Discharge (bloody, purulent...), white wash... - general questions

swiftangler91 said:My gynecologist is seeing me this Thursday, and I have to head back for a follow-up anyway... I already tried explaining everything about my period to him, but he just wouldn't stop talking long enough to listen properly.

Honestly, guys, I am genuinely baffled by what’s happening here😕. While browsing this PDF today, I’ve already stumbled upon several different threads where women are complaining about their OB-GYNs completely ignoring them🤷. Look, ladies, you need to be a bit more assertive and decisive when you walk into those offices. If they choose to stay deaf to your concerns, remember they aren't the only doctors in the entire country😲. When you see him on Thursday, lay it all out again clearly. Demand that he actually explains what is going on, and for heaven's sake, do not walk out of that office until you get an answer that actually satisfies you. When it comes to your health, you don't play nice—you advocate for yourself, period
.

So, I finally got my routine Pap smear done by my doctor 😢 , and then I found out from two other friends that they had the exact same experience with her
. I mean, it’s not like this is my first time, but I gotta admit she wasn't exactly gentle. I was basically squirming around on the table because, honestly, I can't just sit there totally still and take it. In my opinion, she really should be a bit more tender
.
Anyway, at the end she tells me I have some kind of grayish-white discharge (which I didn't even notice?!) .. and says it's probably some sort of infection. The fact that I was bleeding during the Pap smear just confirmed the inflammation for her
. Oh, and get this—she told me I shouldn't be using pantyliners?!
And she prescribed me Klimicin for the next five days
. To be honest, the idea of taking antibiotics stresses me out. I really don't want to end up with Candida or some other fungal infection, which happens all the time with these things
. So, I'm thinking about just tucking this box away in the cabinet for now
.
What has your experience been like with Klimicin?

I think I'd rather just wait for the actual Pap results before deciding what to do next..

Any advice? 🙂

If you haven't noticed any issues yourself, then honestly, you're probably better off just tucking it away in the closet and forgetting about it...

No real issues at all🙄

Basically, that was just the official system stuff, not my actual doctor's opinion, so I'm thinking about calling my own doc next week to see what they think. Though, I guess it probably won't go against whatever the other doctor said anyway.

Timothy Vaughn44 said:If you haven't noticed any issues yourself, then honestly, you're probably better off just tucking it away in the closet and forgetting about it...

The thing is, most STIs don't present any symptoms at all, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. I personally had no idea I was carrying Ureaplasma until my lab results came back, because I felt completely fine. Based on what you're saying, it sounds like there's no point in even getting a Pap test if you aren't feeling anything—implying you're perfectly healthy—which we know is a dangerous misconception. Almost no STI shows symptoms, with the exception of things like Candida, where you actually deal with itching. Sometimes even HPV stays completely silent while you're unknowingly passing it on. And don't even get me started on Chlamydia; the same logic applies to Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Gardnerella, and the rest of them.

fadedpilot2 said:So, I finally got my routine Pap smear done by my doctor 😢 , and then I found out from two other friends that they had the exact same experience with her
. I mean, it’s not like this is my first time, but I gotta admit she wasn't exactly gentle. I was basically squirming around on the table because, honestly, I can't just sit there totally still and take it. In my opinion, she really should be a bit more tender
.
Anyway, at the end she tells me I have some kind of grayish-white discharge (which I didn't even notice?!) .. and says it's probably some sort of infection. The fact that I was bleeding during the Pap smear just confirmed the inflammation for her
. Oh, and get this—she told me I shouldn't be using pantyliners?!
And she prescribed me Klimicin for the next five days
. To be honest, the idea of taking antibiotics stresses me out. I really don't want to end up with Candida or some other fungal infection, which happens all the time with these things
. So, I'm thinking about just tucking this box away in the cabinet for now
.
What has your experience been like with Klimicin?

I think I'd rather just wait for the actual Pap results before deciding what to do next..

Any advice? 🙂

If she gave you that prescription but you're really hesitant to use it, then just wait for the PAP results. That way you'll know exactly what kind of infection you're dealing with and whether that specific medication will actually target it. As for the fungi issues caused by antibiotics, go back and read my post on the Forum titled "Four targeted swabs in a woman's life" and see what I bought for myself as prevention when I had to take antibiotics. By the way, who knows what kind of infection is causing that discharge? Fungal issues are probably the least of your worries; yeast won't cause the kind of mess that certain other infections can.

