The hue of discharge during menstruation can say a lot about the work of the female body. The color of menstruation can be from bright scarlet to dark brown, but in some cases, the discharge is black. This can happen for many reasons, but they will not always be associated with any disease. Yellow discharge instead of menstruation can also say a lot. This will be discussed in this article. When something concerns health, the fair sex should know everything that can harm her.
Yellow discharge instead of menstruation - when considered normal
The mucus of this shade, which occurs in a woman instead of menstruation, does not always cause some concern. In some cases, yellow discharge instead of menstruation may appear:
- During pregnancy. In this case, yellow discharge instead of menstruation will not have a smell. At the same time, the fair sex can feel a slight pulling sensation in the lower abdomen or lower back.
- During lactation. If instead of menstruation there are yellow discharge, then this is the absolute norm during breast-feeding. This is not a sign of any disease, it will not provoke discomfort. In addition, such secretions are odorless. However, just in case, you can contact a female doctor.
In some cases, yellow discharge before menstruation is observed during ovulation. But under these circumstances, they do not appear instead of menstruation, but long before it.
Discharge with colpitis
Yellow discharge before menstruation or instead of them may indicate the development of colpitis. This disease needs special attention both from the side of the patient herself and the attending physician. The main symptoms of such a pathology are as follows:
- The appearance of itching on the genitals.
- Burning sensation.
- Discomfort during intercourse.
- The formation of swelling on the vaginal mucosa.
- Redness of the mucous membrane.
Vaginitis, or colpitis, is a disease that is characterized by an infectious vaginal lesion in a woman. Symptoms may appear as early as the second day after infection. In this case, the infection may be fungal or bacterial. The first sign is the appearance of itching and discomfort in the genital area. And if a woman does not respond to this inflammatory process, then the infection will begin to spread further. Over time, this negatively affects the entire menstrual cycle. Therefore, if you have yellow discharge instead of menstruation during a delay, you should contact the clinic.
Complications of colpitis
You should not turn a blind eye to the signs of this disease, as the consequences will be very dangerous for a woman's body. Colpitis is a number of diseases. That is why the symptoms can manifest themselves in different ways in each case. The above symptoms are considered basic, they should not be ignored. With regard to complications, colpitis can provoke:
- Thrush, vaginal candidiasis.
- Bacterial vaginitis.
- Atrophic colpitis.
- Specific colpitis, which is a consequence of STDs.
As a rule, with this pathology, odorless yellow discharge goes instead of menstruation. But in between, an unpleasant odor from the vagina may appear. Of course, everything will depend on a certain type of pathological process and on exactly when the woman was diagnosed with the disease.
Other possible causes
We continue to consider why instead of menstruation there are yellow discharge. There are also other pathological factors that affect their shade during critical days. These diseases can be accompanied by copious discharge. In this case, mucus can be with or without smell. In addition, there are symptoms by which one or another ailment can be recognized.
Adnexitis
If yellow discharge appeared after menstruation or during them, then this may be a symptom of adnexitis. This ailment is an inflammatory, pathological condition in which the fallopian tubes and ovaries are affected. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of the usual discharge of a yellowish tint, with a more severe course of the pathology, pus impurities and a very unpleasant odor may be present.
In addition to yellow discharge during menstruation, women can experience pulling pains in the lower abdomen, lower back, less often in the perineum. Discomfort during intercourse and urination is also felt.
In addition to the appearance of yellow discharge, the patient complains of pain in a certain area - on the left or on the right, or immediately on both sides. The localization of painful sensations directly depends on in which specific ovary or fallopian tube the inflammatory process began.
Allergic reaction
Unfortunately, an allergic reaction can affect not only the skin or respiratory organs, but also the genitals of a woman. In the case of a powerful allergy, the menstrual cycle is often disrupted, and instead of normal menstruation, the fair sex has yellow mucus from the vagina. In addition to changing the shade of this secret, the patient may have other symptoms, for example, burning, itching, redness of the mucous membrane on the genitals.
The development of a severe allergic reaction can be triggered by the use of low-quality condoms, uncontrolled or prolonged use of antibiotics, as well as antimycotic therapy.
Treatment of the vaginal mucous secretion of yellow color is impractical, as this will only be a sign of a pathological deviation in the body. Therapy should be prescribed only by the attending physician, since it will be important to eliminate not only the main reason for the development of an allergic reaction, stop all clinical manifestations, but also to treat complications, if any.
