Incontinence?

[electricdruid.livejournal.com]

I know there's no such thing as a stupid question but sometimes I wonder if this might be one. Not that I'm embarrassed if it is :P

Basically, my question is: how does a girl know if she's suffering from incontinence?

I'm 21, and for much of my pubescent life I've experienced discharge that stains my underwear. Often is is pale yellow, which washes out, but over time it becomes darker, more like a pale brown. Buildup, I suppose. I'm not talking years, here. I'm not keeping my underwear that long. Obviously if I've had it for years and it's stained like that, I'm going to toss it. But if I've only had the pair a few months... 

I know every woman is different, but my mother likes to declare that my "stains" are so dark and she never had any discharge like that and there must be something wrong with either me or the way I wear my underwear (her suggestion is to change my panties twice as often. She also told me to buy only dark underwear so that this doesn't happen anymore. Which is false, of course. It'll still happen, I just won't see it). My boyfriend occasionally gets uncomfortable about it when we're doing laundry at his place and asks me to throw out some of the worst offenders, telling me that when he was a kid he did his family's underwear and never noticed this with his mom's or sister's undies (TMI?).

Anyway, so I've got to thinking- what if I'm experiencing incontinence? How do I know if this is a drop or two of urine, or if it's regular discharge? Would urine be likely to color underwear in this way? Would discharge?

Comments

[sand-woman.livejournal.com]

It's rare in my underwear, but I've noticed it with female relatives' underwear in the laundry so I would guess it is normal, but hopefully you will have a first-hand account soon. With mine, I get holes eaten through the lining, rather than actual stains.

[katrina-splat.livejournal.com]

I think some people just have different acidity to their discharge. You could always invest in some cloth liners that you can bleach to remove the staining? You could also mention it to your gp next time you're at the doctors, it could indicate some kind of dietry imbalance (totally guessing here, but it's what I'd do).

[neek-love.livejournal.com]

I somehow mange to stain even my black knckers, don't ask me how! It's been happening to my undies as long as I can remember and always seems localized to the inside crotch, so I'm guessing it's a result of something out of my vagina, but I've never had abnormal discharge or symptoms so...I guess it's just something some women get? Not mch help I know, but you're not alone :)

[kissxbangxbangx.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to add that it happens to me, too. Sometimes I notice that the crotch of my black underwear seems to have actually been bleached by my discharge, somehow! I've also had it for as long as I remember.

[fullcollapse.livejournal.com]

Same here! It never concerned me enough to actually worry, but it's good to know that it's more common than just myself.

[freckles42.livejournal.com]

That's urine doing the bleaching! Urine has been used since prehistoric days to bleach things, including furs and leather. Link! (http://www.wisegeek.com/is-it-true-that-people-can-use-urine-for-bleaching.htm)

(The more you know!)

Edited to add link.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Or the vaginal fluid itself. The lactobacilli (http://blogs.webmd.com/womens-health/2008/06/vaginal-discharge-normal-or-not.html) in the vagina produce hydrogen perioxide, which in turn can lighten black underwear.

[neek-love.livejournal.com]

Well there ya go! Crazy lady bits, what'll they do next!

[mandy.livejournal.com]

I'm in this boat as well. I don't have many darks for underwear but some have suffered the same fate lol.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

It's normal and even healthy. In a healthy vagina, lactobactilli (http://blogs.webmd.com/womens-health/2008/06/vaginal-discharge-normal-or-not.html) are present in pretty large quantities. Some strains of it produce hydrogen peroxide, which tends to have a bleaching effect on dark fabrics.

[kissxbangxbangx.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! I already knew from VP that it happened to other people, but I didn't know it really was bleaching it!

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

That happens to me. I think its pretty normal.

[djonma.livejournal.com]

There is a very, very specific smell to urine. The acidic urea smell.
I have drip incontinence due to my major medical condition, and have had for some years now (I'm 29), and it's very noticeable, and very definitely not discharge.

I actually find the vaginal discharge to stain more than urine as well, I think fabric cleaners have something to help remove urine in them for kids.

[dichotomous.livejournal.com]

Every woman's discharge is different. I have the same problems, and it's not from pee. Also, if I buy dark panties, they get bleached-out spots instead of dark ones. I just buy new ones if they look too bad, and if I am particularly fond of a pair of panties, I wear a pantyliner to keep them looking as good as possible for as long as possible.

[katscanx.livejournal.com]

I've had the same problem, and honestly, I've come to just accept that something in my vag - I'm guessing something to do with the acidity or PH - changes the color of my underoos. Black underwear gets a kind of bleached effect, and white underwear gets a yellowish staining effect. If you're concerned, you can certainly go to the OB-GYN and have them test for abnormalities, but honestly, I'd just say that this is how your vagina works. If you aren't having any problems - if you have an otherwise healthy vagina - leave well enough alone, and tell your mom to stay outta your crotch's business.

Everyone's body works a little different. As you can see from the responses here so far, you are NOT alone. I very, very, VERY much doubt this is incontinence, or you not being "clean" or something like that. Vaginas are interesting environments with all kinds of biology & chemistry type stuff going on. So try not to worry about it. You're not alone. :)

[whatmollysaid.livejournal.com]

you'd probably be able to tell by the smell if it was urine. every woman is different, so just because your boyfriend's female relatives don't have this, doesn't mean you're abnormal. if it's a big problem, maybe try using a pantiliner?

