Vaginal discharge is clear or white in color and has no specific odor which is normal and all women experience it. Discharges play a vital role in lubricating, protecting, and reducing friction. However, an abnormal white discharge around clit can be troublesome!
So, is the white discharge around clit a sign of infection, cancer, or any sexually transmitted disorder?
As far as the quantity and odor of the discharge remain normal, there isn’t any need to worry about it. However, an increase in the quantity and any change in the smell can be a sign of any serious problem.
So, to differentiate between the effects and results of different kinds of vaginal discharges, read on!
Table of Content
White Discharge around Clit: Is It Smegma?
The human body is a self-cleaner. Just like you keep your houses clean, similarly, your organs also clean their habitats themselves. However, this cleaning also requires some of your voluntary effort which if not done properly can lead to painful conditions.
Normal vaginal discharge is either clear, white, or milky with a specified scent that isn’t unpleasant. Hence, any discharge that has a different color with a foul smell can be dangerous or an indication of either over-activity or under-activity of the glands.
If you experience white discharge around the clit or in between the folds of labia Minora and Majora with an unpleasant odor, then it might be smegma. This whitish-yellow gooey discharge is found in both males and females and is secreted by the oil glands around the genitals.
What is Smegma?
For satisfactory genital health, smegma production is significant. It plays a vital role in lubricating the genitals of both genders thereby preventing them from abrasion. However, improper cleaning of the genitals can lead to the accumulation of discharge which then becomes infected and smells really bad.
Smegma is composed of dead skin cells, oils, and hydrating agents which buildup in the genitals and cause pain. However, smegma isn’t a sign of any STD or any other disorder. It’s a natural problem which if taken care of, can be prevented easily.
Let’s have a look at how to identify, treat, and prevent smegma if it is infected.
Identification of Smegma
Smegma is common in uncircumcised males because of the presence of foreskin. This is due to the easy entrapment of pathogens under the foreskin. However, in females, the unhygienic genital region is the major cause of smegma buildup.
The location of smegma doesn’t vary and is found exactly under the foreskin in uncircumcised males whereas in females smegma is present in the form of a white discharge around the clit. There are three points of identification to determine whether the discharge is smegma or not:
- Discharge is thick/gooey
- Cheesy consistency
- White-colored (can be yellow in some cases)
- Unpleasant odor
If you notice all the four points of identification, then rest assured that it is smegma. Focusing on your hygiene is the only way to prevent smegma buildup. So, stay clean, stay healthy!
Causes of Smegma
Smegma production is completely normal and is your body’s natural way of preventing the abrasion of the genitals. The smooth fluid-like secretion keeps the genitals moist and also plays a significant role during intercourse. However, excess buildup of smegma never does any good to your body and this accumulation is because of the improper maintenance of hygiene.
Smegma doesn’t usually occur as a result of any disorder. In fact, it’s natural and it only becomes problematic if it is left untreated, it becomes stale, hardens, and causes severe pain in the genitals. It is more common in women than in men because this condition mostly develops in uncircumcised men whereas in women anybody can be affected.
Complications
You must’ve heard of a statement, “Smegma causes cancer.” Well, there was a time when healthcare experts used to believe that smegma can cause cancer. However, this theory has no evidence and now experts believe that there is no connection between cancer development and smegma itself.
Other than cancer, the actual disorder smegma can cause is called “Balanitis.” It is the inflammation of the glans penis due to the excessive buildup of smegma. Moreover, balanoposthitis is also very common and is the inflammation of the foreskin that only takes place in uncircumcised men. The symptoms of balanitis include,
- Pain in the head region
- Irritation
- Redness
- Swelling
- Presence of white discharge
- Unpleasant odor
- Pain during urination
Balanitis can be cured within five days using several antibiotics. However, an untreated persistent condition can lead to even worse consequences. Persistent conditions often lead to phimosis in which the foreskin becomes hard and tight.
All of such happenings can be easily prevented if you regularly wash your genitals and maintain a hygienic environment.
