Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

Midwifery (RM)

Education on Minor Disorders of Pregnancy: Leucorrhoea

Leucorrhoea is increased, usually thin or milky, vaginal discharge that may occur normally in pregnancy. Education distinguishes normal discharge from candidiasis, bacterial infection, sexually transmitted infection, membrane rupture, or other pathology.

Purpose

  • Promote comfort and appropriate hygiene
  • Prevent harmful self-treatment and infection complications
  • Identify abnormal discharge and ruptured membranes promptly

Indications

  • Pregnant woman reporting increased discharge
  • Itching, odour, pain, dysuria, bleeding, or colour change
  • Concern about leaking fluid or sexually transmitted infection

Equipment

  • Private consultation and examination area
  • Approved sexual-health and hygiene materials
  • Specimen or examination equipment when clinically indicated
  • Antenatal record and referral resources

Preparation

  • Provide privacy and review gestation and risk.
  • Prepare appropriate testing and referral supplies.

Procedure steps

  • Ask about onset, amount, colour, odour, consistency, itching, soreness, dysuria, pain, bleeding, fluid gush, and sexual-health concerns.
  • Explain that increased clear or milky discharge can be normal but symptoms and gestation matter.
  • Advise gentle external hygiene, breathable underwear, keeping the area dry, and avoiding douching, irritants, and unapproved medicines.
  • Assess for membrane rupture, infection, cervicitis, candidiasis, and sexually transmitted infection using approved examination and testing.
  • Use consent, privacy, a chaperone when required, and appropriate PPE.
  • Discuss safer sex, partner management, and treatment adherence when indicated.
  • Escalate suspected membrane rupture, fever, pelvic pain, bleeding, offensive discharge, or reduced fetal movement.
  • Provide prescribed treatment and follow-up instructions.
  • Use teach-back and address stigma respectfully.
  • Document symptoms, findings, tests, education, treatment, referral, and plan.

Precautions

  • Do not insert anything or perform digital examination when ruptured membranes are suspected unless authorized.
  • Do not self-treat with unapproved vaginal products.
  • Protect confidentiality for STI and sexual-health care.
  • Treat fever, pain, bleeding, or systemic illness urgently.

Aftercare

  • Arrange results, treatment, partner, and follow-up care.
  • Reinforce urgent signs and membrane-rupture instructions.

Nursing considerations

  • Use non-judgmental sexual-health communication.
  • Differentiate normal discharge from infection and membrane rupture.

Patient education

  • Keep the external area clean and dry, avoid douching, and use prescribed treatment only.
  • Seek care for a gush or continuous leak, bleeding, fever, pain, offensive discharge, or reduced fetal movement.

Documentation

  • Record discharge characteristics, symptoms, examination, tests, treatment, education, referrals, and follow-up.
  • Document consent and chaperone.

References and further reading

Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.

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