Very embarrassing, bothersome, sex-life-altering vaginal discharge!

[sunandfire]

So... for over a month, I've been having what looks like thrush down there, only it's pale yellow in colour and doesn't cause me any kind of discomfort or irritation - it just LOOKS unslightly and there's a LOT of it. It's also inconvenient, as it's caused me to have to wear a pad (I'm usually a wearer of thongs, and menstrual cups when I menstruate). I first noticed this during intercourse with my partner. To my horror, both our genitalia were covered in this thick, creamy, pastel yellow froth which we'd both never seen before. Midwife, indeed, diagnosed it as thrush (upon sight, not a swab), and prescribed me a Canesten pessary. I can't say whether or not the pessary worked because the unusual discharged returned before I even noticed it leave. I often inspect my lady area with a magnifying mirror throughout the day (I've been doing this since before I was pregnant as I like to be in touch with what's going on down south), and when I look inside [the opening of my vagainal canal] I see the walls coated in this stuff (the discharge) in a very clumpy, yeasty, thrush-like way, but whatever this is is only partially characteristic of thrush (it's pastel yellow rather than the typical 'white', it doesn't cause the classic itching/soreness, and it doesn't seem to respond much to Canesten - Canesten usually cleaars thrush for me). Not only that (this is where it gets head-hang level embarrassing), but, upon inspection, the discharge has a very acidic, vinegary smell! Would this indicate that my pH is seriously off? But that would point to thrush, no? Why, then, isn't the discharge responding to thrush medication (Canesten)? Also, my midwife took a vaginal swab on the same day that she diagnosed this as thrush (upon quick inspection, alone), and there was no later mention of the swab indicating/confirming thrush or any other infection, so my assumption was that the swab came back negative.

I just want to know what this is and how to get rid of it. Does it sound familiar to anyone? I shower daily with scent-free shower gel (Simple or Sanex are the only ones I use), and I don't douche. I know probiotics are supposed to help with things like this, but could anybody recommend any vegan probiotics (I'm vegan)? Natural remedies would also be appreciated.

Thank you for your thoughts and your help! My sex life is pretty much non-existent because of this and I feel like my feminity has been zapped! I'm also worried that if this is still an issue come labour (although I'm only 27 weeks so there's still a way to go), this could be problematic for baby when travelling down the birth canal!

I had this and I had was group b strep. Go to your go and ask for a swab xx

Ask midwife for your swab results. As PP said it could be group strep b which is harmful to baby so you really need to know. Also it could be Bacterial Vaginosis which may require antibiotics to clear up.

ask the mw if the results of the swab are back- iirc, thrush requires a less acidic environment (vagina normally being slightly acidic) also has a definite 'yeasty' smell, so I doubt this is thrush, esp if Canestan has no impact.

You examine yourself with a mirror throughout the day ??

Just why ?

Does your vagina put on entertainment for you?

Im in touch with my body but it sounds like you have an awful lot of time on your hands !

You can get vegan probiotic capsules called Bio Kult that are really great. I find them in my local health food shop
Kombucha is also a great vegan probiotic drink but maybe keep it in little doses in pregnancy if you've never had it before
Saurkrout (a zingy raw coleslaw) and of course coconut yogurt are also great for probiotics

As for the fluid deffo get your swab results. However it may even not be anything wrong st all. Your vaginal fluid changes over the monthly cycle due to hormones, and in pregnancy your hormones are all different, and well just cause it too be different. But still deffo get the swab test result so you know isn't something harmful as that's a possibility also

Congratulations on the pregnancy 💖

Go see your gp or the local gum clinic. They will know what it is and how to treat it. I had yellow thrush once it was after months of antibiotics for a skin condition. I had to have a prescription treatment (not canestan) as it was not candidia.

@mrstobe90 @buttonmoonb4tea I DO have group b strep. Was diagnosed just the other day (@mrstobe90 I was who you were talking to about this the other day on a thread I posted then!).

@newtlover Ah, so what I'm experiencing is the opposite end of the spectrum to thrush, pH-wise? That's useful to know - thanks!

