White, odorless discharge

Vaginal discharge - colorless or white odorless discharge in women - is a sign of normal operation of the genitourinary system. As a rule, they are present in small quantities and differ in their consistency.

Causes of odorless white discharge

Normal vaginal discharge does not have an unpleasant odor and does not cause itching, irritation or burning. A clear mucous secretion is constantly secreted by the exocrine glands of the endocervical (cervical canal) epithelium. Cervical mucus is mixed with secretions of plasma cells of the intrinsic lamina of the vaginal wall mucosa containing water, electrolytes, secretory immunoglobulin A (sigA), small amounts of obligate vaginal lactobacilli, and detached epithelial cells of the vaginal and cervical walls. In addition, secretions produced by the Bartholin's glands (which are located at the back of the vaginal opening) and the paraurethral glands (Skinn's glands) located in the vaginal vestibule enter the discharge.

Most of the discharge accumulates in the posterior vault of the vagina and comes out through the vaginal opening during the day due to gravity. They turn white or yellowish-white on contact with air, so there may be an odorless white-yellow discharge.

In women, the physiologically determined white, odorless and itchy discharge - its volume as well as its texture and consistency - depends on the phase of the normal menstrual cycle: follicular, ovulatory or luteal.

White odorless discharge before and after your period

The white, thick, odorless discharge before menstruation is called a white discharge or leucorrhea, and it contains a mucous secretion with cells that are secreted from the vagina and can sometimes be slightly yellow in color. This part of the menstrual cycle is called the luteal phase, when levels of the hormone progesterone peak.

By the time the egg leaves the ovary in the middle of the menstrual cycle - ovulation - the viscosity of cervical mucus decreases under the influence of estrogen, and more copious clear or white odorless liquid discharge or a thick white discharge appears. Then the level of progesterone in the body increases again, so it is considered normal white odorless discharge after ovulation, which becomes thicker.

The discharge continues to decrease from the end of ovulation to the end of menstruation, and in the first few days, the creamy or white odorless discharge after menses is quite thick and may be sticky, but is insignificant in quantity (which is characteristic of the luteal phase of the cycle). But after seven to nine days, the estrogen level rises and the maturation of a new egg begins (the next follicular phase) and the volume of discharge increases again.

Read more in the publications:

• Monthly cyclical changes in a woman's reproductive system
• Hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle
• Signs of ovulation: what every woman needs to know?

White odorless discharge in pregnancy

One of the signs of conception is delayed menses and white odorless discharge. Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone explain the abundant white odorless discharge, which can be translucent and slightly yellowish.

The thick mucus of the cervical canal during pregnancy serves as a defense of the uterus against pathogenic bacteria. The pH level of the discharge becomes more acidic than usual. The volume of vaginal discharge may increase before delivery.

More information in the materials:

• Early pregnancy discharge
• White discharge in pregnancy

White, odorless discharge during menopause

Due to the decrease in estrogen levels during menopause, white odorless discharge becomes minimal. For more information, see. - Discharge in menopausal women

Despite this, physiologically determined (normal) vaginal discharge continues to keep the vagina healthy and clean and, by keeping the tissues moist, protects against infection and irritation.

By the way, can not be white curdy discharge without odor (or discharge flakes), as it is a sign of vaginal candidiasis or thrush, which is caused by excessive growth of yeast-like fungi Candida albicans, accompanied by an unpleasant sour odor.

White odorless discharge in men

In men, the normal discharge is primarily the smegma produced by the preputial glands .

Read more in the publication - White discharge in men

What means white odorless discharge from the urethra, read in detail in the article - White discharge from the urethra in men

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.