[hahalebou]

Ever since my very first period, my vagina has smelled like fish and has had a whitish, sometimes grayish, mucus-y, cottage cheese-like discharge a week before my period starts. I am just now finding out that this is not normal and is a sign of a vaginal infection, according to the internet.

I have never had sex (although I do masturbate), and there are no other symptoms present except from occasional itching in/near the lips that is relieved after wiping it with a wet paper towel or cloth. Is this something I need to see the doctor for, or is it just the effect of teenage hormones/owning a vagina?

Whew. That was embarrassing.

[Indie'sOK]

Don't be embarrassed......it's all part of the experience

I'd say that you should see a gyn, just to be on the safe side. It could be a mild infection or nothing at all, but better to find out now rather than later. Don't be embarrassed about talking to the doctor about it - they've seen everything and more.

Hope this helps x

[lynn P.]

Its okay so don't be embarrassed. This sounds like 'bacterial vaginosis' and yes you should see a doctor for this. I don't know how old you are or if you've ever have a gynecological exam before. Even women who have never had sex can get this. Its important that its properly diagnosed just in case its 'thrush' which is a yeast infection and would be treated differently than the bacterial one.

If you've had this for a while, you really need to get this taken care of. In the meantime, you should start eating yogurt because the friendly bacteria is good for the vaginal area and intestines. There are various ways a woman can get this kind of infection. Here's some links to look at:

http://www.womenshealth.gov/publicat...-vaginosis.cfm

http://www.fpa.org.uk/helpandadvice/...erialvaginosis

[Yoda]

You may have a yeast infection but it is possible it could be bacterial. (what you describe sounds more like yeast though)

There are over the counter meds for yeast infections but it is advised that if it is your first time treating a yeast infection that you see a physican.

You don't have to have sex to get a yeast infection. It is fairly common to get a yeast infection after you have been on antibiotics.

Welcome to the wonderful world of womanhood!

[unaluna]

it is also common to get extra mucus when you ovulate, and that might be some of what this is, although I agree to get it checked. This mucus would be maybe a little more than a week before your period starts, but it would depend on how long your entire cycle is. This discharge is perfectly normal and its function is to help sperm swim up there and make babies. It would coincide with "mittelschmerz" a german word that means the pain in the middle (of the cycle) that some women feel at ovulation. I often felt like I had appendicitis. You do not switch from left to right ovary month by month, by the way. That might make sense, but it ain't necessarily so. I rarely "shot" from the left, who knows why. Kinda makes you wonder how this works for boys, but maybe that's TMI at this point!

[hahalebou]

Sigh, this is what I was afraid of. Honestly, this has been going on for five years now, and now that I know this isn't something normal, I'm terrified of this infection messing with my fertility (not that I'd want to conceive right now, but you know what I mean).

I've heard stories of the infection returning as soon as two weeks after clearing up, and I'm already weary of antibiotics as they have a nasty habit of destroying all bacteria, and possibly creating stronger bacteria if it isn't completely killed off. Is there any way that I could fix up an at home remedy for this? Can I take some bromelain or acidophilus (we don't have yogurt) or other supplements?

I've never been to a gyno, and I'm afraid to go. Thank you for helping, ladies.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by hankster

I rarely "shot" from the left, who knows why. Kinda makes you wonder how this works for boys, but maybe that's TMI at this point!

Interesting. My son was conceived with the egg from my left ovary.

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by hahalebou

Sigh, this is what I was afraid of. Honestly, this has been going on for five years now, and now that I know this isn't something normal, I'm terrified of this infection messing with my fertility (not that I'd want to conceive right now, but you know what I mean).

And I've heard stories of the infection returning as soon as two weeks after clearing up. Is there any way that I could fix up an at home remedy for this? Can I take some bromelain or acidophilus (we don't have yogurt) or other supplements?

I've never been to a gyno, and I'm afraid to go. Thank you for helping, ladies.

I can understand its very hard to go for your 1st gyno appt. - the 1st time I went it felt so humiliating. It gets easier though. I prefer to go to a woman although I've gone to both. I'm fine with the whole process now and honestly this is no big deal to doctors. My family doctor is a woman and she does my yearly exam. Do you know of a female doctor and would that make it better for you? The trouble with treating this on your own is - you don't know for sure what this is. If its thrush which is a yeast imbalance - this is treated differently than a bacterial one. If its bacterial then you really need a doctor.

[hahalebou]

Originally Posted by lynn P.

I can understand its very hard to go for your 1st gyno appt. - the 1st time I went it felt so humiliating. It gets easier though. I prefer to go to a woman although I've gone to both. I'm fine with the whole process now and honestly this is no big deal to doctors. My family doctor is a woman and she does my yearly exam. Do you know of a female doctor and would that make it better for you? The trouble with treating this on your own is - you don't know for sure what this is. If its thrush which is a yeast imbalance - this is treated differently than a bacterial one. If its bacterial then you really need a doctor.

My GP is a male, so I guess I'll have to do some independent research with my mother to find a female gyno on our insurance plan. I would definitely feel more comfortable with a female doc than a male doc, at least for now. I'm getting nauseous just thinking about it.

[unaluna]

Now you're talking about PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), and I think you more get that from an IUD or an untreated STD, and that could cause your Fallopian tubes to become blocked. In which case when you wnt to become pregnant, they can "blow" them open. I once asked them to "test" me, and they said they don't do a "test blow" to see if they are blocked, unless you WANT to get pregnant, because that MAY unblock them. But I don't think BV or a yeast infection will progress to PID, but I would at LEAST check it out and discuss remedies with a gyno.

[lynn P.]

Some women who get very stressed during a gyno exam, can ask for someone to be in the room but not in view of what the doctor is doing. For example some ask their best friend, nurse in the office or even your mom(unless that would make you uncomfortable). The person could face you, away from the doctor.

They always put a sheet over you so you're don't feel completely undressed. Make sure you make it clear you're not sexually active. I'm fairly sure there are self testing kits for yeast infections but I still don't advise depending on this.

Here's a few tips to avoid yeast and bacterial infections -some seem so obvious but not all women are aware of them.
- pretty well most people know to wipe from front to back.
- wear cotton lined underwear
-stay away from douches - women really don't need this at all.
-use mild soap - no bubble baths and when bathing...make sure you wash the lower half first and make sure the bath tub is clean.
- antibiotics can cause yeast infections, because it kills the friendly bacteria too, which makes it easy for the yeast to multiply.
-thongs have been known to cause bacterial infections.
-make sure your hands are clean before you touch your private area.

[Indie'sOK]

I had my first exam when I was 10, and they really aren't that bad. The doctors do so many in a day that one really isn't much different from the next