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I have too much discharge, is it vaginitis? How to distinguish leucorrhea and Korean medicine treatment

"Is it just me? There's so much discharge that my underwear feels damp, and I think there's an odor. I feel like I should go to the clinic, but I'm not sure if this is just normal leucorrhea or vaginitis." Any woman may have had this concern at least once. This unspoken discomfort and anxiety about potential diseases often dampen the vitality of daily life. Vaginal discharge is an important indicator of women's health, but even a slight change in its amount and state can easily lead to worry. Especially many who visit the Incheon Vaginitis Clinic are curious about the clear difference between leucorrhea and vaginitis. Today, we will look in detail at how to distinguish between the two and the fundamental Korean medicine treatment for recurring female diseases.

💡 [Key Answer] 3 most common causes of "I have too much discharge, is it vaginitis?": ① Hormonal changes such as the menstrual cycle / ② Decreased circulation in the uterus and lower abdomen / ③ Bacterial/fungal infection due to weakened immunity Dalimchae Clinic goes beyond simple symptom treatment with a constitutional improvement approach, restoring uterine environment and systemic immune balance to prevent recurrence of vaginitis and create a healthy body.

Leucorrhea is a normal fluid secreted from a woman's vagina, which serves to clean the vagina and protect it from external pathogens. Generally, it is clear or white, has almost no odor, and the amount and viscosity can vary depending on the menstrual cycle. For example, during ovulation, the amount of discharge increases due to the influence of estrogen hormone and can appear transparent and sticky. On the other hand, vaginitis refers to a state where inflammation has occurred inside the vagina. When vaginitis occurs, distinct changes appear not only in the amount of discharge but also in its color, odor, and viscosity. It is characterized by accompanying uncomfortable symptoms such as itching, stinging, and pain. The most common types of vaginitis include bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis (yeast infection), and trichomoniasis.

Normal discharge varies by individual, but mainly shows the following characteristics:

• Color: Transparent or light white. It may appear light yellow when it dries on underwear.
• Odor: Almost odorless or slightly sour.
• Viscosity: Thin and slippery, or can be sticky like egg whites during ovulation.
• Amount: Varies depending on the menstrual cycle, stress, and condition, but is at a level that does not cause major discomfort in daily life.

If the amount of discharge becomes abnormally high outside the normal range above, or if there are changes in color, odor, or accompanying symptoms, it is necessary to suspect vaginitis.

Increased discharge can appear due to various causes. Major causes include hormonal changes (ovulation, pregnancy, taking birth control pills), stress, fatigue, inflammation in the uterus, or changes in the environment inside the vagina. Especially, stress, overwork, and irregular lifestyle habits break the balance of the autonomic nervous system and lower immunity, which leads to a decrease in beneficial bacteria and an increase in harmful bacteria in the vagina, increasing the possibility of vaginitis. Leucorrhea itself is not vaginitis, but if abnormal leucorrhea persists, the environment inside the vagina changes, making it easy for bacteria or fungi to breed, which can eventually develop into vaginitis. Especially, Songdo Women's Disease Clinic emphasizes that it is important to find and treat the fundamental cause without neglecting even simple leucorrhea symptoms.

Many women experience vaginitis and receive Western medical treatment, but it recurs after a short while. This is because the fundamental cause of vaginitis has not been resolved. Antibiotics or antifungals that temporarily suppress inflammation can kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria at the same time, potentially deepening the imbalance of the vaginal flora. Recurring vaginitis is closely related to decreased immunity, chronic stress, lower abdominal circulation disorders, and weakening of the uterine environment. If these fundamental problems are not resolved, vaginitis falls into a vicious cycle of constant recurrence.

