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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To fucking cry about this

141 replies

Fedup19473 · 27/09/2025 23:36

Hi,

i know posts like this sometimes get accused of being a troll- I’m not, I’m a long time poster but I’ve namechanged for obvious reasons.

possible TMI as I’m talking about female issues but I could honestly sob I’m so down about this all. Sorry for swearing in the title but tbh it sums up perfectly how I feel

I’ve had issues with vaginal discharge for a while and after another particularly bad day of it I actually feel like I’m at my wits end and could burst into tears. It’s quite literally ruining my life. I’ve always had issues with it but recently it’s changed - it used to be normals/whiteish etc but just a lot of it, but over the last few months it’s changed- I’m getting more of the white discharge and an insane amount of other discharge- it’s so watery that it’s soaking my underwear and trousers. I work in retail and today at work I suddenly realised I had a huge patch of discharge which had soaked through my trousers and left a patch probably around 6cm by 6cm. It was the worst shift of my life trying to hide it. I didn’t even realise at the time it had happened which is what scares me most because I can’t tell until I see it on my own trousers.

I don’t know why this is happening. It’s not pregnancy or STI ( I’ve never had sex), I’m in my mid 20s and when I went to the doctor before they said it’s normal. I understand that it can be normal, and previously I was getting a lot of white discharge so that’s normal for me- but now there’s significantly more and to the point I regularly look like I’ve peed myself. I’ve had hormone blood tests which were fine and now I’ve just been left to get on with it and frankly I could fucking cry about it

I tried tampons but I’d basically have to wear tampons everyday which isn’t great, and same with sanitary towels because it dries my skin. But the other alternative is I’m walking about looking like I’ve peed myself without realising

has anyone else ever had this and have any clue wtf it could be? Google says pregnancy or STI which it’s not, and my hormones are fine, but I just don’t feel like this is right and my friends the same age as me don’t get this. Otherwise I’m fine apart from bleeding in between periods but the doctor wasn’t concerned about that- it started a few months ago and only happened a few times, but I don’t get any cramps or pain so they said it’s fine

if anyone knows what tf this could be and how I can fix it I would be so so grateful

OP posts:
Turtleturtling · 28/09/2025 09:05

Another vote for period pants, I have leaking issues with urine and they are a game changer!

Kateluvscats1 · 28/09/2025 08:52

I second cervical erosions, STD/GUM clinic is a good idea. Good luck.

Emonade · 28/09/2025 08:51

Fedup19473 · 27/09/2025 23:36

Hi,

i know posts like this sometimes get accused of being a troll- I’m not, I’m a long time poster but I’ve namechanged for obvious reasons.

possible TMI as I’m talking about female issues but I could honestly sob I’m so down about this all. Sorry for swearing in the title but tbh it sums up perfectly how I feel

I’ve had issues with vaginal discharge for a while and after another particularly bad day of it I actually feel like I’m at my wits end and could burst into tears. It’s quite literally ruining my life. I’ve always had issues with it but recently it’s changed - it used to be normals/whiteish etc but just a lot of it, but over the last few months it’s changed- I’m getting more of the white discharge and an insane amount of other discharge- it’s so watery that it’s soaking my underwear and trousers. I work in retail and today at work I suddenly realised I had a huge patch of discharge which had soaked through my trousers and left a patch probably around 6cm by 6cm. It was the worst shift of my life trying to hide it. I didn’t even realise at the time it had happened which is what scares me most because I can’t tell until I see it on my own trousers.

