The vagina is one of the parts of the female reproductive system. The vagina is the opening that leads from outside the body into the cervix and uterus. During sexual intercourse, the penis enters the vagina. The vagina must therefore be lubricated either automatically through arousal or using lubrication products. The vagina is permanently open in that there is no covering for it. This means that infections can easily enter the body through the vagina. For that reason, the vaginal area is acidic in nature. Under normal conditions, a mild discharge is found in the vagina that slowly seeps out.
Another one of the reasons for white discharge in women is the menstrual cycle. This is the cycle where a woman's uterus lining thickens and then sheds because there is no fertilized egg that has implanted itself. During the middle of the menstrual cycle, ovulation will take place. This is the process where a mature egg is released into one of the fallopian tubes in order to be fertilized by sperm from a male. The vaginal white discharge in a woman changes continuously through her menstrual cycle. Vaginal white discharge may be more before ovulation and less after. Many women will testify that the changes in their vaginal white discharge are a useful pointer as to when they are ovulating. This helps them plan their sexual activity accordingly.
Apart from the normal functioning of the female reproduction system, there may be other causes of white discharge in women. These causes include infections and sexually transmitted diseases. There are usually other symptoms when the person has fallen prey to one of these causes of white discharge in women. These symptoms could include pain, itching, rashes, sores or the presence of blood in the white discharge even when the menstrual cycle is not due or is not taking place, as also a milky white discharge. It should be noted that there will be some blood, either red or brown, during the first two or three days after menstruation. When the woman is suffering from an infection, she will probably experience smelly white discharge. The woman may also experience excessive white discharge at this stage. Both these signs of smelly white discharge and excessive white discharge are associated with infections and must be treated as symptoms that warrant a visit to a doctor.
Many women are not aware of the fact that there is something known as a white discharge diet. A white discharge diet is one that is designed to help avoid this problem or to contain it and may not necessarily be a complete cure for the white discharge. Any food that contains yeast should be avoided when the woman is experiencing excessive white discharge from her vagina. This is because most of the causes of white discharge in women are associated with different forms of yeast infections.
The white discharge diet involves the avoidance of foods that include bread, sugary foods, red meats, mushrooms and any food that has been fermented such as curd. There are other foods that may also be avoided at this time. A woman can replace these foods by those recommended in a white discharge diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, brown rice and onions. Fresh fruits should usually be of the citrus variety including lemons and oranges. One must be clear that this is not an exhaustive list of foods that can be consumed by a woman experiencing excessive white discharge. Any woman suffering from such a condition should visit her doctor for a detailed examination to check what the cause is for this condition. Remedial action can also be planned based on the diagnosis of the condition that is causing the excessive white discharge. Home remedies for white discharge could be used alongside the doctor's prescription. However it is necessary that you keep the doctor informed on the home remedies being used.
answered by G M