Due to high levels of estrogen, an increase in vaginal discharge leads to thick white discharge. It is also called ?

Appeared in: MP CHO - 2022

Explanation

Leucorrhoea is the medical term for the physiological increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy.
This discharge is typically thick, white, and odorless or has a mild odor.
It is caused by increased estrogen production, which stimulates the cervical glands to produce more mucus.
The acidic nature of the discharge helps protect the birth canal from infection.

Option A: Hegar's sign is a physical finding related to the uterus, not vaginal discharge. It refers to the softening of the lower uterine segment (isthmus).
Option B: Goodell's sign is a physical change of the cervix, not a type of discharge. It refers to the marked softening of the cervix.
Option C: Chadwick's sign is a visual change in the color of the vaginal and cervical mucosa, not a discharge. It is a bluish-violet discoloration due to increased blood flow (hyperemia).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Physiological changes during pregnancy, specifically the signs of early pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to differentiate between normal physiological leucorrhoea and pathological vaginal discharge (e.g., from candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, or STIs).
Patient education is a key nursing role. Reassuring the patient that leucorrhoea is normal can alleviate anxiety, while teaching the warning signs of infection promotes early intervention.
What if? If the patient reported that the white discharge was clumpy, like cottage cheese, and accompanied by intense itching, the nurse should suspect a vulvovaginal candidiasis (yeast infection), which is also common in pregnancy, and advise the patient to see her healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question stem to identify the key clinical finding: 'thick white discharge' due to 'high levels of estrogen'.
Next, evaluate each option based on your knowledge of pregnancy signs.
Recall that Hegar's, Goodell's, and Chadwick's signs are all physical changes to the uterus or cervix (softening, discoloration) detected during a physical examination.
Recognize that 'Leucorrhoea' is the specific medical term for increased vaginal discharge.
Match the description in the question stem ('thick white discharge') with the correct term, 'Leucorrhoea'.
This makes it the only plausible answer describing a type of discharge.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Physiological changes during pregnancy, specifically the signs of early pregnancy.
Stem keywords: estrogen, vaginal discharge, thick white discharge
Lead-in keywords: also called

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 39-58

Practise the full MP CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.