I have white discharge and a smell. Please help me out.

Question

Hi doctor,

I am having a white discharge and a smell. I have had it for a year and some months now. Last year, I was treated for trichomonas, and I have not had the same symptoms at all, just this white discharge. No redness or burning and no itching. Just the discharge and smell. Please help me out.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As you have given a history that experiences smelly white vaginal discharge without redness, burning, or itching for more than a year, and you had treatment for trichomonas, I would suggest you have a high and low vaginal swab to confirm the diagnosis. But as per history, it seems like an imbalance between normal and abnormal bacteria in the vagina. This might be due to the following:

1) Multiple sex partners.

2) Vaginal douching.

3) New sex partner.

It increases the risk of getting other STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or PID (pelvic inflammatory disease). It even increases the chances of getting HIV if having contact with an infected person. If pregnant, there are more chances of preterm labor/premature delivery. At present, you are not having symptoms, but you might have pain, itching, and burning in the vagina, burning during urination, itching outside the vagina, and a strong fish-like odor after having sex as well. I would recommend you take some precautions along with recommended treatment; Metronidazole 500 mg orally twice a day for seven days or Metronidazole gel 0.75 % one full applicator (5 g) intravaginally once a day for five days or Clindamycin cream 2 % one full applicator (5 g) intravaginally at bedtime for seven days. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and start taking medicine with their consent.

Precautions:

1) Try to avoid alcohol consumption strictly while taking oral treatment till 24 hours after completion of oral treatment.

2) Vaginal Clindamycin is an oil-based cream. It might weaken latex condoms and the diaphragm for five days after use. Try to refrain from sexual activity or use condoms consistently and correctly during the treatment regimen. Douching increases the risk of relapse.

I hope you understand my advice.