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

As far as telling whether or not it's urine, you could maybe check out the smell -- I think even a few drops of urine would be noticeable. That said, I would be surprised if it were incontinence, as having vaginal discharge stain or discolor underwear is not an uncommon issue at all. :)

It's been happening to me since puberty, too, and I'm pretty confident that it's not due to incontinence but just to the action of my normal vaginal discharge. Mine will discolor white underwear in pretty much the same manner you describe, and sometimes will even bleach darker-colored ones. This is also something I know other people have experienced -- this entry (http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/12272307.html) is about the very same issue as experienced by another VPer.

So I don't think there's anything wrong with you or how you wear underwear. You may be different from your mother (and your boyfriend's mom and sister) but that's not a bad thing. :)

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Happens to me too. It's well within the range of normal. I just toss underpants regularly and primarily buy only black underwear -- they still stain and bleach out a bit in time, but they don't get as stained as lighter underpants.

I don't think it necessarily sounds like incontinence. (Even if it is, a drop or two of urine here and there isn't necessarily unusual or problematic.) Many, many, MANY vaginas' normal discharge has a yellowish or off-white colour, and dries darker.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

It sounds perfectly normal to me re the staining of light undies and bleaching of darker ones. [I wear black only, so I know.] It's caused by the proteins in vaginal fluid.

I cringe at the comment your mother made (right, because her vag is better than yours!). And, as for your bf having done his female relatives laundry, well ... if I'd been his sister, I probably would have hand-washed my undies before throwing them into the laundry hamper where They. Could. Be. Seen. And. Sniffed. By. Anyone!

Though I've never tried cloth pads, I read that women use hydrogen peroxide to clear away the stains that blood can leave. Of course, putting cute panties into something like that would probably ruin them, but you could try dabbing some onto just the crotch area before throwing them into the wash.

Or just wear liners, especially if the panties are expensive, etc.

[acharmedlife.livejournal.com]

You just have a lot of discharge. Some women's bodies are like that.

Similar thing happens to me. I just have to wear pantyliners all the time. Solves the issue of stained undies.

[freckles42.livejournal.com]

Ditto this. I go through 2-4 a day, depending - but it's far better than having to change my underwear several times a day!

[mandy.livejournal.com]

My mom and I are actually similar in that we both have a lot of discharge that gets all over our underwear. However she chooses to put on panty liners every day for the issue, something I found a little embarrassing/strange as a teen because I thought those were only used during one's period! But I bet you my mom has salvaged many more pairs of underwear than me because I let my undies get stained :/

I still do not use liners and sometimes I feel like I should, just for the sake of my underwear, but it's that or getting a rash in my groin from the constant friction from the cotton liners (verrrry uncomfortable; I can only wear them for as long as my period lasts...any longer and I get itchy and a rash). Your issue sounds very normal to me! Already numerous comments here have spoken about being in the same position. And I too was very self-conscious about my boyfriend seeing my stained underwear, still am to a degree, but if he ever makes an insensitive comment about it so help him! I'm sure he'd appreciate a rant and a long explanation about how my vag is fine and normal and all about the discharge :P

[draiochta-faol.livejournal.com]

It sounds normal to me.

I run my white panties through a bleach wash once a month to get stains like that out (or make the stains lighter and less noticeable). It seems to help and my cute ones with patterns get a color safe bleach wash once a month.

[septicidal.livejournal.com]

I get both discharge that will stain my underwear AND suffer from stress incontinence (when I sneeze, laugh too hard, etc.), and I can definitely tell the difference! If you have issues with bladder control, urine is much more liquid than vaginal discharge, and even a small bladder leak will soak my underwear to an uncomfortable degree. I constantly wear pantiliners to cope with both discharge (I am on the Nuvaring, which has caused my discharge to increase from ever-present to voluminously ever-present) and occasional bladder leaks. They also protect my underwear.

Cloth pantiliners may help save your underwear to some degree and be more comfortable/environmentally friendly than disposable ones, but most women experience vaginal discharge to some degree, and regular discharge may appear whitish on dark underwear and yellowish on light underwear. If you aren't experiencing any unpleasant odors or vaginal discomfort, and the discharge has remained largely the same since puberty, your vagina is most likely in good health.

[recyclejlc.livejournal.com]

my discharge has stained my light underwear and bleached out my dark ones, ever since my period started.

[lacrimose.livejournal.com]

This! My black undies have what look like bleach lines in it. I also notice that if I don't wash my undies right away holes can start to form in the crotch area. . My vagina is eating my panties =( You could try a wearing a pantie liner to save your undies.

[alidiabin]

I have it too. I use pantiliners. I always thought I was weird. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[caninepawprints.livejournal.com]

I used to have this problem on a daily basis, and since April, I haven't had much (if any) discharge. Every woman's discharge is a different color, and it's completely normal! I was still embarrassed by it, though, and sometimes had to change my underwear. When I started doing was keeping a box of pantiliners on hand and throwing those out throughout the day rather than changing my underwear.

[encuentracuerpo.livejournal.com]

sounds just like me! i used to be so embarrassed and worried something was wrong with me, but now i just wear a panty liner and on occasion an instead cup if it's particularly uncomfortable. actually, instead cups are a lifesaver in this situation... they're spared my underwear.

also, tell your mom thanks for the concern, but there's nothing wrong with you. :)

[jenn-girl.livejournal.com]

Me too! I frequently wear panty liners so I don't have to deal with the feeling of discharge, but otherwise whits/ very light fabric gets stained, and black gets bleached looking.

I am so happy VP exists, because when I was young I thought something was wrong with me because of this. It took me a lot longer to figure out it was normal than it would today.

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

My discharge does the same as yours. I have to say I've never really thought of it as an issue - the thing that has worried me is that sometimes there is a LOT of discharge, like, literally my underwear and trousers will be wet through. It's definitely not urine, but part of it could be perspiration.