Smelly brown vaginal discharge

[indierock]

A month ago i had my period as normal and towards the end there was a little brown discharge like there'd normally be at the end of my period but this lingered on for the next 3 wks and it smelt really foul, even worse than a period smell.  I could even smell it through my clothes and had to resort to wearing a tampon even when not on my period.  I have since started my period again and it smells even worse :(  I've always practised safe sex by using condoms (never the pill) and have never had an STD or any form of irritation or itch. I know I should go to my GP but find it extra embarrassing with this awful smell.  Is there anything I can get over the counter or is it more serious than I'm hoping?

Please help, it's getting me really upset and down. :(

[indierock]

Thank you very much for your very quick reply and putting my mind at rest.  Will go to the docs.  

Thank you again xxx

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

This sounds like a classic case of bacterial vaginosis, and you need an antibiotic to get rid of it.  Don't be embarassed to go to the doc.  BV, and all its glory and smells, is VERY common - more common than yeast infections, by the way, so your doc has seen it and smelled it before.

AJ