What are the reasons for brown vaginal discharge?
Brown vaginal discharge is a type of abnormal vaginal discharge. Common symptoms of abnormal vaginal discharge include: gray-yellow discharge with a fishy odor, foamy in appearance, accompanied by external genital itching, burning, pain, and pain during intercourse, which is often due to trichomonas vaginitis; gray-white discharge resembling tofu residue or curdled milk, sometimes with an unpleasant smell, accompanied by external genital itching and burning pain, which is mostly due to fungal vaginitis; yellow or yellow-green discharge with an unpleasant smell, resembling rice soup or pus, which is mostly caused by suppurative bacterial infections such as chronic cervicitis, senile vaginitis, and endometritis; blood-streaked discharge, also known as bloody leukorrhea, which is commonly seen in severe cervical erosion, cervical polyps, submucosal myomas, and cervical cancer; watery discharge, which resembles thin water or rice soup, commonly occurs in cervical cancer, uterine body cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and can also occur in cases of submucosal myoma or inflammation.
So, what are the reasons for brown vaginal discharge?
Experts explain that if the brown vaginal discharge is not excessive, has a milky white or egg white-like consistency, a slight fishy smell, but no discomfort, it falls under physiological leukorrhea. However, if the brown vaginal discharge is excessive and changes to yellow, purulent, or even bloody, it falls under pathological leukorrhea. In such cases, one may suffer from "leukorrhea disease," which should not only be attributed to vaginal conditions. Besides vaginitis, other conditions such as cervical inflammation, pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, uterine fibroids, uterine adenocarcinoma, and foreign bodies in the vagina can all cause different types of "leukorrhea disease." However, clinically, from a Western medicine perspective, cervical inflammation, trichomonas vaginitis, fungal vaginitis, and senile vaginitis are more common.
Reasons for brown vaginal discharge:
1. Senile vaginitis: This condition is commonly seen in elderly women who have been postmenopausal for many years. After menopause, ovarian function declines, leading to a lack of endogenous estrogen, causing reproductive organ atrophy, thinning of the vaginal epithelium, and weakened local resistance, making it easier for pathogenic bacteria to multiply and cause inflammation. The important symptom of senile vaginitis is increased vaginal discharge, often accompanied by lower abdominal and vaginal heaviness and a burning sensation. Typical vaginal discharge appears pale yellow and watery or purulent, with an unpleasant smell, often mixed with a small amount of blood.
2. Non-specific vaginitis: This is a mixed bacterial infection commonly seen after childbirth, abortion, or pelvic inflammatory disease. The main symptoms of non-specific vaginitis are increased vaginal discharge, localized heaviness, vaginal itching, or a burning sensation. Typical vaginal discharge is grayish-white, thin, and uniform in texture with low viscosity, sometimes with foam, accompanied by a foul odor that worsens during intercourse.
3. Fungal vaginitis: This is one of the common types of vaginitis, often caused by Candida albicans infection. It is commonly seen in pregnant women and diabetic patients. Long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can disrupt the normal vaginal flora, making it easier for fungi to grow and reproduce, leading to this condition. Patients taking corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or those with autoimmune diseases are prone to this condition. Vitamin B6 deficiency and chronic wasting diseases also increase the likelihood of developing this condition. Young women wearing tight nylon underwear can increase the humidity and temperature of the perineum, promoting fungal growth and reproduction. The main symptoms of fungal vaginitis are increased vaginal discharge and external genital itching, often accompanied by a local burning sensation. Typical vaginal discharge appears like curdled milk or slightly yellow in patches, slightly smelly, and tightly adheres to the vaginal mucosa.
Expert's warm reminder: Vaginal discharge is a unique physiological phenomenon in women, and normal vaginal discharge indicates good health. Someone aptly compared vaginal discharge to a messenger of the vagina, capable of conveying whether the vagina is healthy. Normal vaginal discharge should be milky white or colorless and transparent, slightly fishy or odorless. Many women experience brown vaginal discharge at some point. If the vaginal discharge contains other colors such as green, red, yellow, white, black, etc., or if the amount of discharge is too much or thick like pus, or thin like water, or has a foul smell, itching, burning pain in the genital area, as well as soreness in the waist and legs, and abdominal distension and pain, these are pathological states collectively referred to as "leukorrhea disease" in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Brown vaginal discharge is often caused by some reproductive infections and should be taken seriously.
This article is excerpted from: Changchun Gynecological Hospital Official Website. Original address: http://www.tjfk999.com/baidaiyichang/20101129646.html For more information on gynecological diseases, please visit the official website of Changchun Gynecological Hospital.