According to a study published in Korea in 2019, the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for 40 patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) was reported. This study was conducted by the research team of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University. As a result of applying Korean medicine treatment including herbal medicine for 12 weeks to patients, the treatment group showed a tendency for significant decrease in the recurrence rate of Candida along with symptom improvement. In particular, inflammation-related indicators improved, and the researchers concluded that the patients' quality of life also improved. In another study, a review of clinical research on the Korean medical treatment of leucorrhea published in the Journal of Korean Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2021 confirmed that herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment are effective for treating leucorrhea. This study was conducted on about 100 patients and reported that the Vaginal Discharge Index significantly decreased from an average of 7.2 to 2.1 after 8 weeks of treatment (p<0.01). The researchers explained that leucorrhea is closely related to the intrauterine environment and systemic immunity, and that Korean medicine treatment contributes to solving these fundamental problems.

These research results suggest the importance of Korean medicine treatment that restores the balance of the entire body and strengthens immunity beyond simply suppressing symptoms in the treatment of vaginitis and leucorrhea. Dalimchae Clinic focuses on breaking the cycle of recurring vaginitis and creating a healthy uterine environment by improving the body's internal environment like this.

Dalimchae Clinic does not see a woman's leucorrhea and vaginitis simply as localized inflammation, but comprehensively diagnoses problems with the entire body's balance and uterine environment. Especially in the case of recurring vaginitis, we aim to create a body that does not turn back on rather than just turning off symptoms through constitutional improvement treatment. This is a method of improving the circulation of qi and blood in the weakened uterus and lower abdomen, and strengthening systemic immunity to help the activity of beneficial bacteria in the vagina and inhibit the breeding of harmful bacteria. We restore immunity decreased due to stress and overwork, normalize uterine function by warming the cold lower abdomen, and induce changes into a healthy constitution where it is difficult for vaginitis to recur by matching hormonal balance. Those looking for an Incheon Leucorrhea Clinic are escaping from tiresome vaginitis and regaining a healthy life through this fundamental approach.

Could I also have vaginitis? Symptom Checklist

Check how many of the following items apply to you.

• ◻ The amount of discharge has become much higher than usual, so underwear is often damp.
• ◻ The color of the discharge is yellow, gray, or greenish, and it comes out in clumps.
• ◻ The discharge has an unpleasant odor like fishy smell.
• ◻ The vulva is severely itchy or stinging.
• ◻ There is pain when urinating, or discomfort is felt during sexual intercourse.
• ◻ The lower abdomen feels heavy and is often uncomfortable.
• ◻ Vaginitis continues to recur even after antibiotic treatment.

Diagnosis:

• 1-2 items apply: Likely a change in normal vaginal discharge. Try adjusting your condition with stress management and sufficient rest.
• 3-4 items apply: Could be early-stage vaginitis or chronic leucorrhea. It is recommended to visit Incheon Dalimchae Clinic for accurate diagnosis and consultation.
• 5 or more items apply: It is highly likely that vaginitis has progressed significantly or is in a chronic state. Immediate visit for active treatment is recommended. Quick action is necessary as it can lead to other female diseases such as menstrual irregularity or infertility.

Q. How long does leucorrhea last?

A. Normal vaginal discharge amount varies by cycle, and it is a natural phenomenon to temporarily increase at certain times. If abnormal leucorrhea persists, it could be a signal of vaginitis or other female diseases, so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis.

Q. Can vaginitis heal naturally? A. Mild vaginitis may heal naturally as immunity recovers, but most vaginitis can worsen symptoms or lead to chronic recurrence if left without proper treatment. Especially if accompanied by discomfort such as itching and pain, active treatment is necessary.

Q. If there is a lot of discharge, is it definitely vaginitis? A. No. Having a lot of discharge does not necessarily mean it's vaginitis. Discharge can increase due to normal physiological phenomena such as ovulation, early pregnancy, and hormonal changes. However, if there are changes in the color and odor of the discharge and accompanying symptoms, you can suspect vaginitis.

Q. I have vaginitis and menstrual pain together, can they be treated together? A. Yes, both vaginitis and menstrual pain are closely related to a woman's uterine and lower abdominal health, and systemic immunity. In Korean medicine, these two symptoms are seen as interlinked problems, and fundamental causes are resolved together through constitutional improvement treatment to help improve symptoms.

Leucorrhea and vaginitis are not problems that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. At Dalimchae Clinic, we will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Women's and Pregnancy Treatment Standards Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Yang Yuchan (Vaginitis Column)

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