Transparent, odorless discharge

Odorless, clear vaginal discharge is usually normal, but its volume and consistency may vary during the menstrual cycle.

However, in some cases, a clear, odorless discharge may occur as a symptom.

Reasons

Normal white or clear odorless discharge - that is, physiological, without any symptoms - is caused by monthly cyclical changes in a woman's reproductive system, which are regulated by hormones. And in men, transparent odorless discharge from the urethra is associated with the functioning of the genitourinary organs, in particular, performing a dual function of the urethra. Thus, these reasons are natural and directly depend on gender. In women, there are many more, so let's start with them.

Transparent, odorless discharge in women

Women who understand how the hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle occurs will not be bothered by odorless liquid clear discharge after menses, nor by periodically thicker odorless clear discharge.

Because in normal menstrual cycle, - regardless of its follicular (follicular) phase, ovulation phase, or luteal phase - the naboth glands of the cervical canal mucosa and the bartholin glands of the vagina "work" to protect the vagina, the cervix, and the uterus itself from infection.

The follicular phase lasts until halfway through the menstrual cycle with increasing estrogen (estradiol) levels; its latter part coincides with the proliferative phase of the uterine cycle - functional changes in the uterus (the endometrium lining it), as well as the corresponding phase of the cervical cycle. As estrogen levels rise, causing growth and proliferation of the uterine mucosa, the cervical glands produce cervical mucus, which has a higher pH and a less viscous consistency, i.e., clear liquid discharge without odor is noted.

By the way, with physical activity, some women experience an increase in the amount of watery clear discharge (which should not be a cause for concern).

In the middle of the menstrual cycle, when ovulation occurs, that is, the release of the egg by the mature dominant follicle, progesterone and luteinizing hormone levels are maximized and more copious, clear, odorless discharge appears. Typically, this is a clear, stretchy, odorless (jelly-like) discharge. This is the "preparation" for a possible pregnancy if the egg is fertilized during ovulation.

The clear, odorless discharge after ovulation is first thick (may be translucent and appear cloudy) and then more liquid with a sticky consistency.

The luteal phase, the final phase of the ovarian cycle, corresponds to the secretory phase of the uterine cycle; in this phase, the ovarian corpus luteum produces progesterone and the cervical mucus begins to thicken.

If a woman's clear, odorless discharge increases significantly and her period is delayed, it's a good idea to take a pregnancy test...

During the first few months of pregnancy, the corpus luteum continues to secrete progesterone and estrogens at a slightly higher rate than at ovulation; the placenta also secretes high levels of these hormones. And the pregnant woman has a clear, mucousy, odorless discharge. See more - Early Pregnancy Discharge

In the first and second trimesters of pregnancy are normal enough abundant and thick transparent mucous discharge without odor, because the cervix accumulates mucus, which forms a plug that prevents the entry of infection.

A variant of the norm is also transparent yellow discharge without odor, for more information - Yellow discharge in pregnancy

At first, the odorless clear discharge after childbirth is minimal, but as menstruation resumes, it takes on the usual cyclical pattern (described above).

Due to lower estrogen levels during menopause, clear odorless discharge during menopause is minimal. See - Discharge in menopausal women

Transparent, odorless discharge in men

Urologists classify an odorless clear discharge from the urethra, called urethrorrhea, as normal.

Such discharge is due to the production of urethral glands (glands of Littre, located in the epithelium of the inner lining of the urethra) viscous secretion, which contains glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) and protects the urethral mucosa from irritation by urine.

Libidose urethrorrhea (called physiological urethrhea) occurs during sexual arousal, in which the clear, odorless discharge is a mucous secretion produced by the paired bulbourethral glands located adjacent to the urethra, just below the prostate. This secretion helps lubricate the distal part of the urethra and neutralizes its acidity in preparation for the passage of sperm.

More information in the articles:

• Male urethral discharge
• Transparent urethral discharge in men

When a clear, odorless discharge is a symptom of

In non-specific inflammation of the urethra - urethritis caused by mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas, the first signs are manifested by odorless transparent discharge.

Burning during urination, itching and transparent odorless discharge (consisting of urinary mucus, inflammatory exudate and leukocytes) are caused by an infection such as ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum), which affects mainly through sexual intercourse and which may not manifest itself for quite a long time.

In women, the consequences and complications of this infection are the development of subacute or chronic vulvitis.

Such symptoms appear when the genitourinary organs are infected by the parasitic bacteria Mycoplasma genitalium, which is not an STD. Read more:

• Mycoplasmosis (mycoplasmal infection)
• Mycoplasma genitalium in men and women
• Mycoplasmosis and ureaplasmosis

In addition to physical examination, the diagnosis of these diseases is based on laboratory tests, which require the following tests: blood tests for antibodies, urinalysis and its bacterial culture, smears from the urethra and vagina with bacterioscopic examination. Instrumental diagnosis in women includes colposcopy.

Treatment is prescribed, more details in the publications:

• Antibiotics for ureaplasma
• Mycoplasmosis (mycoplasma infection) - Treatment
• Vaginal suppositories for infections

Literature

Savelieva, G. M. Gynecology : national guide / edited by G. M. Savelieva, G. T. Sukhikh, V. N. Serov, V. E. Radzinsky, I. B. Manukhin. - 2nd ed. Moscow : GEOTAR-Media, 2022.