Cervical erosion
If a woman observes yellow discharge a day before menstruation, then most often this is the norm. However, if such mucus completely replaces menstrual flow, then this is already some kind of deviation. One possible cause is cervical erosion. This disease is accompanied by the production of a large amount of yellowish mucus. In this case, the intensity of secretion will increase after sexual intercourse.
Such a disease is very dangerous, so the symptoms should never be ignored. A representative of the fair sex can see not only vaginal yellow discharge, but also feel pain in the lower abdomen, discomfort after sex, and also observe a menstrual cycle. Therefore, if you have a delay in menstruation and yellow discharge, then this may indicate the development of cervical erosion.
The mucous vaginal secretion has a viscous consistency. In this case, you should pay attention to the fact that an unpleasant smell will be absent.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Excretions from the genitals in women of yellow color, going after menstruation, during them, and also in front of them may be the result of the development of some sexually transmitted diseases. The color of the vaginal secretion under these circumstances is determined by the active reproduction and growth of pathogenic microflora. For example, yellow vaginal discharge, which goes instead of menstruation, may be the result of gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis.
Symptoms of STDs
Despite the fact that these pathologies arise due to various pathogenic bacteria, the symptoms will be largely similar. Signs of sexually transmitted diseases include:
- The appearance of yellow discharge, which has a very unpleasant odor. For example, with gonorrhea, the smell of mucous secretion from the vagina is sharp and putrid. Such discharge can go in the interval between menstruation, and also replace it completely.
- Soreness in the lower abdomen. It is significantly enhanced after intercourse. It is noteworthy that the intensity of secretions from the vagina also begins to increase, and it acquires a very unpleasant odor.
- Burning, itching, discomfort, redness of the vagina. These signs are one of the very first sexually transmitted diseases. In parallel, a yellow vaginal secretion appears, which smells rather unpleasant. If a woman does not respond to such symptoms in time, and also does not start timely treatment, then serious complications may arise in the future.
STD treatment
As a rule, all sexually transmitted diseases are treated with antibiotics, and the entire process of therapy is controlled by a gynecologist, as well as a venereologist. It should be noted that the fair sex with such pathologies for therapy takes large doses of various antibacterial agents that are prescribed by specialists. That is why it is best to abandon self-medication if you have a sexually transmitted disease.
It is impossible to stop taking antimicrobial medications even if the vaginal secretion has acquired a normal smell and color, and other unpleasant symptoms have completely disappeared. The main condition for treating STDs is that therapy must be completed to the end. Otherwise, the pathology may return, manifesting itself with greater force, and the symptoms will become most intense.
Discharge Diagnostics
If yellow mucus appears from the vagina, it is better to visit your gynecologist, and if this situation is accompanied by a disgusting smell or pain, you should visit a doctor immediately!
Currently, there are many diagnostic methods in gynecology, thanks to which you can make the most accurate diagnosis:
- General analysis of blood, urine. Thanks to this, it is possible to establish the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.
- A smear on the flora. Using this diagnostic method, it is possible to determine which microorganisms live in the patient's vagina.
- Smear for cytology. Using such an analysis, a specialist can clarify which specific cells are present on the mucous membrane of the cervix, as well as the vagina.
- Ultrasonography. Using this diagnostic method, you can detect the inflammatory process and cancer formation in the organs of the entire reproductive system.
Diagnosis of diseases, as a rule, is not difficult, as a result of which it is possible to make the patient an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment features
The treatment of yellowish mucous discharge from the vagina will directly depend on the main cause of this problem. Typically, treatment includes the following:
- Antibiotic therapy. It is aimed at eliminating the inflammatory processes in the reproductive system in women.
- Antifungal therapy. Such a treatment technique is used if a fungal infection is the cause of the appearance of yellowish mucus.
- Surgical therapy. Surgery is used if the cause of the pathological discharge is a cancer of the woman.
- Physiotherapy. It allows you to accelerate the overall recovery and treatment after stopping inflammatory processes in the internal genital organs, if any.
- Herbal medicine. Such treatment is often used in the inflammatory process.
Therapy should be prescribed only by a doctor. Self-medication in such cases is not allowed. The uncontrolled use of potent drugs can only exacerbate the problem.