I don’t know why this is happening. It’s not pregnancy or STI ( I’ve never had sex), I’m in my mid 20s and when I went to the doctor before they said it’s normal. I understand that it can be normal, and previously I was getting a lot of white discharge so that’s normal for me- but now there’s significantly more and to the point I regularly look like I’ve peed myself. I’ve had hormone blood tests which were fine and now I’ve just been left to get on with it and frankly I could fucking cry about it

I tried tampons but I’d basically have to wear tampons everyday which isn’t great, and same with sanitary towels because it dries my skin. But the other alternative is I’m walking about looking like I’ve peed myself without realising

has anyone else ever had this and have any clue wtf it could be? Google says pregnancy or STI which it’s not, and my hormones are fine, but I just don’t feel like this is right and my friends the same age as me don’t get this. Otherwise I’m fine apart from bleeding in between periods but the doctor wasn’t concerned about that- it started a few months ago and only happened a few times, but I don’t get any cramps or pain so they said it’s fine

if anyone knows what tf this could be and how I can fix it I would be so so grateful

keep going back to the doctors until they listen to you, you shouldn’t be having to put up with this. Take some on with you if you can to support you, GPs aren’t great at taking women’s issues seriously

Qwerty21 · 28/09/2025 08:51

Fedup19473 · 28/09/2025 00:10

obviously I can’t say for sure but honestly it doesn’t feel like normal vaginal secretions to me

ive literally had days where ive had to change my underwear and trousers several times throughout the day or else id have a massive patch as if ive peed myself - not just a tiny bit of discharge, I’m talking completely covered

none of my friends have had this and it’s only started for me a few months ago, maybe it is normal and I’m wrong but it really doesn’t feel like it

Show quote history

Is there any chance you could actually be wetting yourself a bit? Especially with you mentioning the issue with your bladder not feeling completely emptied.

Etten1 · 28/09/2025 08:49

To rule out anything sinister, it is important that you go back to your GP and request a cervical smear test. You should also request a swap for infection. Hope it can be cleared up for you.

PuppiesProzacProsecco · 28/09/2025 08:48

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it but have you tried Tena pads/liners? They hold a lot of liquid as they're designed for urinary incontinence. I wear a tena light liner everyday (shout out to my children and perimenopause here) and I've not had any irritation from them but I have had soreness/irritation from extended wear of sanitary pads before.

SweetBaklava · 28/09/2025 08:46

I’ve had hormonal vaginal discharge since I began my periods, BUT it is not as bad as what you have been experiencing recently and definitely requires specialist investigation. I think you’ve had some great advice on this thread and I am confident you will get to the bottom of it. Don’t waste any more time with GP, straight to private specialist if you can afford it. I’m really glad you posted OP - no woman should have to suffer like this! 💐

StrongLikeMamma · 28/09/2025 08:45

Go to the doctor.
Buy period pants.

TheGrimSmile · 28/09/2025 08:31

I would get a full vaginal swab done at a private lab. Also ask GP to test for BV - but NHS standard tests aren't always great. It sounds like you have an infection which is just an imbalance of bacteria.

LeftieRightsHoarder · 28/09/2025 08:23

Best of luck, OP. You’ve had some good advice here, but I’d also try posting on Mumsnet’s Health board, where more readers may be specialists.

mumuseli · 28/09/2025 08:13

So sorry to hear you’ve got this going on. Looks like you’ve been given some good advice on here, but I just wanted to add that there are ‘natural’ /organic sanitary pads which would hopefully be less irritating for your skin while you’re getting this sorted.
I think it’s totally reasonable to contact the GP practice again, in the light of the issue getting worse. If you book the appointment online there is usually an opportunity to click that it’s an ongoing issue that has worsened – you could point out how it has now impacted you at work. Most female GPs at my practice state (on the website blurb) that they have a particular interest in women’s health - hopefully you will get a sympathetic female GP who will help you to resolve this.

Goldwren1923 · 28/09/2025 08:05

At the GP or sexual health clinics they test for only basic STIs and don’t test for other non specific infections. They are useless for more complex cases.
try to get a referral to a gynaecologist and testing for a wider range of infections (not just standard STIs but things like e.coli etc).

or go private.
you must insist it is an infection that they are not finding and not treating

Mumofsoontobe3 · 28/09/2025 07:52

I had this issue but it was post partum and as you say - you're not sexually active so it rules that out. Do you ever get thrush? It could be a yeast infection. Have they swabbed the discharge at all? I had a nasty yeast infection PP and it was very similar to what you're experiencing. It was cleared up with the anti-fungal tablet used for thrush. Hope it clears up soon OP. Period pants are your friend, they're really good!

