This is a symptom of pouring out white discharge per Vagina. Vaginal infection is the commonest cause of leucorrhoea.

Causes:

Physiological :

Normal secretions from vulva, vagina, cervix show an increase under the following conditions:-

i) Some newborn gets leucorrhoea for a week due to maternal oestrogen,

ii) At puberty due to hormone effect; it corrects itself,

iii) At about ovulation and early pregnancy,

iv) During sexual excitement.

This -excess of secretion is usually enough to moisten the occasionally pours out to stain the under-clothing.

Pathological:

This can be

(i) General health causes (about one- third)

ii) genital causes (about two-third).

General health causes are those of (a) ill health and under nutrition b) dysfunctional (endocrinal, marital disharmony and psychosomatic and (c) psychological.

Genital causes involve the entire genital tract. The important causes of leucorrhoea are: ill health, anaemia, colitis, cervical erosion, genital prolapse and cervical carcinoma

These causative factors can be clinically elicited according the period of woman's life as follows:-

1. Before puberty - Vulvo-vaginitis in children causing mucopurulent discharge; foreign body inside the vagina may be a factor in some cases.

2. After puberty in young virgin - Poor general health, unclean personal hygiene, anaemia, colitis, endocrine dysfunctions, masturbation and rarely virginal cervical erosion are the responsible factors. The discharge is commonly the excess of cervical mucus, or rarely thin watery discharge from mild degree vaginitis or due to transudation from the vaginal mucous membrane.

3. Nulliparous married women — trichomonas and monilial vagininitis are common causes; other causes are gonococcal, chlamydial or pyogenic vaginitis, cervicitis and Bartholinitis. The discharge is commonly mucopurulent. Retained contraceptive measures and tamp or sexual excess may be the causes. Mucoid or watery leucorrhoea can be a symptom of women with infertility of dysfunctional uterine haemorrhage.

4. Post-childbirth period - This is largely due to puerperal cervical erosion which is considered physiological. There may be granulating cervical, vaginal or perineal tear.

5. Parous women during the child bearing period — cervical erosion and chronic cervicitis are the commonest cause. There can be acute trichomonas and monilial vaginitis or chronic vaginitis especially in presence of a pessary and genital prolapse. Pelvic inflammatory disease, use of contraceptives may cause leucorrhoea. Ill health, anaemia might be also important factors. Chronic dysentery favours vaginitis. Excess of vaginal medication by taking irritant vaginal douche, use of intravaginal tampons may cause leucorrhoea.

6. Premenopausal women — uterine polypi, decubitus ulcer in genital prolapse, uterine fibroid and uterine carcinoma are the important factors in addition to the factors in the above group.

7. Postmenopausal women — carcinoma of the genital tract, prolapse, retained ring passery, senile vaginitis and endometritis pyometra are the important factors.

Wrong feeding habits

Leucorrhoea denotes a generally devitalised and toxic condition of the system, caused by wrong feeding habits. Whenever the body is loaded with toxins and the eliminative organs such as the skin, bowels, lungs, and kidneys are unable to eliminate them, the body in women establishes profuse discharge or elimination through the mucous membrane of the uterus and vagina in the form of leucorrhoea. In young women, leucorrhoea may occur during inter-menstrual periods due to the thickening of the mucous membrane in the reproductive organs. During the child-bearing years from adolescence to the mid-forties, infection may sometimes follow the birth of a child due to damage of the cervix during delivery of the baby.

Displacement of the womb, unhygenic conditions

The other common causes of leucorrhoea are displacement of the womb and unhygienic conditions which attract the bacteria to the genital organs.

Home Remedies for Leucorrhoea

Leucorrhoea treatment using Amaranth Root

Amaranth is considered an excellent home remedy for leucorrhoea. The rind of the root of this plant should be rubbed in 25 ml of water. It should then be strained and given to the patient daily in the morning as well as in the evening. The root of this plant is, however, very susceptible to moths. Hence, care should be taken to see that it is not moth-eaten. In case the root is not available, its leaves and branches may be similarly processed and used.

Leucorrhoea treatment using Lady's Fingers

The use of lady fingers is another effective home remedy for this disease. A decoction of this vegetable is prepared by boiling 100 gm of the fresh vegetable, cut transversely, in half a litre of water for twenty minutes. It should then be strained and sweetened. This decoction, given in doses of 60 to 90 ml frequently, is beneficial in all irritable conditions of genito-urinary organs, including leucorrhoea.

Leucorrhoea treatment using Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds are valuable in leucorrhoea. They should be taken internally in the form of tea, and also used as a douche. For a douche, the solution should be much stronger than tea. Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be put into a litre of cold water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. The decoction should then be strained and used as a douche.

