Vaginal discharge: What the colours mean, what’s normal, what’s abnormal

» Vaginal discharge: What the colours mean, what’s normal, what’s abnormal


Looks like: Scrambled egg whites – thick, white and clumpy

Discharge is often accompanied by redness, swelling and itching around the vagina, and a burning sensation during urination or sex.

Yeast infection is common. It affects 75 per cent of women at some point in their lives, said Dr Siow. It is caused by the overgrowth of a type of fungus that usually exists in small amounts in the vagina.

Poor hygiene habits and sexual activity can disrupt the vaginal balance, leading to an overgrowth of yeast. Hormonal fluctuations due to pregnancy, menopause, or birth control use, along with unmanaged diabetes or a weakened immune system, can also elevate the risk.

It is primarily treated with antifungal medicine, not antibiotics. In fact, antibiotics may increase the risk by “killing off normal protective bacteria in the vagina, leading to an overgrowth of yeast”, said Dr Wong.

The good news is that yeast infection from antibiotic use is usually self-limiting, and may resolve on its own without treatment, she added. However, do seek treatment if the infection is severe or persists.

3. Bacterial vaginosisis (BV)



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