Vaginal discharge and soreness: is it hormonal?

Frequent vaginal yeast infections

Sore area inside the lips of my vagina

Terrible smell coming from my vagina

Unpleasant odour in the private areas

What can be done about a dry vagina?

White discharge coming from the vagina

Yellow discharge instead of a period

Question
I have suffered from a monthly bout of thrush since I began my periods aged 13. I have also had bacterial vaginosis several times.

For about a year, I have suffered from a thick, cloudy, almost jelly-like discharge, which smells strongly of fish. At first I thought only I noticed it, but recently it has become worse, and people have started to comment on it.

I get sore during and after my monthly withdrawal bleed, and have had a red sore on the outer lips of my vagina for about a year. As you can imagination, I get very nervous about being in close proximity to others.

I have repeatedly visited the GU clinic, but my swabs are always clear, even though the nurse remarks she notices the fishy odour. I was told on my last visit that perhaps my problem was hormonal, but no further explanation was given.

Answer
First reassure yourself that no one except yourself will be aware of any vaginal odour coming from your body. We are all much more sensitive to our own body odours than to those of others.

This is what you and the nurse at the GU clinic are picking up on. We all have different smells from our hair down to our feet.

If repeated swabs are negative, then you have nothing serious to worry about. The amount of vaginal discharge and its natural odour will change throughout the month, depending on the precise levels of your hormones at the time.

Most women will experience vaginal dryness before and after a period or withdrawal bleed (if onthe Pill). This is why a lot of women think they are having repeated attacks of vaginal thrush, because they get regular soreness and dryness.

From the information you have sent in you are also taking Prozac. Depression can make you more anxious than usual about body odours and may be adding to your present worries.

Taking the Pill can changes your body's natural hormones (and therefore your vaginal fluids), so unless you need your Pill for contraception (as opposed to regulation of your periods), it may be worth stopping it for a while to see if this helps.

It is hard to determine what may be causing red sore that you describe on the outer lips of your vagina. Again, this may be partly hormonal. Wearing panty liners constantly can also cause vaginal soreness because they absorb the vagina's natural discharge. If you tend to do this, it would be worth doing without for a few days and seeing if this helps.

If you find that you still can't stop worrying about your problem, go and talk to your GP about your concerns, he or she will do their best to put your mind at rest.

Yours sincerely

The Medical Team

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use

© Copyright 1998 - 2008 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved