A
female
age
26-29,
anonymous
writes: weird question coming your way - mostly aimed at women. i started my period about 5 years ago and it's still unreliable timing-wise so i always wear sanitary towels (yes literally ALWAYS and i find tampons uncomfortable so don't use them) but that's not the problem. one of the reasons I always wear sanitary towels is because i sweat and discharge a lot down there. i have gone to the doctors for the irregular periods and she said it was okay unless it becomes worse, but i am too embarrassed to go about this before getting some opinions or experiences from various women out there.have any of you or your partners discharged and sweat so much down there that you had to wear sanitary towel most or all of the time for a few months or years?
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (3 July 2014): I second the suggestion for reusable cloth panty liners!! I bought some on Etsy a couple years ago and I still use them every cycle!
Now, about your discharge. If it is chunky, yellow/green, or smells like fish or yeast, you need to see a doctor because you may have an infection.
That being said, constant wetness down there sounds unusual…are you sure it's not just when you're about to ovulate? Usually vaginal wetness increases ~5 days before ovulation. For example, if I ovulate on day 15 then I'll be the wettest between day 10 and day 15. By day 17 I'll be pretty dry. Vaginal secretions are actually cervical fluids, and they are controlled by estrogen. Constant wetness to me suggests a possible estrogen problem. I would read the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" because it provides a lot more info on the topic.
As a final note, exercise is known to increase vaginal wetness (and is not related to the ovulation stuff I mentioned before). So if you run, bicycle, or even walk long distances every day, that could explain the wetness!!
A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (2 July 2014):
I suggest a few things.
Consider 2 things.
Most sanitary towels have a plastic type coating and that can actually MAKE you produce more moisture and it can give bacteria a "good home" (something you don't).
It would kind of be like wrapping your skin in cling film, you would sweat under film more than where there is NO plastic near the skin.
So My suggestion is COTTON undies. Change them 2-3 times daily til you cease to produce so much discharge, it will slow down.
Birth control pills can help regulate your period. It can help it come like clockwork instead of random timing.
I would also suggest a visit to the gyno.
So COTTON panties, try using thin liners (and change them OFTEN) and a visit to the GYNO. And keep pad in your purse in case your period shows up.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (2 July 2014): Environmentally speaking, you may want to go to a cloth reusable type pad, It would serve the same function and since you are using for everyday swat and discharge, it would not be to unpleasant to wash. At your usage level this could even be cost effective.
A quick google search will give you several manufacturers and instructions if yo want to DIY.
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (2 July 2014):
if the discharge is not smelly or thick and lumpy like cottage cheese... and you do not have itch or burn with it... it sounds like normal discharge.
itch, burn, smell.... thick white lumpy discharge.. that could be a yeast infection and those are also VERY NORMAL. Here in the states it's so common that after you have your first one diagnosed you can self-treat over the counter since you know what to look for.
NEVER wear a tampon if you are not menstruating. You can get toxic shock syndrome.
I can sympathize with never knowing when you will get your period. I was like that for YEARS and YEARS.
I actually went on Birth control pills to help regulate and lighten my periods and cramps when I was about 14.
I would not wear a full pad daily. I would go with panty liners which are very common for women to wear.
But I agree that a visit to the gyn for an all clear is a good idea.
you should go yearly anyway.
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A
female
reader, CindyCares +, writes (2 July 2014):
It depends. Some daily vaginal discharge is perfectly normal and physiological, it's the way the vagina has to self clean and flush out dead cells. It is more abundant and visible during ovulation or when sexually aroused, but basically always present .If it does not burn or itch or has a weird smell or weird colour, probably everything is OK.
I say " probably " because , although the quantity, I am sure, varies from an individual to another... I have never really known of anybody who'd need a sanitary towel every day ( those for menstrual cycles, not just panty liners ) to keep things under control .( Then again, they probably would have not told me , that's sort of personal :).
Anyway, asking your doctor can't hurt, she will be able to tell you if your discharge is physiologically abundant , or if comes from infection, glandular malfunction or what not. Do not hesitate, if you can talk with her about periods , I do not see why you can't ask her about discharge- it's all stuff from the same parish :)
Keep in mind that your habit of wearing constantly sanitary pads might be worsening your problems. Some doctors for instance are against the use of panty liners because they do not let the part " breathe ", and contribute to a more humid environment where bacteria proliferate in excess.
Anyway - probably everything is fine , but do consult your doctor just in case. Better safe than sorry.
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