We all get freaked out by vaginal discharge. Chief of the worry is having contracted some sexually transmitted infection.
You might have towed the line and stayed faithful but what if the other party “steps out of line” or even worse; goes around town spreading some lovin’?
As hard as they are, I will readily break the difficult news of cancer to 10 patients any day than talk with one woman about a positive sexually transmitted infection (STI) result. The rage and despair is frequently misdirected to the bearer of news.
So what about a vaginal discharge points to a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
Without sending a sample of the discharge to the lab, it’s hard to be certain beyond a reasonable doubt. Nonetheless, I will leave you with some pointers.
Before I get down to it, here are a few things you would need for the task;
-A good sense of smell
-A good color perception (in a nutshell, you cannot be color blind)
-A small mirror to look “down there” might also be necessary
-Watch the Scoop on Sexually Transmitted Infection Video
What to Look for in a Vaginal Discharge
1. Thick white or yellow cheesy discharge with itching and irritation down there – sounds like a yeast infection. This is not a sexually transmitted infection.
2. Thin grayish discharge with a fishy odor – sounds like bacterial vaginosis. Also not a sexually transmitted infection.
3. Thick or thin yellowish discharge with pelvic area discomfort could be a sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea or Chlamydia. Lab testing is the only way to confirm for sure.
4. Bloody discharge lasting several days and you are not pregnant – yep, your menstrual period all right.
There are no easy answers for the vaginal discharge dilemma. Someone who knows what she is doing (like your doctor) probably needs to look “down there” and take a sample of the discharge and then send it off to be tested at the lab while you wait a couple of hours to days to find out what you have. Sigh!
Medical Pop Quiz: What do you know about wetness “down there?” Find Out Below
[vqzb quiz_id=29]
The video below goes into even more details about sexually transmitted infections (STI)
On this 8 minute video you will discover;
⇒How to tell the difference between a normal discharge and a sexually transmitted infection
⇒You will see the images of the different sexually transmitted infections
⇒You will get a primer on the specific treatment for each type of infection.
The Sexually transmitted infection video is available to logged in Healthgist members.
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Great info to know. Things we need to know but are afraid to ask.
You want to know the No.1 search engine query that brings people to Healthgist.com? It is this very topic or a variant of it. People are too self-concious to ask in person so they type it in Google.
Dr. Bola this post is so informative, sometimes you have no idea what is going on down there but googling WebMD does more to frighten you then give an actual response. Thanks for this 🙂
You are welcome Pat. I have to say that Google and WebMD has done more for the medical and healing profession than we care to admit. When folks are all worked up, they run to their doctor’s office.
Great read. The vagina is suuuuch a complex region and requires the most care, and I agree with Pat. I’ve learned to stay away from google when it comes to any ailment and just see my GP.
Good call Alex!