There are a number of things that can cause a bad vaginal discharge:
Bacterial Vaginosis
This is a bacterial infection that is likely to occur during pregnancy or when a woman receives oral intercourse. Women with multiple sexual partners are at a high risk of developing Bacterial vaginosis. Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include an increased amount of vaginal discharge after intercourse, fishy/foul odor, and/or grey/white watery discharge. Nearly half of the women with this infection do not display any symptoms.
Trichomoniasis
This is a vaginal disease that is caused by a one-celled protozoan, and it is usually spread through sexual intercourse. The fact that protozoans are capable of surviving for up to 24 hours in moist environments makes trichomoniasis transferable through bathing suits and towels. Even though most women don’t display symptoms, the signs that can indicate that one is infected include increased amount of discharge, green/yellow, frothy discharge, foul smell with discharge, inflammation of the vagina, itching and increased frequency of urination
Yeast Infection
There’s usually a minimal amount of yeast (referred to as Candida albicans) present in the vagina. An overabundance of yeast can occur due to a change in the pH balance of the vagina. When this happens, yeast infections are likely to occur. Other factors that can trigger yeast infections include pregnancy, use of oral contraceptives, diabetes, increased stress and use of antibiotics. Symptoms of this vaginal problem include redness, burning or itchiness in the vaginal area and increased amount of discharge that’s white or clumpy.
Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle can also have some effects on the kind of vaginal discharge a woman has. The cycle normally affects the vaginal environment as the pH balance fluctuates, causing the environment to be less acidic on the days prior to and during menstruation. Therefore, infections are most common at this time, thus causing bad vaginal discharge.
Other causes of bad vaginal discharge are
-Steroid or antibiotic use
-Use of certain birth control pills
-Sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea
-Genital herpes·
-Thrush (fungal infection)
-Pelvic infection after surgery
-Cervical cancer·
–Diabetes·
-Scented soaps, bubble bath, lotions or douches
It’s crucial for you to keep a watchful eye out for any changes in your vaginal fluids and report them to a doctor as soon as they occur. Be on the lookout for a change in odor (especially an unpleasant smell), change in color (especially grayish, yellowish, greenish or anything that looks like pus), change in texture (i.e. foamy or looking like cottage cheese), vaginal pain (i.e. burning, redness, swelling or itching), and vaginal spotting or bleeding that’s not menstrual period.
