What does leucorrhoea mean?
Leucorrhoea is a medical term for whitish discharge from the vagina. It may refer to normal mucus produced during reproductive life, but it is often used when the discharge is excessive, persistent, or associated with symptoms such as irritation, itching, or pain. Such discharge can have several causes, including infection, inflammation, hormonal changes, and irritation, so the word does not by itself identify a particular disease. The term is most common in clinical writing and is less likely to appear in everyday conversation. It is especially relevant during pregnancy, when increased vaginal discharge can be physiological, although new or unusual symptoms still require medical assessment. The British spelling is leucorrhoea, while US English generally uses leukorrhea. Its usefulness lies in naming a specific bodily phenomenon without implying a diagnosis; determining the cause requires clinical evaluation rather than inference from the discharge alone.
nounAn excessive or abnormal whitish discharge from the vagina, especially one caused by inflammation or infection. The term may also refer to normal mucus discharge during reproductive life.
- Abnormal or excessive whitish vaginal discharge, often associated with inflammation or infection.
- The normal mucus discharge produced by the vagina during reproductive life.
"Persistent leucorrhoea accompanied by itching prompted her to consult a gynaecologist."
"The clinician ordered a test to determine whether the leucorrhoea was caused by infection."
"Some degree of leucorrhoea is a normal occurrence during pregnancy."
Rare; leucorrhoea is normally used in the singular in medical writing.
"The clinical notes described recurrent leucorrhoeas over several months."
A symptom can sound like a diagnosis, but leucorrhoea describes what is happening—not necessarily what caused it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does leucorrhoea come from?
The word combines Greek leukos, meaning “white,” and rhoia, meaning “flow” or “discharge.” It thus literally refers to a white discharge. The same Greek element appears in modern medical words such as leucocyte and leukaemia, as well as in leucoderma.
How leucorrhoea is actually used
This is chiefly a clinical term and is less common in general speech. It is relatively uncommon in US English, where leukorrhea is the usual spelling. Normal physiological discharge is sometimes distinguished from abnormal discharge by the same term, so context is important.
Easily confused with leucorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, whereas leucorrhoea is a descriptive term for whitish vaginal discharge that may have many causes.