are normal in the vagina without causing harm - can begin to multiply and lead to an inflammatory process. If a girl has next character discharge - this is a symptom of any diseases or disorders and requires examination and a thorough examination by a gynecologist:

Very profuse, white thick curdled discharge in girls. If the discharge resembles cottage cheese, while the woman experiences itching and burning in the vagina, especially sitting cross-legged, this is bright and girls. Moreover, thrush or vaginal candidiasis does not depend on whether the girl leads sexual life or not.
foamy, copious discharge- more than 1 teaspoon per day.
Highlights of any pronounced color - brown discharge, yellow, green or other conspicuous shades.
Bad smell - putrid smell, sour, the smell of onions and others.
Any suspicious discharge, especially when accompanied by itching, dryness, or discomfort during intercourse, redness of the vulva, pain in the lower abdomen (on one or both sides just below the navel), fever, or constant pain during and after intercourse.

If whites began to change color, smell, quantity, and irritation and discomfort appear in the genital area, this is considered pathological changes and secretions, and the cause of their occurrence should be determined. Also, the discharge can be of different origin, that is, come from different parts of the female reproductive system. The classification of secretions by origin is as follows:

Tube whites- appear with inflammation fallopian tubes, while fluid accumulates in the tubes, which first enters the uterus, then exits through the cervix into the vagina.
Vaginal leucorrhea- this is the most harmless discharge, when, with inflammatory diseases of the vagina, various white, yellow discharges appear, most often with an unpleasant odor - this can be trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, thrush, etc.
Cervical leucorrhea- appear with inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis) of any etiology. The cause may be mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, gonorrhea, etc.
Uterine leucorrhea- with endometritis of any etiology. In this case, the inflammatory exudate drains through the cervical canal into the vagina and mixes with the vaginal secretions.

Is it possible to determine the disease by the color of the discharge?

Unfortunately, there may be more than 100 reasons that cause a change in the color and nature of the discharge, based on external description secretions, no gynecologist without laboratory diagnostics cannot make a diagnosis. Theoretically, only abundant, strong white curd discharge in girls and women can be an unmistakable diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis. However, thrush often co-occurs with other sexually transmitted infections, so only smear and bacterial culture, as well as tests for STIs, can establish true reason changes in the discharge of a woman. The color of the discharge can only give a little hint in which direction the research should be carried out more thoroughly:

Transparent whites, foaming can be .
Gray shade of white with a characteristic fishy smell, most often occurs with gardnerellosis,.
Greenish discharge - discharge with such a shade speaks of a purulent process, since a large number of leukocytes give secretions green color. The stronger the inflammatory process, the more leukocytes, and, accordingly, the more green tint in the discharge.
yellow discharge- this may be one of the symptoms of trichomoniasis, since inflammation in trichomoniasis is most often localized in the vagina, in which the concentration of leukocytes is lower.
Discharge in girls white color- can both be a symptom of thrush, and be the norm. Since at mild degree vaginal candidiasis, there may not be significant itching and burning, only occasionally and slightly, therefore, if more abundant, too white, thick, curdled discharge appears, you should visit a gynecologist and find out whether it is thrush or not.

However, it is not necessary to unequivocally regard the color of the whites as a diagnosis of the disease, only tests are able to establish an accurate diagnosis in pathological discharges.

When to see a doctor for white discharge?

If white discharge from a girl or woman is not more than a teaspoon per day, not accompanied by others unpleasant symptoms, then there is no need to worry. However, if the discharge becomes very plentiful, cheesy, frothy, thick, appears, changes color to yellow, green, gray, any unpleasant odor appears, especially if any of the above is supplemented by itching, burning, pain, even not high, subfebrile temperature- This is a reason to see a doctor:

First, the gynecologist conducts an examination on the chair. In the mirrors, you can see the walls of the vagina and the cervix - in what condition they are, inflamed or not, whether there are pathological discharges from the cervix and what they are.
In some cases, a doctor may perform a colposcopy to rule out or confirm cervical dysplasia or erosion.
If an STI is suspected, in addition to the usual smear for flora and bacteriological culture, the gynecologist can send a PCR smear for analysis.
If the patient complains of pain, menstrual cycle etc., if you suspect inflammatory diseases appendages of the uterus or the uterus itself, transvaginal ultrasound is indicated, which can help in establishing a complete clinical picture.

