My history is this: 39 yr. old married x4 years/monogamous G2P2 female with IUD for contraception for the past 4 years...I used to be an ob/gyn nurse...I have had (cultured positive) recurrent gardnerella B.V. for the past 8-9 months...i have been treated with Flagyl, metro-gel, clindamycin as directed each time...the symptoms subside during and right after treatment but recur within a week or so...Prior to the iud placement I had maybe 2 total BV (fully symptomatic) infections in the course of previous @ 15 years of being sexually active...I was recently treated with metro-gel for 10 days-twice daily...i was re-cultured about a week or less after treatment and tested positive for gardnerella again. Now, my gynecologist is recommending a 5 day course of metro-gel and to follow up with twice weekly metro- gel for 6 months...I realize that one should not have intercourse during treatment--but it seems i am always being treated...so, it is unrealistic to be fully compliant with that...I am so frustrated and tired of being on medication and my husband seems discouraged as well...My gyne says he does not believe that IUD is part of the problem, so he does not recommend removal. Usually my symptoms are mainly some burning type feeling in the vagina with only occasional classic fishy odor if it's full blown along with some clearish discharge...I am a smoker, so no OCP's for me at this point and we are unsure about sterilization. What are your recommendations???

Thanks so much for your time!

Hi Dr. Gian,

I have just one question to ask you, but i will let you know of my history. Iam 18 years old, and I have had sex with two people. My first partner I had protected and unprotected, and with the other: unprotected. The second person that I had intercourse with, I made him remove himself and he was only inside for like 5 seconds or less. I have a creamy white and/or clear discharge or liquid that comes from my vagina. When my first partner and I would have foreplay I would have a creamy white and/or clear discharge as well. I have had this discharge before I became sexually active. I don't have any bumps on my vaginal area, but I do have this discharge often, like when iam turned on by something. Im a teenager in high school, so I get turned on by alot of things or ideas come into mind, and that is when the discharge comes along. My mom does not know that i have been sexually active in the past, and its hard for me to just want to go to a gyno without her questioning me, because I dont want her to know yet. The discharge doesnt have a bad smell to it, it has the same smell long before i became sexually active. I am now getting very worried because more and more people are getting AIDS and also catching different stds. The commercials that are coming on are starting to make me very curious and are making me worry about my health. Please help me doctor

Question:

Can you PLEASE let me know what you think this creamy white and/or clear discharge could be? And should I try to see a doctor? And can you also tell me where I could get free std and HIV testing done without my mother finding out? Thank you so much Dr. Gian. It would mean sooooooooo much to me if you could reply back as soon as you can.

Doctor Let me tel you my history i been with my partner for a while now about a year ago i meet a married men and we started having unprotected sex. He told me that his wife had an affair about 5 years ago . He never got tested for an STD. I stop having sex with him for about 4 months this past Friday 26 of this month we had sex again. This time I got a yeast infection." I think that's what it is?" I think I might of got it from him or my other partner because that same day I also had unprotected sex with the guy I been with for a while. Let me tell you my symptoms .. I have a thick yellow/green discharge at first it was white now it's yellow/green. The outside part of my vagina itches alittle, in the top part of the vagina wall it feels like I have a lump and the lump feels like it has little lumps on it it's really wierd. I have no ordor. I been using Monistat 3 now for 2 days I have one more applicator in the treatment is done . What should I do If it does not go away? If it does not go away could I have an STD? I cant afford to get tested I lost my job not to long ago and I dont have medical insurance. What should I do? Should I make my long time partner get tested? Im so scared. Thank you for your time "PLEASE PLEASE RESPOND SOON!!"

Hi,

It is possible you might have a Trichomonas or a Vaginitis. You need ot see a Doctor and consider some STD testing. If you have financial consideration you may call upon the local health Department free clinic for testing and treatment.

Be well.

Dr. Gian

 

Hello.

My husband and I have been together for nine years. During the past six months I have been to the GYN everytime we have sex because my vagina starts to smell immediately after we have sex. I have been on monistat for the past four months. Please help me. Is he getting this from sex. My GYN says that I do not have a sexually transmitted disease. I am sick and tired of smelling like this. Somethimes I go on for weeks without sex after my treatment so that my vagina will not smell. I am about to ask for a divorce. He swears he is not having an affair but I no longer believe him. Please help.

Hi,

Vaginosis/vaginitis vs. trichomonas infection.? Why don't you both get tested and, if needed, treated and go on with your sexual life? Monistat is useful for yeast infection but may not be the right treatment if you are positive for one of the two indicated situations which respond well to metronidazole.

