White discharge with a sour smell without itching

A special feature of the female organs is a small layer of mucous membranes that perform a protective function. They create a constant slightly acidic environment, which is necessary to maintain beneficial microflora and destroy pathogenic microorganisms. If the body is in a healthy state, the woman does not experience discomfort, and the smell of vaginal secretion is practically not felt. You should be wary only when there is a sour smell and the discharge becomes thicker or acquires a cheesy consistency.

Types of Abnormal Vaginal Odors

There are two “flavors”, after which one can judge the presence of infection:

Acidic vaginal discharge. They often indicate a disease such as thrush. This disease occurs when the acidity of the microflora changes. In addition to being sour, they are white in color. The consistency is reminiscent of curd sour cream. A burning sensation may be felt in the labia area.
Discharge with a rotten odor. The “aroma” of missing fish indicates the presence of a disease such as bacterial vaginosis. Even people around you can hear this stench. The disease is dangerous, because lack of treatment can lead to serious consequences.

Erosion

Cervical erosion is increasingly being diagnosed in young girls of childbearing age.

These statistics are caused by many reasons, including:

early onset of sexual activity;
rough sexual intercourse or mechanical injuries;
poor personal hygiene;
hormonal imbalances in the body;
constant change of sexual partners.

As a result of these factors, a violation of the integrity of the uterine mucosa occurs, up to the formation of small ulcers. Through these ulcers, an infection can easily enter a girl’s body. Infection through sexual contact without condoms occurs immediately, after which many complications arise.

If erosion is ignored, infection occurs with bacterial or viral pathogens, which cause serious inflammation of internal organs and can lead to infertility. Therefore, doctors recommend prompt diagnosis and proceed directly to treatment.

Modern surgical methods offer girls to quickly and efficiently get rid of the disease. Using cauterization, surgeons effectively eliminate diseases such as cervical erosion. The main condition is that the specialist must first obtain a detailed photo of the area to be treated, after which he determines the type of laser intervention.

The concept of norm

The glandular system plays an important role in the human body. Glands are located in all organs of the body, including the genitals. The product of their activity is secretion, which contains biologically active substances. The mucous membranes produce a characteristic fluid, which is excreted in the form of secretions.

Normally, in women it is transparent, of uniform consistency, slightly sticky, without aroma or impurities. It is produced throughout reproductive age in small quantities, and its abundance and consistency can vary due to surges in hormonal levels in different phases of the menstrual cycle. In some cases, the secretion acquires a sour aroma.

Nutrition for women and smell7

Interestingly, with the help of proper nutrition, you can make the smell in the vagina pleasant, provided that there are no inflammatory processes.

A woman’s most pleasant aroma appears when she chooses fruits and vegetables, and also reduces the amount of meat and spicy foods and spices. You should avoid onions and garlic, peppers, hard cheeses, beef and pork. In addition, it is not recommended to consume potatoes and chocolate in large quantities.

These products are replaced or at least covered with mint, asparagus, lemon and oranges, apples, pears. It is also recommended to eat rice, red fish, pineapple, apricots, cherries and cherries. The use of these products gives quick results, but at the same time they are an excellent aphrozodiac, which means they can be used even before having sex with a partner.

Causes of discharge

Violation of intimate hygiene standards.
Discharge with an odor can occur during unprotected sexual intercourse in which one of the partners is a carrier of the infection.
Presence of pregnancy. Pregnant women often experience surges in hormone levels. And this, in turn, provokes the appearance of unpleasant discharge.
Taking antibiotics. Since such drugs kill not only negative, but also positive bacteria, as a result of the fact that the immune system is undermined, fungi appear, which then develop into thrush.

Prevention measures

There are many preventive measures that help a girl maintain the health of her entire reproductive system.

The main preventive measures include:

Regular washing and maintaining personal hygiene. To do this, you need to purchase a suitable intimate hygiene product that does not cause irritation and does not inhibit beneficial microflora.
Give choice in favor of underwear made of natural fabric that fits loosely to the body. Synthetics irritate the delicate skin of the genitals, and tight underwear disrupts the normal blood flow to the organs. Therefore, a girl should choose underwear in which she can feel comfortable.
Treat colds, bacterial and viral diseases in a timely manner. Timely treatment will avoid antimicrobial therapy. Antibiotics cause an imbalance of microflora, which causes creamy discharge.
Change your underwear and panty liners regularly. This will not allow pathogenic microorganisms to multiply in an environment that is comfortable for them.
Several times a year, undergo a medical examination by a gynecologist and take all the necessary tests. This will allow you to monitor your health and identify the pathological process in a timely manner.

If the unpleasant odor is caused by stress, then you need to get rid of the irritants and take a course of sedatives.

Natural causes of sour-smelling discharge in women

Not all such discharge in women has a pathological basis. Let us list the reasons for physiological changes:

During the menstrual cycle, the level of hormones: estrogen and progesterone, constantly varies. During ovulation, before or after menstruation, a thick and more abundant yellowish mucous secretion is secreted. It can acquire such a scent. It is also known that at such moments, women’s discharge tastes sour and sour.
During premenopause or mid-menopause, the sour smell of discharge without itching in women is explained by hormonal changes.
The cause of this symptom is often the use of medications or contraceptives.
An allergic reaction to synthetic underwear or improperly selected intimate hygiene products can trigger various fragrances.
Acidic cervical fluid in adolescents is also explained by the excessive effect of hormones and the final formation of the reproductive system. That is why even a girl who is not sexually active can experience this symptom.
Lack of proper hygiene provokes various aromas in the genital area, sometimes it can even smell strongly of sour cabbage, rotten cheese, and vinegar.
Metabolic disorders, weakened immunity, stress, colds, use of antibiotics and even poor nutrition can disrupt the natural microflora of the vagina and the balance of lactic acid bacteria, which contributes to the predominance of pathogenic microorganisms. This process may be a prerequisite for the release of a creamy secretion with the described aroma.
Frequent douching often leads to disruption of the water balance of the mucous membrane, which is why the glands urgently begin to produce a liquid transparent secretion with a similar aroma.

White discharge with a sour odor during early pregnancy is natural and indicates changes occurring in the body, including hormonal ones.

You should be wary if, during gestation, a watery or thick, dark gray secretion with the smell of cottage cheese, fish, or pus appears. An inflammatory process or infection can lead to serious consequences for both mother and child.

If it begins to bleed, pain is felt, and the mucus gives off pus with a sour aroma, then we are talking about fetal fading or an ectopic pregnancy. In this situation, the pregnancy is terminated using medical abortion.

At the beginning of labor, a sickly sweet and sour fragrance is felt, which means that the amniotic sac has burst and the waters are breaking.

Not in all cases the delay indicates an “interesting situation”. With specific vaginal fluid, it can mean various pathologies.

Treatment

Treatment of an unpleasant odor, accompanied by vaginal secretion of an uncharacteristic color, occurs only when the gynecologist has accurately established the cause of its appearance.
Therefore, a girl should not rely on forums and start therapy on her own. In the case of candidiasis, treatment involves the introduction and use of special products containing Clotrimazole, Fluconazole or Itraconazole in the composition. It is these substances that have an antifungal effect on pathogenic microorganisms. The attending physician prescribes a comprehensive treatment, which includes taking oral capsules, vaginal suppositories and probiotics. The latest drugs help restore the vaginal microflora.

If the odor was caused by inflammatory processes in the uterine area, a bacterial or viral infection, then treatment involves taking antibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulating agents. Long-term complex therapy and abstinence from sexual intercourse can restore the normal functionality of the woman’s reproductive system.

In advanced cases and with erosive-ulcerative disease, surgical intervention may be required. The doctor prescribes an additional examination of the patient’s entire body, after which he gives his permission for surgical treatment.

At home, you can independently prepare special baths from certain plants. Chamomile, calendula, fennel and lovage have antibacterial properties, so you can prepare a mixture of these herbs.

It is worth remembering that excessive washing can harm a woman’s microflora, causing an acid-base imbalance.

