Bacteria or STD?

[AZman29]

The only time that I have ever had sex with two years ago with a girl who told me that she was a virgin. She also told me recently that she has been to the OBGYN and that she is healthy. While with my current girlfriend, we have not had sex but I have rubbed my penis along the outside of her vagina. She recently got a pap smear and it came back saying that she was okay (this was after a time where I rubbed my penis along the outside of her vagina). Two days ago, she said that she started to notice that she was having a slight vaginal discharge that had a foul smell to it. She looked it up online and saw that it could be either bacteria or an STD. She is a virgin. Which do you think that she has?

Thank you in advance.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

We typically answer one question per thread.  I'll provide a brief answer.

Persons without symptoms can certainly have positive tests for STDs.  Nearly all STDs occur some of the time in asymptomatic form with the frequency with which they are asymptomatic varying from infection to infection.  

No follow-ups on this new question please.  EWH

[AZman29]

I asked this question in the normal forum and they said to ask you. It is a different question to the one that I originally asked. It has nothing to do with vaginal discharge.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm not sure I follow your question.  You asked about her vaginal discharge  EWH

[AZman29]

Would something that can have no symptoms, like genital warts, appear on an STD test or because of lack of symptoms would it not appear?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  There are many causes of vaginal discharge in women and many of the causes are not STDs and many of which represent normal variation in individuals over time. One of the most common causes of discharge in women is a processes called bacterial vaginosis which is an overgrowth of the bacterial normally present in the discharge  There are many other causes as well.  My advice would be that your GF should seek the advice of her gynecologist.  This is almost certainly not an STD, given the history that you provide.  EWH