What to Expect from Anal STI Testing — And Why It’s A Must
6 Causes Of Green Discharge, From An STI To Leaving A Tampon In ... - Yahoo
Madeline Kennedy,Lauren Demosthenes
Updated Fri, April 8, 2022 at 7:32 PM UTC
5 min read
If you notice that your discharge is any color other than white, clear, or yellow, there might be someone amiss.Chaiwatt Chankasamsak / EyeEm/Getty Images
Green discharge can be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis, a condition that may require an antibiotic.
It may also be a sign of sexually transmitted infections like trichomonas, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Leaving a tampon in for too long may cause inflammation that leads to abnormal discharge.
Having vaginal discharge is normal, but normal discharge is usually clear, white, or slightly yellow. If you have green discharge, this can be a sign that you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or another serious infection like pelvic inflammatory disease.
Here are six reasons why you might have green discharge and how you can tell what's causing it.
1. TrichomoniasisTrichomoniasis is a common STI caused by the trichomonas parasite. In some cases, you may not have any symptoms with trichomoniasis, but if you have a vulva, you're likely to have symptoms like:
Foul-smelling discharge that can be white, gray, yellow, or green
How to treat it: To treat trichomoniasis, you'll need to see your doctor, who can prescribe antibiotics like metronidazole (Flagyl) and tinidazole (Tindamax).
2. Pelvic inflammatory diseasePelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a painful infection that affects reproductive organs like your uterus and fallopian tubes.
PID can result from surgeries or childbirth, but it's most often caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia, says Felice Gersh, MD, an OB-GYN and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine.
"Symptoms of PID can come on quickly in some people," says Jennifer Wider, MD, a women's health expert. This can include:
Pain and tenderness in your lower belly
Green or yellow discharge that may have a foul odor
Pain during sex or urination
How to treat it: Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics and treat any underlying sexually transmitted infections. You may also want to abstain from sex for a while if it's causing severe pain.
"If someone experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to see a health care provider ASAP," Wider says, to avoid serious complications like pelvic scarring and infertility issues.
3. GonorrheaGonorrhea is a bacterial infection that you can get from having unprotected sex.
Gonorrhea can cause thick green or yellowish discharge, Wider says, along with other symptoms like:
Bleeding in between periods
However, "it's important to note that some people experience no symptoms at all," Wider says.
How to treat it: To treat gonorrhea, your doctor can give you an injection of an antibiotic called ceftriaxone, along with an oral dose of azithromycin (Zithromax).
4. ChlamydiaChlamydia is another bacterial STI that can cause green discharge, though more often, the discharge is white, yellow, or gray, Wider says.
Like gonorrhea, chlamydia can develop without any symptoms, but in other cases, you may experience:
Bleeding in between periods
How to treat it: Your doctor can treat chlamydia using a single dose of antibiotics or a seven-day course, depending on your age and whether or not you're pregnant. Your partner also needs to get tested for chlamydia and treated if they test positive.
5. Bacterial vaginosisAccording to Gersh, bacterial vaginosis typically happens for two reasons:
An overgrowth of bacteria that don't belong in the vagina.
An overgrowth of certain normal vaginal bacteria, creating an imbalanced environment.
You're more likely to have bacterial overgrowth if you douche, use scented soaps on your vulva, or have unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Bacterial vaginosis causes symptoms like:
Watery discharge that can be gray, white, or green
How to treat it: If you think you have bacterial vaginosis, you'll need to see a doctor or OB-GYN for treatment. Your doctor will generally prescribe an antibiotic, either as a pill or a cream to put inside your vagina.
6. Leaving in a tampon too longLeaving a tampon in for too long — especially after your period ends — can create green discharge and eventually lead to serious complications.
Note: You should change your tampon every four to eight hours to prevent infection.
"The blood in the tampon provides the perfect food for bacteria, and the tampon provides the perfect material to grow bacteria," Gersh says.
Bacteria can multiply quickly and cause inflammation, "resulting in a heavy green discharge and a typically horrible odor," says Gersh.
Leaving in a tampon too long can also trigger a life-threatening, rare condition called toxic shock syndrome that can lead to organ failure.
How to treat it: If you have any unusual symptoms after leaving a tampon in, contact your doctor or get medical attention as soon as possible to get treatment.
Most often, you'll need antibiotics from your doctor, but in more severe cases, you may need IV fluids or treatment for organ damage.