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 28/09/2025 07:52

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but a good probiotic might help. It has cleared up a lot of my intimate issues including constant thrush.

Sailawaygirl · 28/09/2025 07:50

I have had similar OP. Sometimes I don't know if I've leaked pee or it's very watery discharge. Mine normally happened when I had a bit of ?cystitis and other irritation. I never went to Dr with it as it tended to last a week and get better. But it was really really hard to manage when it happened.
Definitely try sexual health clinic. Also the usual things of drinking lots of water and avoiding irritating foods like coffee and alcohol for a bit

Catwalking · 28/09/2025 07:49

Shitmonger · 28/09/2025 01:59

That’s because 99.7% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV, which is sexually transmitted. If she’s told her doctor that she has no sexual history then that would be ruled out.

Show quote history

Sorry to say this is outdated info. Non sexually active women (even Nuns it’s said) can contract HPV, it’s not perfectly known how HPV is transmitted, which is why every1 needs to be tested. I would expect a GP to know this?

Namechangerage · 28/09/2025 07:48

dontblameme · 27/09/2025 23:42

How about period pants? They're comfortable and absorbent, maybe wouldn't irritate you like pads?

Second this for the meantime, but don’t let the Dr fob you off!

imisscashmere · 28/09/2025 07:45

Fedup19473 · 28/09/2025 00:02

Tbh I’m at the point I’m just gonna do that and pay privately to see a doctor who can help. The thing that made me unsure was the gp said there’s no reason to refer me to a gynaecologist because my periods are not heavy or painful so there won’t be anything wrong or anything for them to treat, so it made me unsure about whether a gynaecologist is the right person to help, and if not, then who even is

ahh

Show quote history

Do it! A private gynaecologist can help. I had irritation, a constant need to pee, and a tiny bit of watery discharge (I don’t think I mentioned the discharge to her as it wasn’t bothering me).

She tested my urine, examined me visually and with an ultrasound, and took one or two swabs to send off for tests. She wrote me two prescriptions which she gave me on the day. When the lab tests came back, she called me and told me which one to fill. She was bloody excellent and fixed me when I was at a point of feeling total despair.

There absolutely IS help out there for you, you just need to go and find it.

Jfieobabco · 28/09/2025 07:38

Are your smears up to date? Does the discharge have an unusual smell or colour?

Brunonononooo · 28/09/2025 07:33

I don’t have experience of this exactly but I think something more absorbent such as Tena would work better than period products if you are finding yourself soaked. I struggled with incontinence for years and I wore them constantly, more for security than anything, but they did work if I ever suffered a leak. I really feel for you and hope you can get some answers and not be fobbed off again.

Theoturkeyfliesnorth · 28/09/2025 07:29

After reading all your updates ,I wonder if you have overactive bladder syndrome,and the discharge is actually urine very slowly leaking out .
You need to see a consultant for your bladder

Theoturkeyfliesnorth · 28/09/2025 07:25

M and s black dotty print period pants..just wear them every day instead of normal knickers..no more wet patches

Thatsalineallright · 28/09/2025 07:21

Short term, have you tried reusable cloth period pads?

Medium term, keep showing up at your gp's practice until they actually try to give you answers. It might be a less common infection or something.

Longer term, try to look into balancing your hormones through food, exercise, sleep etc. There's a book I'd recommend, 'the Fifth Vital Sign' by Lily Hendrickson, that really goes into detail about gynecological health and how to help your body.

NorthernLass2025 · 28/09/2025 07:15

Get some period pants they can be used for anything like normal knickers aswell game changer for 2 female members in my extended family

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