Leucorrhoea treatment using Guava Leaves

The tender leaves of guava are beneficial in the treatment of this disease. An infusion of the leaves should be used as a douche. It acts as a powerful vaginal astringent.

Leucorrhoea treatment using Mango Seed

Mango seeds are valuable in leucorrhoea. A teaspoon of the paste of the decorticated kernel of mango can be applied inside the vagina with beneficial results.

Leucorrhoea treatment using Walnut Leaves

The leaves of the walnut tree contain astringent chemicals. A decoction of the fresh leaves can be beneficially used as a douche in the treatment of leucorrhoea.

Treatment. This should be conducted according to the determined cause. Physiological leucorrhoea needs no treatment but assurance.

Investigations. These may be done on the following lines.

i)History, (a) Age of the patient, marriage, marital life, parity are to be noted. (b) Present illness. Character of leucorrhoea, its duration, timing with menstruation, vulval irritation or any other associated symptom are to be enquired. Leucorrhoea with vulval irritation is commonly to vaginitis (trichomonal or monilial). History of use of contraceptive is to be taken.(c) Menstrual and obstetrical histories are also recorded. (d) Past medical and drug history , of tuberculosis, anaemia, dysentery, diabetes, psychiatric illness and antibiotic taking is to be recorded.

2. General Health Examination is -carefully performed to detect ill health, anaemia, colitis or any systemic disease.

3. Gynaecologic Examination. Abdominal examination is recorded lo detect any pelvic tumour or inflammatory lesion.

Vaginal examination by speculum and palpation are essential to the conditions of vulva, urethra, Bartholin glands, vagina, cervix, uterus, adnexae to detect evidence of inflammation, foreignbody or any growth. Dysfunctional group is diagnosed by exclusion of any pelvic factor.

Rectal examination is performed especially in virgins. Examination under anaesthesia in children is helpful.

4. Investigations. Examination of a wet mount preparation of Vaginal discharge for T. vaginalis arid moniliasis, vaginal and cervical discharges should be examined by staining and culture for the causative factor. Cytological study from vagina and cervical scraping is an important investigation.

Examination of urine for pus cells, sugar is important. Routine Stool examination is to be performed for ova, parasite, cyst. Blood examination is performed for Hb. V.D.R.L. and sugar; skiagram of the chest is to be taken for pulmonary tuberculosis.

Other Leucorrhoea treatment

Water treatment

Water treatment is extremely beneficial in curing leucorrhoea. A cold hip bath taken twice a day, for ten minutes at a time, will help relieve congestion in the pelvic region and facilitate quick elimination of morbid matter. A warm vaginal douche at 30 C to 40 C is beneficial for general cleaning and elimination of the purulent discharge. The procedure is to fill the douche can with one and a half litres of warm water and hang it at a level of three feet above the body. The patient should lie with the hips slightly raised above the body level, and the special nozzle applied fur this purpose should be oiled and inserted slowly into the vagina. The flow can be regulated by the small valve of the nozzle. In several cases, the douche should be taken daily.

Home Remedy For Leucorrhea

• Prepare a paste from the pulp of mango and apply it on the vagina. This is one of the most effective remedies for treating leucorrhea.
• Take 2 to 3 tsp fenugreek seeds and put them in a liter of water. Boil the decoction for about half an hour, on a low flame. Thereafter, strain the mixture and drink it.
• Cook some rice in half a liter of water. Once cooked, strain the water and add a tsp of sugar to it. Drink this liquid. It is useful for treating leucorrhea.
• In one liter of water, put 200 grams ladyfinger. Boil this decoction until the water reduces to half. Strain the mixture and add sugar to taste. Drink 70 ml of this decoction, every 3 hours.
• Put some walnut tree leaves in one liter of water and boil until the mixture is reduced to half. Use it on the affected area, with the help of a douche.
• Soak a tsp of coriander seeds in a glass of water. Keep this overnight and have it, first thing in the morning. Repeat this for a week.
• Chewing betel nut after meals is believed to be helpful in treating leucorrhea.
• Put some guava leaves in one liter of water and boil until the mixture is reduced to half. Use it on the affected area, with the help of a douche.
• Rub either the roof or the leaves of Amaranth in a cup of water. Filter this water and have it two times a day.
• Have 2 grams of Amalaki powder, with sugar or honey. It is effective in curing leucorrhea.
• Consume cranberry juice everyday, as it is believed to be beneficial in treating leucorrhea.
• Consume banana two times a day. Having betel nut, crushed with rose petals and sugar, is also said to be good for treating leucorrhea.