Painful lumps underarm and vaginal discharge and odour

[foxiekittie]

I did a papsmear last year n i had the cells causing HPV, i was also pregnant and miscarried at 4 mths.  Now i am experiencing painful underarm lumps underneath both armpits. About 3 small ones beneath both arms, and also a brownish vaginal discharge and odour.  I have scheduled a Doctor's appointment for a pap smear, but i am scared.  What are the explainable possibilities?

[auntiejessi]

I've had bv with brown discharge.

Its also important to note that 50% of bv infections will cause no symptoms, so you can't base a diagnosis solely on symptoms.  Testing needs to be done.

Its important to not get too caught up in the color of the discharge, though that can help with a diagnosis, but testing is the most accurate way to diagnose a vaginal infection.

AJ

[london08]

Bacterial Vaginosis normally causes a colourless or frothy discharge. I have never seen a case with brown discharge although that is not to say it doesn't happen, best to look on google or something since I am just advising based on experience which is based on a 6 month GUM clinic placement so I certainly didn't see all there was to see! Normally with BV you will get profuse discharge to the point of feeling wet all the time and even resorting to sanitary towels. It does smell so it could be that. BV normally doesn't elicit a large immune response so I don't think that would explain the lymph node swelling but different people have different responses. BV isn't classifed as an STD since it can be caused by a great variety of reasons. That said, sexual intercourse can cause it due to pH changes particularly if you have recently started having sex with someone new.

Tell me your recent sexual history and I can give you an idea of STD risk. Also, have you had any pain in your abdomen, or pain on urination? Any increase in frequency of urination or getting up in the night to pee?

[auntiejessi]

At 4 months after the miscarriage, you should be able to have a pap done.  

I'm sorry for your loss, and good luck with the doctor.

Aj

[auntiejessi]

Brownish discharge and odor is suggestive of bacterial vaginitis (bv).  

I agree with London about following up with your doctor about this, and getting a pap smear is a good idea, along with testing for bv.  If you haven't had any follow up on the HPV, its very important that you do.

AJ

[foxiekittie]

Thanks for the response. No, i haven't been having treatment for HPV as the doctor told me that only the cells causing HPV were found, and that there were different types of HPV, and a further examination where they had to take samples from the cervix for further testing to determine whether it was the cancer causing cells.  Due to me being pregnant at the time, tests couldn't be done. However, after miscarrying, i lost a lot of blood and he told me that they couldn't do the tests at the time owing to the amount of blood that i had lost, and he wouldn't advise me doing it. Also that the cells would've washed away with the loss of blood.

I wasn't worried about cancer though, but after experiencing the lumps, for the past week, and the vaginal odour and discharge about 2 weeks, i'm worried that it may be a possible STD? The discharge doesn't happen daily, sometimes it's normal, but the odour remains.  

[london08]

Hi, the lumps under your arms are almost certainly lymph nodes. These become swollen as they are the site at which your immune system cells (T cells and B cells) have antigens (virus and bacteria etc) presented to them. When the antigen is presented, your T and B cells will divide rapidly to kill the infection-causing bacteria or virus and this causes swelling. It sounds to me like you are having a flare up with your virus and the lumps you are experiencing are a result of a good immune response to this. This in itself is a good sign although I know it can be uncomfortable and at times even painful. As to the discharge, it's colour suggests the presence of blood and this can be a side effect of treatment for HPV. Have you been having treatment? If so this is normal and you shouldn't worry. Even so, get yourself to the doctor and get a proper examination and diagnosis as this is far beyond the reaches of internet diagnosis on a forum!! In the mean time, try not to worry as it is not indicative of cancer if that is what you are worried about. Hope this helps.