Is this normal? I need help...

[askingquestions11]

Okay, this is SO embarrassing... but here it goes... I've been having odor and discharge from my vagina, as well as other strange symptoms. The bad part is that this has been going on for at least 4 years, but since I never discuss anything like this with anyone in my life and I'm not sexually active, so I didn't realize I had anything strange going on down there until about 2 years ago. Here's the symptoms:

-Smell. It is NOT a fishy odor... more like vinegar-y. It isn't overpowering but it is there, no matter how frequently I wash. I'll be fine for about an hour after a shower, but it always comes back. I obviously don't have any way to compare what other women's vg's smell like, so I have no idea if it's normal... but I feel like it isn't.
-Discharge. I always have at least a little bit of cloudy looking discharge in my underwear, that dries to white. Sometimes I can feel it come out and I think I've started my period, but it isn't. The discharge itself doesn't really smell.
-I always feel kind of "wet" down there. It's especially bad if I'm wearing tight jeans or a dress. I've even started to be shy about wearing dresses, because I'm afraid people will be able to smell me... and with tight jeans, I'm always afraid there will be a wet spot on my crotch (there usually isn't, but it sometimes feels like there might be)
-This is the weirdest part, and the part that concerns me most... if I take my finger and kind of "swab" at the inside of my labia, or lightly scratch with my fingernail, I always get a white build-up. This is the part tha thas odor. Even if during my daily shower I scrub really thoroughly or try to get all of it off, it will be back by the next hour. My vg has been doing this for at least 4 years.
-As far as itchiness goes, sometimes the discharge in my underwear can be uncomfortable, and I guess I have a little itching every now and again, but like I said, I have NO IDEA what should be normal. When I check for the build up in my labia, it does feel like scratching an itch, so I don't know if this stuff is inflaming or causing irritation or what, or if that's a normal feeling.

So, there's the worst of it... I have researched different causes for what is wrong with me, but the thing that confuses me if that this has been going on for FOUR YEARS... surely that's too long to have a yeast infection? Or bacterial vaginosis? I've tried all sorts of home remedies... wearing only cotton panties, sleeping underwearless to "air out," eating lots of yogurt and cranberry juice... I don't douche or anything. I shower everyday.

Please, PLEASE, can someone help me?? Is this normal?? This has been bothering me so badly that I've stopped wearing dresses, wear shorts with a swimsuit, and have been afraid of being intimate. It is ruining my self-esteem... am I normal? I'm too afraid to see a doctor, and I've never been to a gynecologist... How do you even APPROACH a doctor about this kind of intimate, embarrassing problem??

[Clysta]

Actually what you've described is very normal and sounds typical of a female. BV and yeast infections have pointers that would give more clues to them. For example, BV produces a discharge that is grey in colour, and/or might have a fishy odour. Yeast infections produce a cottage cheese discharge and usually also have itchy, swelling and redness.

ALL women have discharge, some just have more than others. It can change as you age and at different times in your life and cycle you could make more or less. All women will also have their own "scent". This is normal and as long as it's not offensive (and trust me, you'll know for sure when it is) there's likely to not be any problem. For example, I have a lotion like creamy discharge now, that has a mild scent to it. Reminds me of rubber.

You have nothing to be embarrassed of, and I highly doubt there's anything wrong. I used to get discharge so bad I would SOAK anything I was in. You might feel a little wet, but I promise you, you're not going to show in the clothing you have on. I myself wear tight pants at times and you would never notice. To help feel more clean though, you can look into using liners and such. These help to keep it off of your clothing and some also can lock in the odour. I use Always Dri-Liners with odor lock and they work really well. Don't be concerned about it, and start wearing clothes you enjoy again! You also have no reason to be scared of being intimate. You WILL produce more discharge when sexually aroused. It's a normal bodily function that is supposed to happen. It helps to lubricate the area so you don't get ripped apart by the friction. Don't be concerned about the smell either. It's generally not noticed by anyone but you, and that's only because you know the scent of your own body. You sound like a typical, healthy female.

Discharge can vary in many stages. It might be thick and white, stretchy and like egg whites, milky white, clear and watery, clear and thick-ish, yellow and creamy, or white and creamy. These are all normal.

What you DO NOT want is green discharge, gray discharge, a discharge with an offensive odor, or discharge that resembles cottage cheese (it comes out in chunks and is white). These can all be signs of infection.

[jenniej01]

you need to talk with a dr, maybe you can speak with your mom or another trusted older female and they can help you in seeking medical advice. My best guess would be a recurrent yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis but again that is just a guess. without being diagnosed and treated though i can't be sure. i do know that left untreated this will continue and at this point you need to be concerned with your health instead of being embarassed. There are things that afflict us which could impair the ability to ever have children if left untreated. This has gone on far too long as it is, i urge you to get it checked promptly by a physician. it need not b a gynecologist but your family dr. can help with this as well and if they can't they can atleast recommend a gyno for you.