I had this for about 2 years on and off and it smelled different. I noticed it was more after a period had subsided (not regular periods but get them irregularly and light)then after sex the smell would be normal'ish and the discharge would subside.
I went to the Dr's and she said all ok, clean bill of health but I was still suffering from it. I also had a dull ache in my lower back (which I thought was just plain old backache)
Alongside of this I was then sent for an ultrasound where they found small small cyst which later turned out to be nothing but the focus was removed from my original complaint - this horrible discharge.
Went back to the Dr's complaining again and it was making me sore as I do a lot of bike riding in my work and knew it wasn't as it should be. Still nothing. Was sore and achy back.
After my last visit at the hospital to get the all clear of this cyst thing, I asked the Dr about the original complaint that got me here in the first place and he raised his eyebrows and said 'hop up and I'll have a look'. Turned out I had an inflamed fanjo - that gets dry due to being premenopause and therefore discharge becomes more acidic due to the drop in oestrogen (that explains how come a good dose of sperm balances it out temporarily as it's alkali). He gave me a dose of antibiotic cream that I had to put in vaginally every night for 7 nights then he gave me a dose of low oestrogen cream to put up there after the antibiotics were finished (Ovestin) and so far so good. Obviously the cream discharges during the day as it seems quite an amount you're putting in (antibiotic one anyway) but the stale odour has gone and I am not sore any more.
I was suffering for 2 years with that. They could have given me that treatment ages ago and I could have been done and dusted with it.
He didn't call it BV - just said it was inflamed and 'susceptable' (can't spell it) to infection when it gets dry like that. So hopefully this little Ovestin kick will remind my vagina that it's supposed to stay relatively moist.We'll see. And the back ache has gone.