Spilled the beans while grabbing the paperwork? You have no idea what you're in for... So, how? Where?😲

Dana Miller2 said:Spilled the beans while grabbing the paperwork? You have no idea what you're in for... So, how? Where?😲

If you're dealing with a severe infection, it’s entirely possible to see some spotting when using a suppository. When there's significant inflammation, the cervix becomes incredibly sensitive; even the slightest contact from the applicator can trigger a little bleeding. Just keep in mind, this isn't like a period—it's just a tiny amount of spotting that you might only notice on the applicator itself.

fadedpilot2 said:So, I finally got my routine Pap smear done by my doctor 😢 , and then I found out from two other friends that they had the exact same experience with her
. I mean, it’s not like this is my first time, but I gotta admit she wasn't exactly gentle. I was basically squirming around on the table because, honestly, I can't just sit there totally still and take it. In my opinion, she really should be a bit more tender
.
Anyway, at the end she tells me I have some kind of grayish-white discharge (which I didn't even notice?!) .. and says it's probably some sort of infection. The fact that I was bleeding during the Pap smear just confirmed the inflammation for her
. Oh, and get this—she told me I shouldn't be using pantyliners?!
And she prescribed me Klimicin for the next five days
. To be honest, the idea of taking antibiotics stresses me out. I really don't want to end up with Candida or some other fungal infection, which happens all the time with these things
. So, I'm thinking about just tucking this box away in the cabinet for now
.
What has your experience been like with Klimicin?

I think I'd rather just wait for the actual Pap results before deciding what to do next..

Any advice? 🙂

Look, if you want to avoid Candida, just stay away from pantyliners. Fungi absolutely love a warm, damp environment.😁

Jerry Booth10 said:The thing is, most STIs don't present any symptoms at all, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. I personally had no idea I was carrying Ureaplasma until my lab results came back, because I felt completely fine. Based on what you're saying, it sounds like there's no point in even getting a Pap test if you aren't feeling anything—implying you're perfectly healthy—which we know is a dangerous misconception. Almost no STI shows symptoms, with the exception of things like Candida, where you actually deal with itching. Sometimes even HPV stays completely silent while you're unknowingly passing it on. And don't even get me started on Chlamydia; the same logic applies to Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Gardnerella, and the rest of them.

I guess I agree with you that a ton of this stuff stays totally invisible and unnoticed. I'm mostly just confused because this isn't my first inflammation, but it is the first time I've actually been prescribed an antibiotic for it. I had all my swabs done about a year ago, but I think I’ll probably go ahead and redo them once my Pap results are in, regardless of what they say.
For now, I’d rather just hold off on using that cream until I see the actual results...

Oh, and one more thing that really threw me for a loop: the doctor told me that if the inflammation doesn't settle down after I finish my five-day course of Klimicin, I should come back for a follow-up. But I don't really get how I'm supposed to "see" if it's gone when I didn't even realize I had something in the first place?!

Timothy Vaughn44 said:If you haven't noticed any issues yourself, then honestly, you're probably better off just tucking it away in the closet and forgetting about it...

Wow, what a brilliant piece of advice you gave her there. Seriously. 🙄

Clarice, look, I’ve dealt with a specific bacteria twice now, and not once did I experience a single side effect. So, trust me, your doctor didn't just hand you an antibiotic for the fun of it.

fadedpilot2 said:I guess I agree with you that a ton of this stuff stays totally invisible and unnoticed. I'm mostly just confused because this isn't my first inflammation, but it is the first time I've actually been prescribed an antibiotic for it. I had all my swabs done about a year ago, but I think I’ll probably go ahead and redo them once my Pap results are in, regardless of what they say.
For now, I’d rather just hold off on using that cream until I see the actual results...

Oh, and one more thing that really threw me for a loop: the doctor told me that if the inflammation doesn't settle down after I finish my five-day course of Klimicin, I should come back for a follow-up. But I don't really get how I'm supposed to "see" if it's gone when I didn't even realize I had something in the first place?!

In my case, they told me I had inflammation (it turned out to be that specific bacteria) and handed me an antibiotic. They probably use the word "inflammation" as a catch-all for a bunch of different things😉

Jerry Booth10 said:If she gave you that prescription but you're really hesitant to use it, then just wait for the PAP results. That way you'll know exactly what kind of infection you're dealing with and whether that specific medication will actually target it. As for the fungi issues caused by antibiotics, go back and read my post on the Forum titled "Four targeted swabs in a woman's life" and see what I bought for myself as prevention when I had to take antibiotics. By the way, who knows what kind of infection is causing that discharge? Fungal issues are probably the least of your worries; yeast won't cause the kind of mess that certain other infections can.

Could you please just briefly recap what you took for Candida prevention? I don't really want to go hunting for the old post...

And regarding the idea that infections (inflammations) are more dangerous than fungi—what exactly do you mean by that?

Jerry Booth10 said:If you're dealing with a severe infection, it’s entirely possible to see some spotting when using a suppository. When there's significant inflammation, the cervix becomes incredibly sensitive; even the slightest contact from the applicator can trigger a little bleeding. Just keep in mind, this isn't like a period—it's just a tiny amount of spotting that you might only notice on the applicator itself.

The bleeding wasn't heavy, but there was some right after the exam (bright red), then again last night, and a little this morning—though those last two times were definitely darker. I think it finally stopped, or maybe it was just leftover stuff from yesterday, who knows..
Honestly, the exam itself was pretty rough. You get sat in one of those fancy chairs that lowers automatically, they give you the wipes, and everyone acts all sweet and professional until they actually start... I really hate it when gynecologists aren't gentle.
I had a seriously terrible experience back at Petrov Hospital once. They had three nurses holding me down while some young doctor took swabs and did a colposcopy, and I was literally screaming. So, yeah, I guess I'm just having a run of bad luck..