Traditional methods of combating candidiasis

Douching with soda. Odorous discharge can be eliminated with bicarbonate. It returns the desired alkaline balance and at the same time kills candida fungi in the vagina. Fifteen grams of soda must be diluted with 300 ml of boiled water. You need to douche 1-2 times a day. The duration of treatment is determined by the attending doctor.
Chamomile. Many people know this plant for its undeniable wound-healing properties; it is also an excellent antiseptic. With the help of chamomile infusion, you can both douche and wash yourself. The recipe for washing is as follows: 30 grams of flowers should be poured with 1 glass of boiling water. Cover with a lid and let sit for 30 minutes. Discharge in women with odor can be destroyed with the help of an infusion of this useful flower.
Calendula. This extraordinary plant is similar in its medicinal properties to chamomile. You can douche with a decoction of calendula. The dosage is the same as in the case of chamomile.

Douching with various decoctions. As a basis for them, chamomile, oak bark, coltsfoot leaves, juniper fruits, and bird cherry are used. The odor-bearing discharge will soon go away if you use this home method along with the main treatment.
You can be treated with tampons prepared with your own hands. You can make them yourself from a piece of gauze, but don’t forget to leave a string so that you can later remove the tampon without problems. Vaginal discharge can also be treated in another way. You need to combine sea buckthorn and olive oil in equal proportions, dip a tampon into the contents and carefully insert it into the vagina. Exposure time – 8 hours. The period is quite long, so it is advisable to do this procedure at night. Discharge with an odor will go away faster if you use this home method along with the main treatment.
Relaxing baths. They can be used as an additional remedy in the fight against itching and odor. These baths are made from herbal decoctions. For example:

from oak bark;
from chamomile and juniper;
from flower honey.

Viral lesion

White and liquid discharge from the genital tract may occur due to a decrease in the body's immune defense. At the same time, the woman is very vulnerable to viral diseases. If pathology is added, then a violation of the vaginal microflora occurs. As a result, the discharge changes in character and consistency. To get rid of this problem, you need to perform immunomodulatory therapy.

Most often, women are prescribed drugs such as “Viferon”, “Isoprinosine”, “Licopid” and many others. Also, a representative of the fairer sex should use medications to restore microflora - “Bifidumbacterin”, “Sporobacterin”, “Linex”, “Lactonorm”, etc. The condition of the woman’s sexual partner must be examined, and if pathology is present, treatment is carried out.

For pathologies and diseases

Brown, green, yellow and white discharge with a sour odor can be disturbing due to gynecological disorders, inflammatory processes and infectious diseases.

Candidiasis

Thrush is considered a common problem among women. In most cases, this is what causes white discharge with a sour odor.

Symptoms are characterized by the appearance of a creamy or curdled secretion that smells like sour milk, kefir or yogurt. Along with curd underwear, unbearable vaginal itching and burning may occur. The odor released is caused by fungi of the Candida family, hence the name of the disease - Candidiasis.

It can be transmitted either sexually or occur as a result of disruption of the natural vaginal microflora due to a weakened body, physical activity, lactobacilli deficiency, or taking antibiotics. Therefore, such cervical fluid can be observed in girls who are not sexually active.

The most pronounced symptoms of thrush are during menstruation, after or before their onset.

Eliminating thrush is not difficult, but in 40% of situations, the curd secretion with a cheesy smell can return with the slightest weakening of the immune system or metabolic disorder. This is due to the characteristics of the body and the composition of the microflora.

Inflammation

If the discharge smells of a sour, cheese, kefir aroma, its color changes to yellow and it looks like a jelly-like thick substance, then this is an inflammation of the internal organs of the reproductive system. Perhaps it affected the ovaries - adnexitis, or the fallopian tubes - salpingitis. In this case, pain is felt in the left lower abdomen, and during a bilateral process, the entire peritoneum aches.

Bacteria and infections

If the vaginal secretion is excessively thick, accompanied by burning, itching, pain during urination and sexual intercourse, then you should be wary of infectious gonococcus or streptococcus. These diseases over time give the mucus a purulent characteristic, reminiscent of milk.

The sour smell of greenish discharge with a sticky consistency indicates a purulent process, which is most often caused by infectious diseases or advanced inflammation.

Erosion

Dark brown discharge may be observed due to the presence of cervical erosion. Symptoms include periodic pain in the lower abdomen, however, this pathology often occurs in a latent form. Therefore, at the first suspicion of this, it is important to immediately visit a gynecologist. If there is blood, women's discharge may smell like iron.

Bacteria and infections

One of the most serious causes of unpleasant odor and yellow-green vaginal secretions are sexually transmitted diseases.