In good health.

Dr. Gian

my wife has a fishy smell and has been treated for this a couple of times, they told her it was not a sexual thing but it keeps coming back. i told her to ask the doc if we should both be tested and treated i have no symptoms. but its frustrating for both of us because it always comes back with the bad fish odor

Hi

Same as above

Dr. Gian

Hi Dr.Gian thanks for your time....

well before I lost my virginity I got this discharge but really didn't pay mind..... like about 8 months after being with my boyfriend i got this fishy odor and it was kind of greenish and yellowish, but once again I didn't worry but it smelled..... when i get my period and it leaves I get that fishy odor for like 2 weeks and its extremely embarrassing because it smells and its constantly there... I was thinking it was bacterial vaginosis.. and it comes out like 24/7... but after the 2 weeks the odor leaves but i still have discharge... what can it be doctor? I would really appreciate your help and advice and once again thank you..... I'm extremely worried...

Hi,

I think your diagnosis is good and consider also a trichomonas infection. Have an exam and a test for vaginosis/vaginitis . The treatment is easy and they are both not only treatable but also curable.

In good health
Dr. Gian

Hi dr.

I 'm a little be scared, because the last 6 months ago ,every two months l have a vaginal itching and discharge but don't smell bad.

its is normal or not. Also l feel always like dizzy and sleepy.

thanks in advance

Hi,

You want to check into the possibility of recurrent vaginal infection due to yeast and/or trichomonas.

Be well.

Dr. Gian

Dear Dr. Gian,
I have noticed a yellow discharge in my panties and a strong vaginal smell. I bathe every other day. Would I have this discharge and smell if I bathed every day. I have douched a lot in the past month. At least once a week, because I have very, very, dry skin, and if I bathe everyday, I am misarable with itchy, flakey dry skin. I am married and my husband and I only have sex once a week. I wash up before sex. I noticed last week that my clitoris was itching. But I am not itching now. I just stink down there and have some yellow discharge. I am on Depo-Provera shots every 3 months only for endometriosis. My husband has had a vasectomy. Could my shots be causing this smell? Please email me and let me know what you think.
Thank You,
Jenny

Hi Jenny

VAGINITIS is a possible situation. VAGINITIS means "vaginal inflammation." and vaginal discharge and genital itching are its main symptoms. Vaginitis may occur because of chemical irritation (e.g. excessive douching, or excessive use of over the counter yeast medication) or may have an infectious cause. The are three main classes of vaginitis : Candidiasis (thick, white, cottage cheese-like, non-odorous discharge) Trichomonas (foamy, yellow-green foul-smelling discharge) Bacterial vaginosis (white-gray discharge, fishy odor). I don't see a relationship to the Depo shots. Check with your Doc and consider a cycle of Metronidazole.

Wish you well.

Dr. Gian

Is there a 4 pill cure for bacterial vaginitis that is taken all @ one time?

Hi,

Yes, metronidazole 500 mg tablets. Four of them at once. If you have a weak stomach you can go with two a day of the same for a week.

Be well,

Dr. Gian

Ciao Dr. Gian,

I really appreciate what you are doing for people even if you don't get to answering my message. I'm doing this in hopes to get a response of course. Well, I haven't been very careful lately when it comes to the people I have been giving myself to. In the past month and a half I have slept with seven individuals. In the past week or two I have notice my odor has changed. It is now very distinct, not foul, but kind of fishy. My urine is not clear, but cloudy. I do not notice any type of skin irritation, or any burning sensation. Everything appears to look normal. There is a little bit of itchiness, but it isn't extreme. My discharge appears to be normal, but I am still concerned. I shower one to two times daily, but within a matter of a few hours, that smell comes back. I am going to be twenty years old in a month. I have had one yeast infection, so I am not quite sure what to look for. I don't believe in diagnosing myself. I was wondering if maybe it could be hormonal??? I want to go get tested, but it is too expensive. I am not financially stable enough to spend $500 to test for everything, otherwise I would. I want to narrow the possibilities of what I need to be tested for. If you could, please respond. I would really appreciate it. Hope to hear from you soon. Grazie mille (thanks a thousand). Ciao.

Ciao my friend,

Pretty busy lately! It seems to me that Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is a good possibility. BV develops when some types of bacteria that may live in the vagina in low numbers (mainly Gardnerella vaginalis) become more common than the normal vaginal bacteria (lactobacillus). The most distinctive symptom of BV is a thick, milky vaginal discharge with a strong fishy odor. Doctors do what is called the Whiff test. Several drops of a potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution are added to a sample of the vaginal discharge. A strong fishy odor from the mixture suggests bacterial vaginosis (BV) is present. I think you need to see a physician also for a Trich culture and to get medications for BV. Check with your local free Clinic or call 800-232-4636 and they will guide you to one.

