Leucorrhea, commonly known as whites, refers to a whitish discharge from the female genitals. It is an abnormal condition of the reproductive organs of women. If not treated properly in the initial stages, it may become chronic.
Recent investigations have shown that secretions from the uterus and the upper part of the vagina flow down and are reabsorbed in the lower part of the vagina. This is the normal constant flow within the female organs. The whitish discharge is, however, caused by the presence of infection in any of these tissues and a variety of other factors. The condition may continue for weeks or months at a time.
Symptoms
In addition to the whitish discharge from the vagina, the patient feels weak and tired. She also suffers from pain in the lumbar region and the calves and a dragging sensation in the abdomen. Other symptoms are constipation, frequent head-aches and intense itching. In the chronic form, the patient feels irritable and develops black patches under the eyes.
Causes
Leucorrhea does not develop suddenly in an acute form. It denotes a devitalised and toxic condition of the system generally. The condition also involves one or many parts of the reproductive organs. Whenever the body is loaded with toxins due to wrong food habits and the eliminative organs such as skin, bowels, lungs and kidneys are unable to eliminate them, woman’s produces profuse discharge or elimination through the mucous membrane of the uterus and vagina in the form of leucorrohoea.
In the case of advanced, chronic inflammatory conditions of these organs, it leads to discharge with pus, offensive in odour and colour varying from cream to yellow or light green.
In young girls, Leucorrhea may occur during the few years before and after the start of the menstrual flow. It may be due to an irritation of the genital organs caused by various factors such as dirt, soiled undergarments, intestinal worms and excessive mental stimulation of sex or masturbation. Some excess secretion is normal when the girl reaches puberty, due to the overactivity of her sex glands and organs. This usually disappears within a short time.
In young women, Leucorrhea may occur during inter-menstrual periods, due to a thickening of the mucous membrane in the reproductive organs. Such discharge is associated with painful menstruation and other menstrual disorders.
In mature women, a profuse yellowish discharge, associated with burning on urination, may be caused by gonorrhoea. This is a serious infection which should be treated promptly. During the child-bearing years, from adolescence to mid-forties, the infection may sometimes follow the birth of a child due to damage of the cervix during delivery.
This is increased by prolonged ill-health, anxiety, neurosis, sedentary occupation and standing for long period. If not treated properly, this infection may continue for months or even years and may spread to other areas of the genital tract.
Leucorrhea may also result from a chill. A chill causes inflammation of the womb and vaginal membranes. Other common causes are the displacement of the womb and unhygenic conditions which attract the bacteria to the genital organs.