Sigmund Freud wrote in a letter to a friend that in 30 years of practice, he had not been able to answer one question: "What does a woman want?" In addition, what a woman wants is also interesting - why? And this is not so easy.

Why do they want to "shop"?

Marketers know that the main target audience of their work is women. Tom Peters, management science guru, in his book Imagine! very accurately described the psychological difference between women and men in terms of marketing: women buy "on the way", while men go to the store for a specific thing.

Studies of online trading statistics also confirm that 80% of purchases of goods on the Internet are made by the female audience.

Q: Why do women love shopping so much?

There is such a thing as neuromarketing - a technology aimed at stimulating consumer demand, using the patterns of work human psyche. The impact on the consumer, in this case, on women, goes through several channels: visual (bright packaging), auditory (do you also hear this music in supermarkets?), olfactory (the smell of fresh bread, aromatic cartridges), kinesthetic (“comfortable”, or embossed packaging).

An entire industry is working to make a woman's decision to buy, but the main neurophysiological stimulus when shopping is the hormone dopamine, which can also be called "quick reward hormones." Its connection with the human pleasure center was proven back in 1954 by Canadian scientists James Old and Peter Milner.

Shopping is one of the most available ways stimulation of dopamine production. Therefore, for women, shopping can become an obsessive but pleasant habit.

Why do women want to get married?

For the present time of victorious emancipation, when career and social success has actually ceased to depend on the gender factor, the passionate desire of the majority of women to get married can be perceived as an anachronism, but women still want to get married.
Let's not talk about the banal social factors. Let's turn to research.

In 2005, Dr. Lucy Brown, a professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, worked with bioanthropologist Helen Fisher of Rutgers University to study the brain scans of 17 young men and women. They were all in love.

Fisher and Brown found that long-term attachment is concentrated in the frontal part and base of the brain, in the ventral putamen and the pale nucleus. This part of the brain is better developed in women.

Another study, conducted in 2006 by Rebecca Turner, a professor in the Department of Organizational Psychology at San Francisco International University, looked at the effects of the hormone oxytocin on the brain. This hormone is the basis for human emotional attachment. Oxytocin levels are higher in women than in men. The desire to maintain the level of oxytocin can partly explain the passion of women for marriage.

Why do women always want to talk?

Men in the left hemisphere have a center responsible for speech, and if a man gets injured in this hemisphere, he loses his speech. In women, two centers are responsible for speech: a larger one in the left hemisphere, a smaller one in the right. To become numb, she needs to get a serious injury to both hemispheres of the brain.

Men's speech is distinguished by an abundance of terms and a rich vocabulary, while women's speech is based on intonation and emotions. Establishing relationships by conversation is a purely female prerogative, which is why they make excellent lawyers, teachers and educators. A woman can easily pronounce up to 8,000 words a day, use up to 3,000 sounds and up to 10,000 non-verbal signals. A man speaks up to 4000 words a day, makes up to 2000 sounds and makes up to 3000 gestures.

Why do they want to dress brightly?

It must be admitted that women do not like to dress brightly in all countries. In the same England, women prefer a discreet dress code. However, Russian girls and women love bright clothes.

Fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev links the age-old passion of Russian women to bright colors, embroidery and various decorations with a rather harsh climate, typical for the main part of the country. Where snow can lie for up to six months of the year, everything will look faded against the background of white, unless you dress in bright colors.

According to the same Alexander Vasiliev, Russia is a country that is very fashion-oriented. Love for fashion came to us from France during the time of Russian gallomania, which began under the Empress Elizabeth.

“Not fashion, but love for fashion,” emphasizes Vasiliev. It is worth noting that after the death of Elizabeth, 15 thousand dresses were counted in her wardrobe.