Stai bene ( Be well)

Dr. Gian

I'VE READ OTHER PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS AND THEY SOUND AS STRANGE AS MINE. MY NEIGHBOR (NBR) , A TEEN CAME OVER WITH TEEN FRIEND. THE TEEN FRIEND CONFIDED IN ME SHE HAS STD BUT DID NOT TELL ME WHICH AND MADE ME PROMISE NOT TO TELL HER FRIEND. PROBLEM IS : THIS STD TEEN USED MY TOILET. I USED IT AFTER HER AND NORMALLY I FLUSH 1ST BUT HAD TO GO SO BADLY I FORGOT SHE WAS THERE BEFORE ME. I HAD B.M. (BOWEL MOVEM.) AND IT SPLASHED GREATLY, MORE SO THAN EVEN TAKING A BATH. I'D HEARD FROM PRIOR GYNEC. VISITS YOU CAN'T GET ANYTHING FROM THIS SO I IGNORED UNTIL 2 MONTHS PAST AND NOW I HAVE FOUL ODOR(NOT THERE BEFORE), HAVE TO URINATE 3 TIMES FOR SMALL WATER. HAVE NO PAIN, NO CRAMPS, NO RASH, NO ITCHING, NO BURNING ETC. ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, WHEN VERY STRESSED, (BURN CANDLE BOTH ENDS) GYNECO. SAID I HAD VAGINITIS AND WAS TREATED WITH FLAGYL AND METRONIDAZOLE. LAST STD TESTING WAS 5 YEARS AGO. NO OTHER SYMPTOMS THAN THE ABOVE. I DO NOT KNOW THIS GIRL'S NAME AND CANNOT ASK MY TEEN NBR WITHOUT VIOLATING HER SECRET. AM I IN BAD WAY AND WHAT SHOULD TEST BE?

Hi,

It is probable that you are having a flare up of your vaginosis/vaginits and the information acquired from the teen has been magnifying your perceptions and concerns. Why don't you visit the Doctor who treated you before and obtain a refill on you medications?.

In good health

Dr. Gian

Hi Camille,

it seems to me you are dealing with a situation called BV (Bacterial Vaginosis). All the cavities of our bodies which are open to the outside world such as the intestine, mouth, vagina, rectum contain a population of organic, biologic components made of waste products, viruses and bacteria. These have been with us since the beginning of time and share there existence in harmony with us. They form a sort of "atmosphere" around us like the one around the earth. We usually call them " friendly bacteria" since they even have a somewhat protective effect to our bodies. We distinguish them according to the type and location. The vagina normally contains a lot of "good" bacteria, called lactobacilli (say: "lack-toe bah-sil-li") which normally provide a natural disinfectant (similar to hydrogen peroxide) and helps in maintaining a good vaginal health and a few other types of bacteria, called anaerobes (say: "ann-air-robes").

When there are alterations, at times even subtle, in the processes of our bodies and in those of our environment there may be a change in the components of this "atmosphere" in favor of bacteria which are not the useful or the friendly kind, the anaerobes. Such is the case of BV which is a mild infection in the vagina caused by too many anaerobes which grow in the absence of oxygen. The "numero uno" and best known of these bacteria is Gardnerella Vaginalis.

Like many other situation in medicine we have made many observations and produced many explanations for BV but really we don't know why the anaerobe bacteria overgrow and cause this infection. May be you do know, if you are willing to take a good, unbiased look to your health practices and behaviors such as nutrition, activities, stress, peace of mind, etc.

In BV usually a vaginal discharge is present which is clear or grayish colored and which may be light or heavy and may have a fishy smell, especially after you have intercourse. Some women have BV without any symptoms. Doctors when examining the vagina use a cotton swab to get a sample of the discharge for testing.

At times the infection clears by itself, at times gets so bad that, if it isn't treated, the bacteria may get up into the uterus or the fallopian tubes and cause more serious infections. Treating bacterial vaginosis lowers this risk. Treatment is especially important in pregnant women. Remember, if you are given medication for BV, not to use alcohol while taking them to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Is it an STD? Controversy is in favor to the negative since BV may be present in women who do not engage in sexual activities.

Can it be associated to other STD's. Yes.

Be well and enjoy.

Dr. Gian