Leukorrhea

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Leukorrhea
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 N89.8
ICD-9 623.5
MeSH D007973
Leukorrhea (US) or leucorrhoea (Commonwealth) is a medical term that denotes a thick,
whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge.
[1]
There are many causes of leukorrhea, the usual one
being estrogen imbalance. The amount of discharge may increase due to vaginal infection or
STDs, and also it may disappear and reappear from time to time, this discharge can keep
occurring for years in which case it becomes more yellow and foul-smelling; it is usually a non-
pathological symptom secondary to inflammatory conditions of vagina or cervix.
Vaginal discharge is not abnormal, and causes of change in discharge include infection,
malignancy, and hormonal changes. It sometimes occurs before a girl has her first period, and is
considered a sign of puberty.
Contents
1 Physiologic leukorrhea
2 Inflammatory leukorrhea
3 References
4 External links
Physiologic leukorrhea
It is not a major issue but is to be resolved as soon as possible. It can be a natural defense
mechanism that the vagina uses to maintain its chemical balance, as well as to preserve the
flexibility of the vaginal tissue. The term "physiologic leukorrhea" is used to refer to leukorrhea
due to estrogen stimulation.
[2]

Leukorrhea may occur normally during pregnancy. This is caused by increased bloodflow to the
vagina due to increased estrogen. Female infants may have leukorrhea for a short time after birth
due to their in-uterine exposure to estrogen.
Inflammatory leukorrhea
It may also result from inflammation or congestion of the vaginal mucosa. In cases where it is
yellowish or gives off an odor, a doctor should be consulted since it could be a sign of several
disease processes, including an organic bacterial infection or STD.
After delivery, leukorrhea accompanied by backache and foul-smelling lochia (post-partum
vaginal discharge, containing blood, mucus, and placental tissue) may suggest the failure of
involution (the uterus returning to pre-pregnancy size) due to infection. Investigations: wet
smear, Gram stain, culture, pap smear and biopsy.
References
1. "leukorrhea" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
2. Behrman, Richard E.; Kliegman, Robert; Karen Marcdante; Jenson, Hal B. (2006).
Nelson essentials of pediatrics. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Saunders. p. 348. ISBN 1-4160-
0159-X.
External links
Overview at americanpregnancy.org
[hide]
v
t
e
Female diseases of the pelvis and genitals (N70N99, 614629)
Internal Adnexa
Ovary
Oophoritis
Ovarian cyst
o Follicular cyst of ovary
o Corpus luteum cyst
o Theca lutein cyst
Endometriosis of ovary
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Ovarian torsion
Ovarian apoplexy
Mittelschmerz
Female infertility
o Anovulation
o Poor ovarian reserve

Fallopian
tube
Salpingitis
Hydrosalpinx
Hematosalpinx
Female infertility (Fallopian tube obstruction)


Uterus
Endometriu
m
Endometritis
Endometriosis
Endometrial polyp
Endometrial hyperplasia
Asherman's syndrome
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

menstruation
:
flow
o Amenorrhoea
o Hypomenorrhea
o Oligomenorrhea
timing
o Menorrhagia
o Menometrorrhagia
o Metrorrhagia
pain
o Dysmenorrhea
o PMS

Female infertility
o Recurrent miscarriage


Myometrium
Adenomyosis

Parametrium
Parametritis

Cervix
Cervicitis
Cervical polyp
Nabothian cyst
Cervical incompetence
Female infertility (Cervical stenosis)
Cervical dysplasia

General
Hematometra/Pyometra
Retroverted uterus


Vagina
Vaginitis
o Bacterial vaginosis
o Atrophic vaginitis
o Candidal vulvovaginitis
Leukorrhea/Vaginal discharge
Hematocolpos/Hydrocolpos

Sexual
dysfunction
Dyspareunia
Hypoactive sexual desire
disorder
Sexual arousal disorder
Vaginismus

Prolapse
o Cystocele
o Rectocele
o Enterocele
o Sigmoidocele
o Urethrocele
Fistulae
o Vesicovaginal
o Rectovaginal

Vaginal bleeding


Other/genera
l
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic congestion syndrome


Externa
l
Vulva
Vulvitis
Bartholin's cyst
Kraurosis vulvae
Vulvodynia
Vestibular papillomatosis

Clitoral
hood or
Clitoris
Clitoral phimosis
Clitorism


M: FRS anat/phys/devp noco/cong/npls,
sysi/epon
proc/asst, drug
(G1/G2B/G3CD)

Categories:
Noninflammatory disorders of female genital tract
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