Treatment of Smegma
The simplest treatment of smegma is to wash the vagina or penis properly with warm water. When it comes to males, those with foreskins should properly clean the affected region. When it comes to females, white discharge around the clit and in between the fold of labia should be properly washed with warm water.
Try not to use soap or any feminine hygiene product. However, if you want to use any soap, then avoid using any scented soap because scents disturb the pH and cause itching around the vagina. Avoid using any sharp tool or rough cloth to clean the region.
How to Get Rid of Smegma?
The only solution to either remove or prevent smegma is to clean and wash the genital region regularly. Be it for males or females, washing the genitals can only prevent smegma. Try to wash them at least 2-3 times a week.
You may also make up a weekly routine, every time you take a bath you can also wash them properly. It would hardly take 5 more minutes. This will make you less susceptible to build up.
- Wear cotton undergarments
- Avoid wearing clothes such as nylon or synthetic fabrics.
- Avoid using soaps and other hygiene products
- Say no to deodorants
So, prevention is kind of similar to treatment. Practicing good genital hygiene will reduce the chances of smegma to a great extent.
Other Reasons for White Discharge
The reasons for white discharge are given below.
White Clumpy Discharge
A white, clumpy, and cheese-like discharge can be a sign of fungal infection. Those who suffer from yeast infection also experience itching, burning, and hyperpigmentation of the skin. Moreover, the discharge remains odorless or might smell quite abnormal.
White and Milky Discharge
A milky white discharge poses no threats to the reproductive system and is completely normal. Such kind of discharge, when it increases, could also be a sign of pregnancy due to hormonal changes and an increase in the production of mucus.
Moreover, this discharge can also occur during the menstrual cycle. This white and milky discharge can thicken during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle.
White Discharge With Fishy Odor
This kind of discharge is caused due to bacterial vaginosis. This disease is associated with a white-gray discharge that exhibits a fishy odor. The symptoms include itching, redness, and swelling.
What Other Discharges Indicate?
There are several types of vaginal discharge. White, clear and watery, reddish brown, greenish yellow are some of them.
Reddish Brown Vaginal Discharge
When you’re about to be done with menstruation, your body releases the blood for final cleaning purposes and it appears reddish-brown in color. However, an increase in the quantity of discharge along with pelvic pain could be a sign of something worse such as cancer and irregular periods.
Greenish Yellow Vaginal Discharge
A greenish-yellow vaginal discharge isn’t normal and it might lead to one or more diseases. A frothy discharge with a bad odor might be an indication of trichomoniasis. It leads to severe pain during urination. Moreover, this discharge can also be an indication of any STD.
FAQs
What causes white discharge on the Vagina?
White discharge around the vagina is completely normal and is produced by the sebaceous glands present in the vagina. This secretion plays a significant role in maintaining the vagina’s health as it lubricates and protects the region.
However, accumulation of white discharge around the clit or in the folds of the vulva can be painful and troublesome. The accumulation is mostly caused due to the improper maintenance of hygiene. In this condition, the discharge becomes gooey and shows a cheese-like consistency with a foul smell.
What STD has a thick white discharge?
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted condition in which the discharge produced has an unpleasant odor and is white, green, gray, or yellow in color. Other than this parasitic disorder, gonorrhea is an STD that is a bacterial infection.
It severely affects the mucous membranes leading to a pus-like either white or green vaginal discharge. Moreover, chlamydia is an STD caused by a bacterial infection and shows a yellowish or milky white discharge with a very strong odor.
Why Do Humans Produce Smegma?
The human body has its own way of cleaning and maintaining its organs. Smegma is an extremely vital secretion for healthy vaginal health. This is because smegma is a smooth and hydrating fluid that prevents the genitals from drying out.
It works as a lubricant and also helps in protecting the sensitive region of the vagina. Hence, smegma production is significant in both males and females.
Takeaway
When the production exceeds the requirement or due to improper cleaning of the genitals, you’ll experience a white discharge around clit, called smegma. If you experience any of the aforementioned indications/symptoms of thick white discharge, then smegma can be the reason.
For good vaginal health, try to maintain a clean environment so that the bacteria can’t enter and infect the sensitive region of the vagina.
