What Is Vaginal Discharge?

Vaginal secretions are a mixture of vaginal mucosal exudates, cervical glands and endometrial secretions, labia majora, sweat labia sebaceous glands, and vestibular large gland fluid. Vaginal discharge contains vaginal exfoliated epithelial cells, white blood cells, lactobacillus, etc., also known as "leucorrhea". Under normal circumstances, vaginal secretions are white, thin, odorless, and the amount of secretion depends on age, estrogen levels, and genital congestion.

Basic Information

Chinese name

Vaginal discharge examination

Foreign name

Vaginal discharge examination

Mind

Fluid secreted by female reproductive system

Commonly known

Leucorrhea routine inspection

Affiliation

Gynecology

PH value

> 4.5

Leucorrhea color shape

White, mushy

Vaginal discharge examination

1. General character inspection

Normal vaginal discharge is white and thin, odorless, and the amount is uncertain, and its characteristics are related to estrogen levels. Near ovulation period, it is clear and transparent, thin like egg white, and the amount is large; 2 to 3 days after ovulation period, the turbidity is thick and the amount is decreased; the amount is increased before menstruation; it is decreased after menopause.

(1) Purulent leucorrhea leucorrhea yellow or yellow-green, like pus-like, smelly. Generally caused by infection, common in trichomoniasis vaginitis, chronic cervicitis, vaginitis, endometritis and so on.

(2) If the leucorrhea of the bloody leucorrhea is stained with blood, it should be alert to malignant tumors such as cervical cancer and cervical cancer. Cervical polyps, severe chronic cervicitis, intrauterine devices, senile vaginitis, etc. can also appear this symptom.

(3) Tofu-like leucorrhea is characteristic of mycotic vaginitis.

(4) Yellow water-like leucorrhea is common in cervical cancer, submucosal uterine fibroids, and fallopian tube cancer.

(5) Leucorrhea of pus and blood is characteristic of amebic vaginitis.

2. Cleanliness check

Vaginal secretions can generally be performed by smear inspection. The obtained vaginal secretions are smeared on a glass slide dripped with saline for microscopic examination. The cleanliness of the vagina can be determined according to the number of various cells and different types of bacteria under the microscope.

Collection of vaginal secretions

Collection of vaginal discharge in women includes collection of vaginal discharge, cervical discharge, and uterine cavity contents.

Vaginal discharge

Use a speculum to dilate the vagina, avoid using lubricant, and use a sterile cotton swab to take a 4cm inner wall of the vaginal opening or the culture of the secretions at the posterior dome or smear microscopy.

2. Cervical discharge

Using a speculum to expand the vagina, first wipe the cervical mouth secretion with a sterile cotton ball. Insert a sterile cotton swab into the cervical canal 2 cm, rotate and stay for 10-20 seconds to allow the swab to fully absorb secretions.

3. Intrauterine contents

In the case of amniotic cavity infection, amniotic fluid can be drawn through the amniocentesis of the abdominal wall or amniotic fluid can be drawn through the cervical cannula for pathogen detection. Extracting amniotic fluid through cervical cannula for cell culture is susceptible to bacterial contamination in the vagina or cervix, and has limited clinical application value. When an acute intrauterine infection is suspected, do not take uterine secretions in principle to avoid spreading the infection.

Clinical significance of vaginal discharge examination

1. The vaginal discharge can be used to determine whether there is inflammation in the vagina, and the cause of inflammation can be further diagnosed. When the degree of cleanliness reaches or , vaginal inflammation can be diagnosed in most cases, such as bacterial vaginitis, trichomonas vaginitis, fungal vaginitis, etc., providing a direct basis for the treatment of inflammation. Increased pure cleanliness is more common in nonspecific vaginitis.

2. Trichomonas vaginitis or trichomoniasis can be diagnosed if trichomonas vaginalis is found during the inspection. When vaginal mold is found, it can be used as a diagnostic basis for mycotic vaginitis.

3. Fungal vaginal discharge test is more common in fungal vaginitis. Diagnosis is based on finding fungi. The vaginal fungus is mostly Candida albicans, which can parasitize in the vagina. When the vaginal glycogen increases and the acidity rises, it can multiply quickly. It is common in: diabetic patients, pregnant women, a large number of broad-spectrum antibiotics or adrenal cortex Bacterial disorders.