Hi Alice,
I am a thirteen-year-old. I have a problem in my uh "area." See ya
know the natural lube that comes out of a woman's vagina? Well, it is constantly
dripping, and I don't have sex or anything. I always have to wear toilet paper
in my underwear. Do I need to get it checked out by a doctor? Or can I treat
it my self?
signed,
Dear ew gross,
It can be hard to get answers about private areas issues, and you're brave
to go ahead and ask.
It's difficult to tell what might be causing you to have natural lube dripping
from your vagina, so it makes sense to get checked by a health care provider.
A provider can treat you effectively after examining you to diagnose your symptoms.
Is there someone who can help you to make an appointment, and maybe accompany
you there? If you can't talk with your parents, or another relative, perhaps
a school nurse, or a friend's parent, can assist. Unlike some other health situations,
self-treatment is not really an option here.
A health care provider is a useful resource. It's hard to do, but you
can talk with the provider, clothed, before you are examined, to tell her or
him of your concerns. Or, you can write it in a letter for her or him to read
before s/he examines you.
The natural lube you're talking about is often "discharge." Just as
every woman's genitals look unique, every woman's discharge is unique, in terms
of amount, color, and scent. A number of things can cause one's vaginal fluids
to change character. A lot of women notice that their natural secretions change
over the course of their menstrual cycle. At some times of the month, the natural
vaginal lube may be thinner and more watery; at other times of the month, it
may become thicker and stickier.
A number of other things can cause changes in vaginal fluids, including:
- yeast infections
- bacterial infections
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis
- pregnancy
- the birth control pill
- allergies to anything used on the genitals, such as soaps, creams, powders,
laundry detergent, fabric softeners, feminine hygiene spray, douches, spermicides
- medical conditions that change the balance of hormones (chemicals) in the
blood
When you go to a health care provider, s/he will ask you lots of questions about
your body. The provider will probably want to know whether this lube is a change
for you, or whether you've always had a lot of natural lubrication. You'll be
asked if you are noticing anything else, such as a strong, unpleasant odor, or
a new color or consistency. The provider will want to know if you have any other
symptoms, such as pain, itching, or burning in your vaginal area, or any pain,
burning, or other difficulties when you pee. S/he will probably examine your vulva,
and may take a small sample of the secretion to look at under a microscope. If
you have an infection, medicines are available to take care of it.
One last thought: some young women mistake urine leaking from their bladders for
fluid leaking from their vaginas. If it is urine leaking, it could mean a bladder
infection, which is pretty common in girls, young women, and women (again, there
are medicines to treat bladder infections). Lots of girls and women also notice
that they sometimes leak a little urine when they sneeze, cough, or laugh really
hard. There's a reason for that expression, "I laughed so hard, I peed my
pants!" It's pretty annoying when it happens, but normal. Girls and women
have a very short distance between their bladders and the outside world, so pee
can easily sneak out when laughter, for example, squeezes a full bladder.
Kegel
exercises can help, if this is the cause.
By taking your body's health seriously, as you are, you'll change your "ew
gross" to "wow, great."
- Alice
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My vagina won't stop dripping — Help!
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