@nomudnolotus I examine my vagina throughout the day when something looks/feels 'not quite right' down there, yes - it's a habit I got into after developing/being diagnosed with a vulval skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis, where I'd want to monitor how bad it was getting or whether it was improving (it was causing me a lot of pain, so I was eager to get rid of it). I don't see regular vaginal inspection as something to make a snarky comment about. I remember a gynaecologist on TV once saying that women don't examine their own vaginas enough! I'm currently writing my university dissertation on women living with chronic illness and their attitudes towards their body and identity whilst juggling other commitments and responsibilities, so I definitely don't have 'an awful lot of time' on my hands. :)

@lilymossflower Thank you for that very helpful comment, and your kind wishes! I'll be heading to my local health shop tomorrow. :) I'll definitely ask about those swab results!

@happymumof4crazykids I've been sceptical about going to the GP about this as I find that, because they're GPs, they're not specialised enough when it comes to maternal/gynaecological issues (early in pregnancy, I was prescribed a set of antibiotics for a UTI and later, through my own research, found out that those particular antibiotics are actually UNSAFE to take during pregnancy - I was devastated). Gum clinic may be a better option - thanks!

@mrstobe90 As you assume it was related to the group b strep, is it something that you experienced for the entire duration of your pregnancy, up until baby was born? By that, I suppose I''m asking if there's any prospect of getting rid of it it's it related to the group b strep? :( If it is definitely related, does that mean that intimacy is off the cards? My partner says he "doesn't care", but I feel a way about exposing him to this yucky stuff!

You migjt want to treat your partner to avoid a cycle too.

@grocklebocs Treat him how? He doesn't present with anything strange. I don't even know how these things (non-STD vaginal infections/bacterias) work in terms of the male anatomy - if they can 'catch it' as such...

Unfortunately it stayed until baby was born :(

Go to Dr and get swabbed. I had this a month or so post birth and the nurse was sceptical (including "I swabbed for gohnahorrea and ?? while I was there" - ??!! - if I had either of those I'd have picked them up during delivery in hospital!).

The doctor phoned back quite alarmed once the culture had been done and prescribed some pretty potent antibiotics which I "had" to take, problem solved. I didn't ask precisely what it was but she mentioned strep as per previous poster and it sounded quite aggressive.

If you do have group b strep they might want to give you antibiotics in labour, do your research on the pros and cons.

Sorry posted before I saw half your responses!

@mrstobe90 Ah, what a shame! I think I'll do some research into natural remedies for managing this kind of thing.

@savagehk Oh, so your group b strep (assuming it was that) was undiagnosed and only treated once you'd given birth? :O

The issue with group b strep is that it seems many of us have it and it's only an issue if you're having an episode when actually in labour. Had I been diagnosed with it I would have refused antibiotics in labour in any case.
But yes, whatever it was I had only manifested itself post pregnancy, never had anything like it before or since.

@savagekh why would you have refused antibiotics in labour?

OP read this. Hopefully will help you make your own decisions regardint antibiotics.

evidencebasedbirth.com/groupbstrep/

I was at the doctors for something else yesterday and asked what exactly I had and apparently I had strep a rather than strep b. Hope you've got your doctor's appointment lined up to rule out any nasties!

Re antibiotics in labour, basically what LooseMoose posted the link to.

Had to do the swab again and it came back as Candida (everything else was negative). Was told to go to my GP to get antibiotics to treat the recurrent thrush, but I don't think I'll do that. Firstly, antibiotics usually LEADS to thrush (do to them killing off good bacteria as well as bad), and I think it's a bit of a cop out way of dealing with it. I'll try every natural solution under the sun before running to my GP for antibiotics!

@Mrstobe90 strep b came back negative this time, so apparently it's 'gone'. I know there's a change it'll reappear, so I'm still gonna assume I'll be having the IV during labour!

Due to them*

I had undiagnosed Group B strep with my son. I wasn't given antibiotics until the last minute (just before my son was born). My son was born with Bacterial Meningitis, I'd like to think that if I had been diagnosed and given antibiotics earlier my son wouldn't have had the rough start to life he did.

I'm pregnant again and I will willingly take the antibiotics.