Is this pregnancy symptom normal?
Dear Dr Mitchell,
I am currently 21 weeks pregnant and having heavy discharge, which I’m not sure is normal. I was treated about a month ago for a yeast infection, and I’m not sure if this is another one. I itch sometimes, but this discharge is more liquid, and heavier than is normal with yeast. Is this leukorrhea? Is this normal? I don’t want to continually be treated for yeast.
Recurrent yeast infections are a fairly common problem in pregnancy. This is due to the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. Pregnant women also have a tendency to develop diabetes mellitus during the pregnancy especially if they have a family history of diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovarian disease, or start pregnancy with excessive weight on.
It is important to ensure that the diagnosis of a yeast infection is accurate. You should get a swab done to rule out other infections and your partner should be screened and treated appropriately.
In women where yeast infections are recurrent, a blood glucose test is done and a test for human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) since these conditions are associated with recurrent infections.
The practice if hanging your underwear in the bathroom where there is no sunshine increases the risk of recurrent yeast infections, so you should practice hanging your underwear in the sun. If your sexual partner has another partner, then this can also increase your risk of recurrent infections and also contracting more serious infections that can have serious implications for the foetus.
Consult your doctor who will do further investigations and advise you further.
Best regards.
Dr Sharmaine Mitchell is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Send questions via e-mail to allwoman@jamaicaobserver.com; write to All Woman, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Ave, Kingston 5; or fax to 876-968-2025. All responses are published. Dr Mitchell cannot provide personal responses.
DISCLAIMER:
The contents of this article are for informational purposes only, and must not be relied upon as an alternative to medical advice or treatment from your own doctor.
