Reviewed By:
Ravi P. Chokshi, MD (Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN), Critical Care)
Current Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow with Dual board certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Critical Care Medicine. | 5+ years experience managing a general Ob/Gyn practice and working in the Intensive Care Unit. | Previously Physician Lead of a large single specialty practice with 8 Physicians and 10+ Advanced practitioners. | Member of the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Patient education committee. | Frequent Medscape Consult contributor.
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD (Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN))
Dr. Kanazawa graduated from the Niigata University Faculty of Medicine and received his Ph.D. from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. He is working on the front line of the General Perinatal Center, including the Tokyo Tama General Medical Center and the National Center for Research in Fertility Medicine, where he provides maternal and fetal care and undertakes clinical research. At Ubie, Dr. Kanazawa has been designing the Ubie AI Symptom Checker and has taken on the role of general obstetrics and gynecology consultation at FMC Tokyo Clinic by providing fetal ultrasound and prenatal consultation.
Content updated on Oct 10, 2023
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Smelly vaginal discharge
Vaginal discharge odor
There is a large amount of vaginal discharge with bad smell
Excessive amount of vaginal discharge
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With an easy 3-min questionnaire , Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
Questions are customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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Normal vaginal discharge should be clear or white without significant odor and not cause any irritation. Discharge that is foul smelling with an unpleasant odor should be investigated for infection.
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Generally, Foul-smelling vaginal discharge can be related to:
A healthy human vagina contains various types of bacteria. When the balance of bacteria is disrupted, some types can overgrow and cause symptoms. Common triggers include vaginal washing, sexual intercourse, or use of an Intrauterine Device.
Infection of the vagina by a parasite called Trichomonas. The disease is sexually transmitted but often does not cause any symptoms in men.
Pyometra is extremely rare in humans. It occurs when there is a blockage of the opening of the uterus (cervix) and an infection occurs in the cavity, and it can fill with purulent material (pus). This occurs mostly in older, post-menopausal women when the cervix (outlet of the womb) is narrowed by tumors or previous surgeries.
Sometimes, Foul-smelling vaginal discharge may be related to these serious diseases:
Chorioamnionitis is a pregnancy condition where the tissues and fluid around the fetus (unborn baby) become infected. This typically occurs in labor after the water bag (amniotic sac) is broken, but can occur before this as well. This is a serious condition that requires delivery of the fetus to protect both the mother and the baby.
Premature Rupture of Membranes
Threatened Preterm Labor
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
Hildebrand JP, Kansagor AT. Vaginitis. [Updated 2022 Nov 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470302/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470302/Spence D, Melville C. Vaginal discharge. BMJ. 2007 Dec 1;335(7630):1147-51. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39378.633287.80. PMID: 18048541; PMCID: PMC2099568.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2099568/ACOG Patient FAQ
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/vulvovaginal-health?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=otnReviewed By:
Ravi P. Chokshi, MD (Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN), Critical Care)
Current Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow with Dual board certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Critical Care Medicine. | 5+ years experience managing a general Ob/Gyn practice and working in the Intensive Care Unit. | Previously Physician Lead of a large single specialty practice with 8 Physicians and 10+ Advanced practitioners. | Member of the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Patient education committee. | Frequent Medscape Consult contributor.
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD (Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN))
Dr. Kanazawa graduated from the Niigata University Faculty of Medicine and received his Ph.D. from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. He is working on the front line of the General Perinatal Center, including the Tokyo Tama General Medical Center and the National Center for Research in Fertility Medicine, where he provides maternal and fetal care and undertakes clinical research. At Ubie, Dr. Kanazawa has been designing the Ubie AI Symptom Checker and has taken on the role of general obstetrics and gynecology consultation at FMC Tokyo Clinic by providing fetal ultrasound and prenatal consultation.
This symptom checker site is a great resource to either get an idea of what is happening inside your body or even get a second opinion without incurring another huge bill. It also provides a way to connect with a professional if needed. I really enjoy this site.
Aug 30, 2024 (Female, 40s)
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