smelly vaginal discharge

When our vagina secretes some unpleasant odors, it means that we have gynecological diseases, and most women in life suffer from gynecological diseases, but some are obvious and some are not. Women's vaginas should be cleaned every day to avoid odors, and underwear should also be changed every day. So what should we do if the vaginal secretions smell?

According to analysis, the disturbance of the ecological balance (flora) of bacteria that normally parasitize in the vagina causes bacterial vaginitis, which is mainly manifested in the secretions being grayish white, uniform, thin, and having very low viscosity, and the secretions can be easily wiped off the vaginal wall. There is no congestion or inflammation of the vaginal mucosa. Bacteriological examination showed no evidence of Trichomonas, fungi, or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. 10% to 40% of patients are clinically asymptomatic. Those with symptoms mainly present with increased vaginal discharge with a foul odor, which may be accompanied by mild vulvar itching or burning sensation.

The cause of this disease is actually an imbalance in the ecological balance (flora) of bacteria that normally parasitize in the vagina. Under physiological conditions, there are various anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in the vagina, among which lactobacilli that produce hydrogen peroxide are dominant. In bacterial vaginosis, the number of lactobacilli in the vagina decreases while other bacteria multiply rapidly, mainly Gardnerella, Mobiluncus and other anaerobic bacteria. Some patients also have mycoplasma infection. Among them, anaerobic bacteria are the majority, and the concentration of anaerobic bacteria can be 100 to 1000 times that of normal women. When anaerobic bacteria multiply, they can produce amines, which alkalize the vagina, increase vaginal secretions and create a foul odor.

Clinical manifestations: 10% to 40% of patients are clinically asymptomatic. Those with symptoms mainly present with increased vaginal discharge with a foul odor, which may be accompanied by mild vulvar itching or burning sensation. The secretion is grayish white, uniform, thin, and has very low viscosity, and can be easily wiped off the vaginal wall. There is no congestion or inflammation of the vaginal mucosa. Bacteriological examination showed no evidence of Trichomonas, fungi, or Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

A clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis can be made if 3 of the following 4 items are positive.

1. Homogeneous and thin vaginal discharge.

2. Vaginal pH>4.5 (pH is usually 5.0~5.5)

3. If the amine odor test is positive, take a small amount of vaginal secretions and place them on a glass slide. Add 1 to 2 drops of 10% potassium hydroxide. If a rotten fish-like odor is produced, it is positive.

4. Take a small amount of secretion of clue cells and place it on a glass slide. Add a drop of saline and mix it. Place it under a high-power microscope to see 20% of the clue cells.

Clue cells are surface cells shed from the vagina, with a large number of granular substances, namely Gardnerella, attached to the edges of the cells. Bacteria have unclear margins.

The following methods can be used to treat this disease:

1. Oral medication: The first choice is metronidazole, 0.2 grams each time, 3 grams per day, for 7 consecutive days; ampicillin can also be used, 0.5 grams each time, 4 times a day, for 7 consecutive days.

2. Local treatment: While taking the medicine, you can use 1% lactic acid or acetic acid solution for vaginal irrigation, 1-2 times a day. While taking metronidazole orally, you can insert 0.2 grams into the vagina every night before going to bed to kill bacteria.

3. If a wife suffers from this disease, the husband must also receive treatment at the same time; sexual intercourse is strictly prohibited during the illness and before recovery.

Note: Bacterial vaginosis is a clinical syndrome caused by the replacement of normal vaginal flora with large anaerobes, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Mycoplasma hominis. It was once named Haemophilus vaginitis, Canardella vaginitis, and nonspecific vaginitis. It is called bacterial vaginosis because there are a large number of different bacteria in the vagina, and the clinical and pathological characteristics do not have inflammatory changes. Bacterial vaginosis often occurs in sexually active women and is associated with multiple sexual partners. Non-sexually active women rarely suffer from this disease. It remains unclear whether the disease is caused by infection with a sexually transmitted pathogen. Treating sex partners is of little value in preventing recurrences of bacterial vaginosis.