To fucking cry about this

[Fedup19473]

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

Bumping for you. Hopefully someone will be able to help as it sounds awful. You poor thing.

Yes my friend had this. It was an infection and antibiotics cleared it up and it went away quickly. Speak to your gp! It could be so easy to solve.

Hi op. When you had the appointment for the mid cycle bleeding, did the dr send you for any additional tests with gyno? He should have done really, as mid cycle bleeding needs investigating. Probably nothing sinister as you’re a virgin, but worth a look.

Anyway, re the discharge, I did suffer with this in my late teens/early twenties and it was diagnosed as BV. You can get a wee test from boots that will give you an indication if you have BV. If you do, it’s just a a case of antibiotics and it’s gone.

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

Have you tried a mooncup?
This does need further investigation but may help in the meantime as won't dry you out and can be worn for longer.
Solidarity with the long retail shifts, going to the loo is not simple in that environment!

Second period pants

Can you go to a local sexual health centre (you don’t have to be sexually active to attend)? They are usually very digitally accessible and have online booking systems and walk in options. Just google your nearest. This is absolutely their bread and butter. Have you had swabs? Has anyone examined you? Could be bacterial vaginosis. In the meantime maybe consider period pants as they will deal with the embarrassment side of it without the discomfort from using standard period products. But do please get seen again because it’s clearly very hard for you. Not sure if you saw a female doctor but that might be something to consider - I feel like a man just wouldn’t get this, doctor or not.

Nah they didn’t, just said it’s normal for some women to get it mid cycle and that my bloods were fine

Thanks so much! I actually picked up a self test for thrush and bv and both were negative. I went to the pharmacy anyway and was given treatment for thrush anyway (I’ve had that before and this didn’t feel like it but still figured it was worth a try) but unfortunately it’s not got better x

Is it constant or at certain times of the month? I get a lot of clear discharge before and during ovulation, usually lasts about a week and sometimes feels like another period in terms of volume and pain!

I second period pants or reusable pads to deal with embarrassing leaks and speak to your GP again.

Wouldn’t rely on the self test OP - go and get a proper test done at the sexual health clinic they’re really good at it

Period pants and/or moon cup, and go back to your doctor and insist it’s not normal and that you want a referral to gynae as it is impacting your mental health and ability to work.

And can you wear dark pants for work? After a lifetime of light periods I now frequently bleed through a moon cup/tampon and period pants in a few hours. It’s miserable but manageable by wearing black trousers - but it’s only a couple of days a month for me so easier to deal with.

Ohh I didn’t realise you could go to that if you weren’t sexually active, I assumed it was just for STIs. I’m going to have a look and see what’s near me, thank you!

yeah I’m gonna get some period underwear or a mooncup to use in the meantime. I’m just so upset and fed up with it all and I’m upset I’m even having to do it and that this is happening to me but frankly I cannot have another day like today at work because it was awful

TENA lady pants. Totally different to pads.

It’s pretty much constant now. It used to be I would have a lot of white discharge directly before my period and that was normal for me, but this is totally different and it’s all the time. It’s basically like I’ve peed myself constantly

thanks- I’ll get some period underwear

Being a women is fucking brutal sometimes

I also need period pants for clear discharge at certain times outside my period but it is not constant. I hope you can get it resolved!

Skip your GO & go to either a sexual health clinic (cheaper & you don't have to be sexually active to go to one) or a women's health clinic.

it's not normal, it's affecting your quality of life & you don't have to just put up with it.

Cervical ectropion (not as dramatic as it sounds) can lead to increased discharge. Ask your GP for a gynae referral. I hope you get some answers soon 🤞🏻

Have you heard of washable sanitary pads? I know it can take a bit to get your head around but especially as your issue is watery discharge rather than period blood it might really help you.
When I was younger and had rheavy periods that lasted almost two weeks I got irritated skin from pads and tampons. Organic unbleached products were hard to find and expensive and period pants didn't exist, but I found washable pads.

Sorry I can't help with the discharge but agree with others to try a sexual or woman's health clinic. Good luck op.

🤗it is. But sexual health clinics ir women's clinics really can help!

I had similar during the menopause and understand how you feel. I did find that knickers liners helped, just because they keep you dry.

Hi
my advice would be to wear a decent pant liner in the short term , then ask your GP for private Gynae referral.
This will cost you about £250 but you will see a a Gynaecological Consultant at a place of your choosing at a time to suit (within a couple of weeks)
he/ she will listen to your presenting symptoms and suggest a management plan.
This may include tests or treatment alone
If you let them know you would prefer ongoing care via the nhs, he/ she will write to your GP with a plan . You are young and not yet sexually active, and if this is affecting your daily life then itvis not unreasonable to do this.
Hope you get things sorted x

I think you would benefit from a high vaginal swab to rule out bacterial infection. I’ve recently struggled with excessive and prolonged bleeding and discharge. A (non-STI) infection was picked up. Two courses of antibiotics cleared this up followed by an Ultrasound scan which the pocket of infection could be seen (hence the second lot of antibiotics). I’d return to the gp/nurse.

In the meantime, try panty liners (bodyform are the best) and change it each time you go to the loo. I used femfresh wipes regularly to freshen up. Drink plenty of water and carry a spare pair of knickers.

I actually didn’t realise how truly awful I had felt until I started to feel better. I was anaemic and off work for over a month after running myself into the ground. Definitely go back to the doctors, I had 4 appointments before I got proper help.

Definitely go back to the GP if it’s impacting your life this much.

In the short term, incontinence liners may be more comfortable for you to use than period pads / panty liners. They have more “coverage” than panty liners and tend not to be scented, so less chance of adding thrush to the issue,

I use the period knickers and find them great . I don’t actually get periods but still have heavy discharge at times

Thanks for all the suggestions. Going to look on Amazon now for period underwear and search up some local sexual health clinics

the other thing I meant to mention and just realised I forgot is I keep getting this feeling after peeing where I need to go again, and then I have to squeeze out a bit more for the feeling to go away. Sounds silly but previously I just peed and then the sensation to pee went away but now it doesn’t until I actively squeeze really hard to make sure I’ve completely peed, and it’s like I have to squeeze every last drop out, and even then I still feel like I need to go sometimes. I’ve had urine tests and they were all fine, they gave me a course of antibiotics in case I had a uti but it didn’t help. Again, that started a few months ago too

Honestly it’s been the worst few months ever with this and today felt like the final straw completely