Edward Green said:Look, if you want to avoid Candida, just stay away from pantyliners. Fungi absolutely love a warm, damp environment.😁

I've heard about that, but I’ve never really dealt with those kinds of issues myself... I make sure to change them every few hours, and I don't even wear them when I'm just hanging out at home.
Is it even possible to get a fever from them?

Jerry Walker79 said:Wow, what a brilliant piece of advice you gave her there. Seriously. 🙄

Clarice, look, I’ve dealt with a specific bacteria twice now, and not once did I experience a single side effect. So, trust me, your doctor didn't just hand you an antibiotic for the fun of it.

What did you end up using to clear out those bacteria?
Hey, did you head straight to a follow-up appointment right after finishing the treatment, PAPU?

fadedpilot2 said:What did you end up using to clear out those bacteria?
Hey, did you head straight to a follow-up appointment right after finishing the treatment, PAPU?

They put me on some antibiotic, honestly I can't recall the exact name. This was about two years ago. I think it might have been Medicated solution or something like that. It absolutely wrecked me, I felt terrible, but hey, you live to tell the tale... 😢

I went in for a Pap smear right after finishing the meds, and wouldn't you know it, that same bacterium was still hanging around. So my doctor prescribed the exact same treatment again, BUT this time he gave my boyfriend a box of meds too. 😉 After that—knock on wood—I haven't had anything show up on a Pap since! 🙏

fadedpilot2 said:Could you please just briefly recap what you took for Candida prevention? I don't really want to go hunting for the old post...

And regarding the idea that infections (inflammations) are more dangerous than fungi—what exactly do you mean by that?

I take Lactogyn capsules two hours before my antibiotics. They contain the good bacteria that protect the vaginal flora and fight off the bad bacteria that cause us all these issues; they cost about $23. You should take them for as long as you’re on antibiotics, and you can even take one extra box afterward as a preventative measure. Once you finish the antibiotic course, pick up some Vagisan vaginal suppositories. Those contain lactic acid which lowers the vaginal pH—that environment isn't hospitable to bacteria or other little monsters, so they die off. They are great for stabilizing the vaginal flora after any kind of treatment. While you are taking oral antibiotics, you can also use antifungal suppositories locally, like 😛Plymicol, Canesten, or Gyno daktarin (one of those). Since you need an antibiotic cream applied locally, you obviously can't use the antifungal suppositories at the exact same time, but you can use everything else I mentioned. Honestly, fungi are the least of your worries because they aren't going to cause anything catastrophic—they won't lead to malignant changes, infertility, or miscarriages during pregnancy. However, all of those things *can* happen if you're dealing with Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, or Streptococcus. Fungi might be passed to a baby during childbirth, but it just shows up as oral thrush, which is easily treated and happens to kids regardless of whether the mother had it or not, and it doesn't cause lasting damage. But if a mother passes on Chlamydia, the baby could face blindness; a mother could suffer a miscarriage, or develop cancer from HPV... so, in the grand scheme of things, fungi are nothing.

fadedpilot2 said:What did you end up using to clear out those bacteria?
Hey, did you head straight to a follow-up appointment right after finishing the treatment, PAPU?

Look, if a Pap smear shows inflammation and they put you on some kind of treatment—regardless of what it is—you really need to wait at least a month before repeating the test. It’s the same deal with bacterial swabs; once you finish your course of antibiotics or vaginal suppositories, you have to let things settle for a month before testing again. Regarding the Pap smear itself, it might flag inflammation or perhaps one specific pathogen, but keep in mind that a Pap isn't a catch-all; it won't necessarily pick up every single type of bacteria present. That’s just how the science works. For an actual, pinpoint diagnosis, swabs are much more reliable because they can isolate specific bacteria and provide an antibiogram—basically a customized roadmap showing exactly which antibiotics will actually kill the specific bug you're carrying. Guessing and prescribing antibiotics blindly isn't smart; you might end up taking something that won't even touch the infection you actually have. Also, for almost any type of inflammation, your partner needs to be treated too, otherwise, you’re just playing a game of ping-pong where you keep passing it back and forth. The only exception is fungal issues, where generally the partner doesn't need treatment unless they're showing visible symptoms, since you aren't catching that from them—it's usually just an imbalance coming from your own gut flora.

fadedpilot2 said:I've heard about that, but I’ve never really dealt with those kinds of issues myself... I make sure to change them every few hours, and I don't even wear them when I'm just hanging out at home.
Is it even possible to get a fever from them?

It’s technically impossible to get an infection directly *from* a pad, because infections are caused by microorganisms, not the material itself. However, if you already have an underlying issue, wearing them can certainly aggravate it. It creates this constant environment of heat and moisture where the mucous membrane just can't breathe. What you're really looking at is a fungal issue; since pads are essentially damp, synthetic barriers, they trap that warmth and humidity, which acts like a petri dish for fungi to thrive.