Insider's takeaway"Green discharge is always abnormal," Gersh says, and may come from sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic inflammatory disease, or leaving in a tampon too long.
Any time you have a foul odor, green discharge, a fever, or pain, it's best to see your doctor as soon as possible.
"Most infections can be easily treated — the earlier they are diagnosed the better!" Wider says.
Read the original article on Insider
4 Causes Of Vaginal Yellow Discharge - Business Insider
Vaginal discharge is normal and typically clear, white, and odorless, says Peace Nwegbo-Banks, MD, an OB-GYN at Serenity Women's Health & Med Spa.
However, discharge that is a different color like yellowish-green or accompanied by a fishy odor may be a sign of the following underlying conditions.
1. Pelvic Inflammatory DiseasePelvic inflammatory disease is an infection that occurs when bacteria travels from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It is commonly caused by sexually transmitted infections, like gonorrhea, and is often accompanied by a yellow discharge. An estimated one million people are diagnosed with it each year in the US.
In addition to yellow discharge, common symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include:
You can usually treat pelvic inflammatory disease with a 2-week-course of prescribed antibiotics. However, more severe cases may require hospitalization so you can receive intravenous treatment.
2. ChlamydiaChlamydia is a common sexually transmitted bacterial disease that produces yellow discharge with a strong, foul odor. An estimated one in 20 women aged 14 to 24 has the infection.
Additional symptoms of chlamydia include:
You can treat chlamydia in about one week with prescribed antibiotics. Both men and women are susceptible to chlamydia, so you should avoid having intercourse until the infection is gone to avoid spreading it.
3. TrichomoniasisTrichomoniasis is a parasite-induced sexually transmitted infection. Discharge may be white, green, yellow, or gray with a foul, fishy-smelling odor.
Additional symptoms of trichomoniasis include:
You can treat trichomoniasis with a one-dose antibiotic although sometimes you may be prescribed a twice-daily version for a week.
4. Cervical CancerCervical cancer is cancer of the cervix caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). In 2021, an estimated 14,480 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. In this case, discharge may be watery, bloody, thick, yellow, and foul smell.
Note: Most women who have regular pap smears do not need to suspect cervical cancer if they experience yellow discharge.
Additional symptoms of cervical cancer include:
Treatment for cervical cancer may involve:
Important: If you suspect you have cervical cancer, set up an appointment with your OB-GYN who will perform a pap smear to test for irregular cervix cells. Cervical cancer can also be prevented by the HPV vaccine.
When to see a doctorIt's always a good idea to visit a doctor if you're unsure what's causing abnormal discharge or discomfort.
A doctor can identify the underlying condition, prescribe any necessary medication, and provide a thorough treatment plan, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an OB-GYN and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University Medical.
Don't hesitate to get a second opinion from another doctor as well. In fact, a 2020 study found that 42% of women with vaginitis — such as bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and trichomoniasis — received wrong prescriptions.
Insider's takeawayMany conditions can cause yellow discharge, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and chlamydia. A majority of them are easy to treat with prescription antibiotics. So speak to your doctor if you think you have any of the discussed symptoms.
Sarah Fielding
Freelance Writer
Vaginal Discharge - Women's Health
What Is It?Normally, vaginal discharge is clear or white. It may become stretchy and slippery during ovulation, about two weeks after your menstrual period. A change in the color or amount of discharge, accompanied by other symptoms, may indicate that you have an infection.
The vagina normally contains bacteria. Bacterial growth is controlled and affected by many different factors, such as acid level (pH) and hormones. Anything that upsets this balance may increase your risk of infection or overgrowth of any of the normal bacteria or by yeast. Possible triggers include:
Vaginal discharge may result from infection with:
Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia also can cause vaginal discharge. Other possible noninfectious causes include inflammation or irritation of the vagina from a scented product such as soap, douches, pads or tampons; diabetes; or low estrogen levels as in menopause (atrophic vaginitis).
SymptomsYou may notice a change in the color, amount or odor of discharge. A white, curdlike discharge that looks like cottage cheese is a classic sign of yeast infection. Yellow, green or gray discharge is usually a sign of trichomonas or bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis also has an unusual, fishy odor.
Itching is usually most noticeable with a yeast infection, though it may occur with any type of infection or irritation. A dry, irritated vaginal lining, which may be particularly uncomfortable or painful during intercourse, is usually a more prominent symptom of atrophic vaginitis. A new vaginal discharge accompanied by fever, abdominal pain or pain during intercourse may indicate a sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. However, gonorrhea and chlamydia usually don't cause any symptoms at all.
