Is it normal to have more vaginal discharge after menopause?

Leucorrhea is a normal physiological phenomenon for adult women. It often occurs during ovulation, which is also the stage when it is easier to get pregnant. Women will experience menopause when they reach a certain age, but is it normal to have increased vaginal discharge after menopause? An increase in vaginal discharge without any odor or feeling is a normal phenomenon and is related to the secretion of sex hormones. However, if the increase in vaginal discharge causes discomfort, you should be alert to the occurrence of gynecological diseases.

What causes increased vaginal discharge after menopause?

Postmenopausal leucorrhea refers to the increase in leucorrhea secretion in menopausal women, which exceeds normal levels.

Leucorrhea is a female vaginal discharge. Normal female leucorrhea is an odorless, slightly acidic, viscous substance. It has the functions of moistening the vagina, excreting waste, and inhibiting the growth of pathogens, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. In healthy women, the increase in vaginal discharge is directly proportional to the increase in estrogen levels in the body. For example, increased vaginal discharge during ovulation or pregnancy, excessive growth of the endometrium, or after the use of estrogen drugs can all occur.

Causes of increased vaginal discharge after menopause

1. Estrogen causes increased vaginal discharge after menopause: After menopause, the vaginal mucosa proliferates, and when vaginal discharge appears like that during the childbearing age, it often indicates the presence of estrogen in the body. Clinically, it is occasionally found that ovarian follicles grow again and secrete estrogen after menopause. But we should also pay attention to the fact that some ovarian tumors and adrenal tumors also secrete hormones, which are medically called functional tumors. Hormone levels should be measured, and necessary tests should be done to remove the tumor.

2. Senile vaginitis: After menopause, the vaginal mucosa becomes thinner, and the ability to resist infection and friction is greatly reduced, so it is very easy to be infected by pathogenic bacteria. When the amount of leucorrhea increases after menopause, accompanied by local itching, burning sensation, or even local tenderness, it often indicates senile vaginitis.

3. Drug factors: With the improvement of living standards, the elderly use more tonic products. Many longevity and nutritional medicines contain hormone components. Tonic Chinese medicines often contain a large amount of exoneral drugs, which can cause an increase in leucorrhea after menopause.

4. Gynecological tumors: If postmenopausal women have increased leucorrhea and have watery, bloody or purulent leucorrhea and symptomatic treatment is ineffective, gynecological tumors should be considered.

From the above, we can know that increased leucorrhea after menopause is a sign of gynecological diseases. Older women should pay enough attention to increased leucorrhea after menopause. Once increased leucorrhea after menopause is found, the cause should be identified as soon as possible, and active examination and treatment should be carried out.