Of course, women compete because of men. Patricia Robel, who has been working in Russia for several years, noted that the first thing she turned her attention to in Russia was a kind of competition among Russian women to win men. In addition, a foreigner is sometimes struck by the length of skirts in hard frost and the height of the studs, including in ice. At the same time, Robel noted the ability of Russian women to emphasize their dignity.

Why do they want sweets?

Most women are very fond of sweets and rarely, when they can deny themselves the pleasure of tasting, for example, chocolate. Even though it's not always helpful. Why is this happening?

Recent studies have revealed that female body produces a gene, under the influence of which a number of products may seem more desirable and tasty. Naturally, this gene is responsible for extra pounds.

Researchers from Montreal conducted a whole series of experiments before they identified this "sweet gene" in women. The influence of this gene makes certain foods, such as chocolate or ice cream, taste much better than they actually are. That is, there is a kind of deception going on.

Normal for each healthy woman there are physiological secretions. Every day, the female genital organs secrete a whitish-transparent mucus, without pronounced bad smell that does not cause discomfort to a woman. However, discharge is also a symptom of various gynecological and venereal diseases. How to determine where physiological process, and where is not? Let's figure it out.

Let us focus on the fact that girls should not have vaginal discharge until puberty (an individual age is usually 10-12 years). All selections in childhood, especially those that have a sharp unpleasant odor, should alert parents. Perhaps the child has some kind of malfunction in the development of the reproductive system, or pathological processes urinary or digestive system.

Non-bloody pathological discharge in women

Changes in the nature of the discharge (color, smell, consistency) and the discomfort caused indicate a certain disease. However, according to all these signs, it is difficult to say which particular disease in question. An accurate diagnosis is made by doctors in medical institutions, relying not only on the examination and complaints of the patient, but also on the laboratory data of the study of smears.

The most common diseases associated with pathological secretions in women are:

candidiasis (thrush);
bacterial vaginosis;
non-specific inflammatory processes in the genitals;
chlamydia;
trichomoniasis;
gonorrhea.

Now a little more about the nature of the discharge in these pathologies.

Candidiasis, better known as thrush, is accompanied by curdled secretions mostly white or yellowish itchy, less often rezi. The discharge has a strong unpleasant odor and causes pain during urination. For precise setting laboratory smear data is needed.

Bacterial vaginosis- is common gynecological disease not venereal. With this pathology, women will experience an increase in the amount of discharge with a characteristic smell of rotten fish. Highlight Color bacterial vaginosis grayish white. Itching is not the main symptom. However, it can be observed more often after sexual intercourse. If the disease is running, then in such cases the color of the discharge becomes yellowish-greenish. For accurate diagnosis the doctor will need the result of the culture of vaginal discharge.

Nonspecific inflammatory processes- nonspecific colpitis (vaginitis) the main symptom of this disease are various vaginal discharge. They may be watery, thick, bloody, or purulent. Often the discharge is offensive. During acute inflammation women may feel burning, itching, or heat in the genital area. A doctor can diagnose colpitis based on data from a vaginal smear under a microscope.

Chlamydia- for this disease increase in secretions is not typical. And here they are yellow alert the gynecologist. Exactly yellow discharge, flowing down the walls of the vagina, are visible in the mirrors when examining patients with chlamydia. Also, with diseases caused by chlamydia, women complain of sharp pains with urination and pain in the lower abdomen. The diagnosis also needs to be confirmed by a laboratory.

Trichomoniasis- accompanied by yellow or green frothy secretions that have an unpleasant odor. Burning, itching and painful urination these are also complaints inherent in the disease, the causative agent of which is Trichomonas. In the laboratory, the pathogen is identified, and an accurate diagnosis is established.

Gonorrhea- accompanied by moderate white-yellow discharge with pain during urination and lower abdomen. This disease also causes bloody issues that can occur on any day of the menstrual cycle. Gonococci, which are the causative agent of gonorrhea, are detected in the laboratory.