Ammonia smelling discharge

You might never sit down and ponder it, but the female reproductive system is truly marvelous. That's true precisely because it is a very complex system — but because a lot can go wrong, too, every woman should pay attention to her reproductive health. When the female reproductive system is affected by an underlying disease or disorder, the problem should immediately be treated since diseases of the reproductive system can lead to very serious consequences, such as infertility. One of the conditions that can be serious and that should be treated promptly is ammonia smelling vaginal discharge.

Normal vaginal discharge and ammonia smelling discharge

First of all, every woman should know that ammonia smelling discharge is not a life-threatening condition, but it is a very embarrassing one that also requires attention. Although vaginal discharge is normal and much-needed for the reproductive system to clean itself, foul smelling vaginal discharge is not normal and it requires immediate treatment. There are glands in the vagina and cervix that secrete the fluid that flows out through the vaginal opening every day. In this fluid, there are old cells that used to line the vagina. With this regular vaginal discharge, the body maintains a healthy vaginal microbiome. Normal vaginal discharge is clear or milky, with its thickness and structure varying with the menstrual cycle.

The usual scent of vaginal discharge is different in every woman. This odor should, however, not a be foul smelling one. However, when the odor of the vaginal discharge in a woman changes and becomes foul smelling, she should visit a doctor.

Causes of ammonia smelling discharge

When a woman experience ammonia smelling discharge, it is rarely due to poor personal hygiene. In the majority of cases, ammonia smelling discharge happens due to bacterial vaginosis, which is an infection of the female reproductive system. In the genital area of a woman, good bacteria reside in order to fight against the bad bacteria. Thus, the balance between the bad and good bacteria is maintained. However, when the balance between the bad and good bacteria is impaired, bacterial vaginosis can occur. In this condition, the bad bacteria transform nitrogen into ammonia compounds and thus ammonia smelling discharge occurs.

Ammonia smelling discharge is more likely to happen in women who have entered the period of menopause. In this period, the ovaries do not produce the hormone estrogen and progesterone any more and the woman will stop experiencing menstrual periods. Along with many other, often unpleasant, symptoms of menopause, ammonia smelling vaginal discharge can also sometimes take place. Furthermore, when women who are going through menopause do not drink plenty of water, there is a high concentration of ammonia in the urine, and so the foul smell can also originate from the urine and not from the vaginal discharge in such cases.

Regardless of whether you are going through menopause, if you experience vaginal discharge that smells like ammonia, and especially if you also have other symptoms that may range from pain to a change in your menstrual cycle, you are advised to seek medical attention.