The start of the teenage years in women usually does not consist of any diseases however discharge will occur.

The vagina must be wet for the woman’s health. This will ensure that the vagina is slippery during sexual intercourse; the lips will not rub together and cause irritation when exercising, the microbes in the vagina can be thrown out.

There is not necessarily a problem that causes all vaginal discharge complaints. Thus it must be differentiated between physiological (normal) discharge and pathologic (due to an illness) discharge.

Physiological discharges:

The areas of our body that open up to the outside must be covered in mucus tissue that does not dry up and it must feed on discharge for it to be able to work (such as saliva in the mouth, mucus in the nose, tears in the eyes). The vaginal discharge defined as a physiological discharge has the speciality of being present for a long time, is found every day, does not smell (it may mix with sweat and have a sweaty odour during the day), it is colourless-white ore light yellow and does not show any symptoms such as pain, burning when urinating, bleeding or other symptoms.

Physiological discharge enables the unwanted residue in the vagina tissue that continually renews itself to be thrown out of the body via vaginal discharge. When seen from this point, we realise that physiologic discharge is important. The amount of this discharge is in proportion to the number of discharge cells in the vagina, the usage of objects in the womb and the amount of oestrogen hormone (Woman hormones) produced.

Sometimes physiological discharge is so much that it may require the use of a pad. Women make comments on their discharge levels however people that have yearly smear tests, according to the criteria’s mentioned above, are not expected to have any serious problems.

Physiological discharge may be present in either every day of the menstruation or only on specific days. At the time of ovulation, a clear discharge in the elastic texture of egg whites which elongates is secreted and this liquid is often felt by women and is classified as ‘’discharge’’. 

Non Physiological Discharges

A discharge with the symptoms of bad odour like cheese mould, pain, burning when urinating, burning and pain during sexual intercourse, dark yellow colour, green, brown, bloody, frothy, unexpected bleeding points to a problem in the genital system and requires a doctor check-up. Most of the time, the cause of such symptoms is a genital infection.

Genital infection that is the source of discharge is usually limited to only the vagina (vaginitis), however in some cases a pelvic infection at the upper genital system or an infection in the cervix (cervisitis) can be seen.

What are the differences between normal/abnormal discharge?

Natural (physiological) discharges are odourless, clear and have an egg white texture. It does not cause irritation and does not cause pain or burning during sexual intercourse. Physiological discharges are seen in the reproductive system where the hormone production continues. For example;

• Before the period
• As a result of sexual arousing
• The bags at the cervix produce discharge during the whole pregnancy to protect the baby.

If the discharge has increased more than normal, and there is a change in its appearance, smell, habits then to determine whether or not it is a microbe vagintitis then a vaginal examination must be conducted. In most cases discharge accompanied by a dark yellow, green, brown colour, blood, froth, bad odur, pain, burning when urinating, abnormal bleeding is a sign of a genital infection.