DiagnosisYour doctor will ask a variety of questions to help pinpoint the cause of your discharge, including questions about recent antibiotic use, whether you have a new sexual partner, menopausal symptoms, diabetes symptoms and other recent changes in your health or lifestyle.
You will then have a pelvic exam. Your doctor will use a device called a speculum to look at the cervix directly. During the pelvic exam, a sample of the discharge is collected for testing. By looking at the discharge under a microscope in the office, your doctor can diagnose yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas infection right away and start treatment. Based on the appearance of the vaginal walls, your doctor may make a diagnosis of atrophic vaginitis
Your doctor will check the tenderness of your cervix, uterus or ovaries by placing his or her fingers inside your vagina. Tenderness may indicate that you have a sexually transmitted disease or pelvic inflammatory disease. Diagnosing gonorrhea or chlamydia requires the results of laboratory tests, which may take a few days.
Expected DurationVaginal discharge from bacterial or yeast infections responds to treatment within a few days to a week. Sexually transmitted diseases should respond to antibiotic treatment within a week. If the infection progresses to a pelvic inflammatory disease beyond the vaginal area, it may take longer to treat.
Atrophic vaginitis responds best to hormonal therapy with vaginal creams or hormone-replacement therapy by mouth. It usually takes a few weeks to go away. Mild symptoms may be relieved within a few days with vaginal water-based lubricants. If an irritating substance causes your symptoms, identifying and removing the substance should relieve the symptoms within a week.
PreventionYour doctor can work with you to identify whatever led to your symptoms, such as antibiotic use, wearing non-cotton underwear, wearing tight-fitting undergarments during exercise, using scented products that irritate the vaginal lining, or using birth control pills. If you use birth control pills, you may not need to stop using them to prevent recurrent infection. Changing the type or the strength of the hormone in the pill may be enough to stop symptoms from returning.
If you are diabetic, controlling blood sugar levels may help to avoid recurrent infections, especially yeast infections.
TreatmentInfections are treated with antibiotics. Often just one dose of antibiotics by mouth is enough. Another option is to use antibiotics in vaginal cream or gel form, especially if you have significant side effects when you take antibiotics by mouth. Also, the vaginal cream can be more soothing for the inflamed, sore vaginal lining. If you are diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic called metronidazole (Flagyl). If your doctor suspects you have a sexually transmitted disease based on your history and physical exam, you may be given antibiotics by injection and by mouth in the office before the tests results can confirm the diagnosis.
If you have recurrent yeast infections and recognize the symptoms, you may use over-the-counter antifungal creams without a prescription. If your symptoms do not improve, see your doctor for an exam to confirm the diagnosis and change the treatment.
Atrophic vaginitis may develop with hormonal changes, for example, after pregnancy or while on birth control pills. More commonly, it occurs during or after menopause. After menopause, hormone replacement therapy may be taken by mouth or vaginally. Vaginal administration exposes you to lower levels of hormones. For mild cases, using a water-based lubricant may be enough. If you take birth control pills, changing the type or strength of the pill may help to get rid of atrophic vaginitis.
Sexual partners do not have to be treated unless you are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease, or you experience recurrent infections and no other factor is making you prone to infection. If your sexual partner experiences a new discharge or discomfort when urinating or during intercourse, he or she should be evaluated by a doctor.
When To Call a ProfessionalIf you had a previous yeast infection, and you have repeat symptoms that are similar, you can start treatment with an over-the-counter antifungal medication. If your symptoms don't improve, make an appointment to see your doctor. See your doctor regarding any new discharge that does not improve when you stop using potential irritants. If you develop abdominal pain or a fever with a new vaginal discharge, you should see a doctor the same day.
PrognosisUsually, the conditions that cause vaginal discharge respond to treatment within a few days. Atrophic vaginitis may take a few weeks to respond to hormone treatment because the vaginal layer takes time to strengthen. Occasionally, infections come back. Your doctor may determine a more effective course of treatment, suggest ways to self-treat at home or help you eliminate potential causes of infection.
Additional InfoNational Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) 8550 Arlington Blvd. Suite 300 Fairfax, VA 22031 Toll-Free: 1-800-994-9662 TTY: 1-888-220-5446 http://www.4woman.Org/
Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Copyright by Harvard University. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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