Vaginal Discharge

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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination including a pelvic exam.

Medical history questions may include:

• When did the changed or abnormal vaginal discharge begin?
• Do you have the same amount and type of vaginal discharge throughout the month?
• What does the discharge look like (color and consistency)?
• Is there an odor?
• Do you have pain, itching, or burning?
• Does your sexual partner have a discharge as well?
• Do you have multiple sexual partners or sexual partners that you do not know very well?
• What type of birth control do you use?
• Do you use condoms?
• Is there anything that relieves the discharge?
• Have you tried over-the-counter creams? Have they helped?
• Do you douche? What kind of douche do you use?
• Do you have any other symptoms like abdominal pain, vaginal itching, fever, vaginal bleeding, rash, genital warts or lesions, or changes in urination like difficulty, pain, or blood?
• What medications do you take?
• Do you have any allergies?
• Have you recently changed the detergents or soaps that you use?
• Do you frequently wear very tight clothing?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Cultures of your cervix.
• Examination of vaginal discharge under the microscope.

Treatment depends on the underlying condition. Suppositories or creams may be ordered and antibiotics may be prescribed. Oral medication for fungus or Trichomonas may be used in difficult cases. Your sexual partner(s) may also need treatment.