After a girl enters puberty, as her ovarian function matures, a milky white or clear fluid will flow from her vagina. The amount sometimes more, sometimes less, but it follows a regular pattern; this is leukorrhea. Leukorrhea helps keep the vaginal mucosa moist. Leukorrhea changes at different stages of life, and abnormal leukorrhea often indicates the presence of certain gynecological diseases. Let's look at what leukorrhea looks like at different stages of a woman's life.
puberty
Girls before puberty generally do not have vaginal discharge because its formation is closely related to estrogen, and at this time, ovarian development has not yet truly begun. After puberty, the ovaries begin to develop and secrete estrogen to promote the development of reproductive organs, at which point vaginal discharge will appear.
Because adolescent girls often experience irregular menstrual cycles, immature ovarian function, or delayed menstruation, their vaginal discharge is usually scant and thin. Vaginal discharge changes with the menstrual cycle. Before menstruation, the discharge is often thick and sticky; after menstruation, it becomes a thin, liquid, resembling egg white, odorless and non-irritating. If an adolescent girl has excessive vaginal discharge that frequently wets her pants and requires the use of a menstrual pad, or if the discharge is foul-smelling, accompanied by intense itching or blood, it may be due to an underlying medical condition, and she should seek medical attention promptly.
menstrual period
Vaginal discharge during menstruation varies with estrogen levels. Estrogen levels typically peak midway between menstrual periods (around ovulation). Excess estrogen stimulates the cervical glands to secrete more mucus, resulting in abundant, clear, egg-white-like, sticky discharge that can be stretched into strands, leaving the vulva feeling moist. After ovulation, progesterone levels increase, inhibiting cervical mucus secretion, leading to less and thicker discharge. In the days before and after menstruation, pelvic congestion increases vaginal discharge, resulting in slightly more discharge. Because it contains more exfoliated cells, the discharge may appear cloudy.
Pregnancy
Under normal circumstances, a healthy woman's vaginal discharge is milky white or colorless and transparent, sometimes with a slightly fishy smell or no odor at all. However, the amount and quality of vaginal discharge are affected by the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body, and the amount of discharge also changes with the menstrual cycle, showing cyclical variations. Pregnant women, although temporarily ceasing menstruation, actually experience increased vaginal discharge. This is due to the effect of estrogen in the body, which increases the amount of water and blood in the cervix and vaginal walls compared to normal, thus naturally increasing vaginal discharge.
menopause
Generally, during menopause, women experience a decline in ovarian function, resulting in the cessation of estrogen secretion. This significant reduction in estrogen levels leads to the disappearance of cyclical changes in other parts of the reproductive organs. After menopause, due to the decline in ovarian function and the lack of estrogen, the reproductive organs atrophy, and vaginal discharge gradually becomes thinner and less abundant, leading to vaginal dryness or even the complete absence of discharge.
In addition, experts remind women that if they experience foamy, cottage cheese-like, yellow purulent, watery, or bloody vaginal discharge, it is abnormal and may be a sign of bacterial infection of the vagina or other gynecological diseases. They must seek medical attention promptly and should never delay seeking medical treatment.
