I've Been Tested-Still Having Symptoms

[Lily482]

I've been experiencing vaginal itching for several months now. It started out as mild and has gotten worse. I've only had sex one time with one person and it was about 4 months ago.  I went to see my OBGYN Doctor and had a Pap smear done, testing for Chlamydia and Ghonnorea, yeast infection, and bacterial infection. All my of results came back normal. However, I am still experiencing itching externally and internally on a daily basis. I have mostly normal discharge with it occasionally being thicker and jelly-like but usually it is clear. I noticed some small white bumps (almost translucent) around the opening of my vagina and 2 fleshy bumps underneath of the vaginal opening (I think these are Bartholian glands but I'm not sure). I've changed my bodywash to hypo-allergenic soap, I'm using dye-free and scent-free laundry detergent, and I'm still in discomfort. Do you hve any idea what could be causing this itching and what I can do about it? My doctor keeps insisting that everything is showing up normal.

[Tikvah]

          I am 50 yo post menopausal experiencing similar itching with multiple visits and cultures negative. I switched doctor. It looks like I have contact dermatitis/ vaginitis maybe from scented product like bodywash, detergent or dryer sheet(softener).
           I also have newly identified prolaspe stage 2 -I think it is uterine.
           I have changed to unscented, changed my hormne replacement to something stronger. I was told that the low dose prempro wasn't strong enough. I think the idea is to thicker up the vaginal lining. I was told that when it is thin there can be leaking, the clear sweetish smell discharge.
           I didn't recall EWCM or egg white cervical jelly mucous present at the time of ovulation. I thought that had all stopped with menopause.
           I do have a little stress incontinence. Sometimes I am not aware of it. Maybe the excretion in my panties irritate the skin causing the irritation?

[aim7407]

Hey there I'm not the doc, but wanted to try to help.You might just have reoccuring yeast problems, that aren't bad enough to show up on a culture? Or, perhaps like you said, a certain type of soap or bubble bath is irritating that area? I also know sometimes the kind of panties you wear can do this. But as for the little bumps around your vagina, and the "fleshy" bumps,,, to me, that sounds almost like genital warts. I'd go and have it checked out if I were you, just to be on the safe side. And even if that is what it is, I have friends who have them, and it's not as if it's a death sentence. Unfortunately, they are more common than a lot of people realize. The only problem is, they can cause cervical changes and cervical cancer (although for the vast majority of women they don't), so I'd go to the doc. Unless these bumps were there the last time you saw him/her and they said they were nothing. But if they are something new since the last time you saw your gyn, then I'd go back and have it investigated.  The thick , clear jelly like discharge is most likely what they call EWCM or egg white cervical mucous. It's very typical mucous and is present in a lot of women around the time of ovulation. A lot of women that are trying to conceive a baby are looking for this fertile sign. Usually you will get ewcm anywhere from one day to a whole week before you ovulate. Once ovulation occurs, most women become somewhat noticably dryer and the discharge is less plentiful and stickier. I hope this helps you some.

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

It sounds like your doctor has evaluated you for some of the most common causes of vaginitis and you have made the appropriate personal hygiene changes typically recommended in these cases.  

There are non-infectious causes of vaginitis that may be causing your symptoms.  Consider revisiting your physician to be re-examined (especially if the bumps you note are new) or seek a second opinion.  An evaluation by a dermatologist may be helpful as well.  

Best regards,

Dr. Downing