The main diseases include:

Gonorrhea is a pathology of bacterial etiology caused by gonococci. The disease is transmitted exclusively through physical intimacy between a man and a woman. The first symptoms begin to appear 3 weeks after infection.
Chlamydia - chlamydia bacteria affect the entire genitourinary system, entering the body through the vagina or rectum. Infection occurs through sexual contact without proper protection. The disease is not transmitted through household means, since chlamydia is not resistant to the external environment.
Ureaplasmosis is a disease caused by small bacteria that parasitize the genitals. Infection occurs through sexual intercourse and direct contact with an infected person.
Trichomoniasis is a common disease of the genital organs and urinary system. The cause of the pathology can be abortion, the postpartum period, or sexual contact with a stranger without protection.

All these diseases are accompanied by a number of signs by which pathology can be distinguished.

The main symptoms include:

purulent vaginal discharge accompanied by discomfort;
burning and itching in the vagina;
change in the color of stool (in some cases, patients had stool with blood clots);
swelling and redness of the labia;
pain during urination and sexual intercourse;
an unpleasant odor that resembles the smell of fish.

In this case, the woman should contact a gynecologist and undergo bacterial culture tests to determine what type of bacteria caused the disease.

Recipes for douching in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis

One tablespoon of chamomile should be mixed with the same amount of plantain, pour 1 liter of boiling water, cover and let it brew for about 30 minutes. Then the broth must be filtered through gauze and douched twice a day: in the morning and at night. Discharge with a fishy smell will go away if treated with this folk method.
This method also remarkably removes the unpleasant symptoms of vaginosis. For douching you will need oak bark, which can be bought at any pharmacy. One tablespoon should be poured with 1 glass of boiling water and allowed to brew for at least 3 hours. After this, filter and douche once daily. Each time you need to make a fresh decoction.
This method requires a large number of ingredients, but it is effective in combating unpleasant vaginal odor. It is necessary to mix coltsfoot and juniper in equal quantities (1 teaspoon each). You should add 5 grams each of yarrow, horsetail, wintergreen and eucalyptus. Pour 250 ml of boiling water over these herbs and set aside the decoction for 1 hour. It is necessary to douche with this folk medicine every other day for 14 days.

When is white discharge considered normal?

Often, white discharge in girls is somewhat more abundant than in women of reproductive age, middle age, or women during menopause. This is explained by the fact that in girls the hormonal levels are just forming and beginning to stabilize, while in middle-aged women this process is already completed and is more permanent. Normally, both in girls and in women before menopause, the vagina has a slightly acidic environment due to the presence of lactobacilli, which form lactic acid. This environment is destructive for pathogenic microorganisms; it is unfavorable for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. So, what kind of discharge can be considered normal?

The color of the discharge should not be particularly noticeable; most often it is transparent, but a slightly creamy, white or slightly yellowish tint may appear.
Normal discharge should be odorless
The consistency should be watery, liquid, not thick; in the middle of the cycle during ovulation there may be transparent, stretchy mucous discharge
The norm of discharge per day should not be more than a teaspoon
The amount of discharge may increase before menstruation, during sexual arousal and after sexual intercourse.

When should you see a doctor if you have white discharge?

If a girl or woman has no more than a teaspoon of white discharge per day and is not accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, then there is no need to worry. However, if the discharge becomes very copious, cheesy, foamy, thick, brown discharge appears in the middle of the cycle. the color changes to yellow, green, gray, any unpleasant odor appears, especially if any of the above is accompanied by itching, burning, pain, or even low-grade, low-grade fever - this is a reason to consult a doctor:

First, the gynecologist performs an examination on the chair. In the mirrors you can see the walls of the vagina and the cervix - what condition they are in, whether they are inflamed or not, whether there are pathological discharges from the cervix and what they are.
In some cases, the doctor may perform a colposcopy to exclude or confirm cervical dysplasia or erosion.
If an STI is suspected, in addition to the usual smear for flora and culture, the gynecologist may refer you for a smear test using the PCR method.
If the patient complains of pain, menstrual irregularities, etc., if inflammatory diseases of the uterine appendages or the uterus itself are suspected, a transvaginal ultrasound is indicated, which can help in establishing the full clinical picture.