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Suggest Treatment For Lots Of Discharge And Occasional Itching In The Vaginal Area

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Posted on Tue, 12 May 2015
Question: About a year ago, I took antibiotics for the first time since I was a child. I tried to avoid getting a yeast infection by "natural things"- drank apple cider vinegar twice a day, took 2 pro-bitotics, ate and took garlic, ate greek yogurt (live/natural cultures) and I still developed symptoms, but only slight irritation and the normal cottage cheese discharge. I have had a yeast infection before and these symptoms were mild. I took 7 day monistat. It didn't go away. Off and on it would seem to go away then I would have discharge and minor irritations. I went to the doctor- she said it was just a lot of yeast and prescribed the pill. I took both pills as directed.. still sticking to my natural treatments. I waited a couple more months.. still the same discharge and slight irritations. I went again- she tested me for STDS and took a urinal test. She said I was perfectly healthy, that when giving me the exam- my discharge does look like yeast, and there is a lot of it, but all she sees is the healthy bacteria- a LOT of it (probably from all the natural work) and no yeast. There is also no smell. She asked how I would feel if she told me I was perfectly normal. But what I don't understand, is why I have sooo much discharge (tends to be more white and chunky) to the point my underwear are soaked at the end of the day? She also looked into whether I had sugars in my urine. She said she could tell I take a ton of vitmains, as it was very healthy. I take about 15 vitmains a day. I have tried other things to make sure this goes away besides the natural treatments all the normal ones: cotton underwear, sleeping without underwear, no scented soaps/lotions, no lufa, I stopped shaving, I use detergents with no scents, I watch my sugars as best I can, and I haven't had sex in 6 months to avoid passing a yeast infection to my boyfriend until I knew it was ok. Besides, STDs, diabetes, thyroid, and everything else she has tested me for, what is this? I can only assume it was from the antibiotics but this has been a year now of this. I even tested whether it could be hormonal with my periods, but it is pretty much always consistent on a day to day basis. TONS of discharge and mild itching occastionaly a couple times a week- and I do not take birth control. The only meds I take are vitamins. Nothing else has changed or been introduced differently that I could be reacting to that I know of, but I don't know why all of a sudden this would happen and not go away?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get a swab done to confirm.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
Basically what I understand is - you are having lots of discharge and occasional itching.
ANd that is since once a year.
Now, there is only ONE way to know if you are indeed having an infection, yeast or otherwise.
That is to visit an OB - GYN and have a vaginal swab.
Yeast , or any other organism, would show up on the culture results.
And yes, if that comes up negative, then you HAVE to believe that you do not have an infection :)
Some women have more than normal discharge, as long as there is no odour / redness / itching/ pain, it is all part of normal.
Also, I have a feeling that you are overdoing the vitamins part.
15 in a day is not needed for somebody young and healthy, if you are eating right and exercising in moderation.
Make sure you are not using any ' cleansers ' or hygiene products to clean your vagina.
Nothing is needed to clean the vagina apart from lukewarm water and normal vaginal secretions.
All the best
Please feel free to discuss further.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Aarti Abraham

OBGYN

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 6004 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Lots Of Discharge And Occasional Itching In The Vaginal Area

Brief Answer: Get a swab done to confirm. Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. Basically what I understand is - you are having lots of discharge and occasional itching. ANd that is since once a year. Now, there is only ONE way to know if you are indeed having an infection, yeast or otherwise. That is to visit an OB - GYN and have a vaginal swab. Yeast , or any other organism, would show up on the culture results. And yes, if that comes up negative, then you HAVE to believe that you do not have an infection :) Some women have more than normal discharge, as long as there is no odour / redness / itching/ pain, it is all part of normal. Also, I have a feeling that you are overdoing the vitamins part. 15 in a day is not needed for somebody young and healthy, if you are eating right and exercising in moderation. Make sure you are not using any ' cleansers ' or hygiene products to clean your vagina. Nothing is needed to clean the vagina apart from lukewarm water and normal vaginal secretions. All the best Please feel free to discuss further.