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

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?!

Well, since you weren't entirely sure about the infection to begin with, you should just head back to the doctor after the treatment is over. She can tell you then whether things have calmed down or not. And honestly, regardless of those swabs you had a year ago, you really ought to get them checked annually, just like you do with your Pap smear.

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.

Well, obviously I'm aware there are plenty of illnesses without symptoms, but like we established earlier, besides the lack of symptoms, there's also a lack of actual evidence! I mean, there's no way the doctor could have identified the cause just by using her "microscopic" vision alone, especially since she didn't run any swabs. It honestly makes no sense to use that Klimicin to wipe out her Lactobacillus and just end up catching Candida or an actual infection all over again. Sure, the doctor might be right, and if she actually suspected something, she would have ordered more tests.🙄
Man, people seriously don't realize that overusing antibiotics and this kind of irresponsible medical behavior will kill us faster than not using them at all...

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.

Honestly, it can also happen when you're perfectly healthy and the doctor just doesn't know what they're doing and scrapes you like a tractor. That happened to me too, haha.🙄

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.

Check out what Jerry Booth10 wrote!
Does anyone here actually know much about antibiotics?

Jerry Booth10 said: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.

See, you actually said it yourself right here... that we shouldn't just take antibiotics blindly. And honestly, that Klimicin is such a weak option that even if there is some bacteria present, it probably wouldn't help at all; it might just mess up your flora and make everything feel even worse.
As for yeast infections, it's not that they aren't a big deal just because they aren't physically dangerous; they're more of a mental struggle. I mean, dealing with that constant itching can really get under your skin and wear you down.😵
Sure, you can get them from your own gut, but you can also get them from a partner if they happen to have them, so ideally, he should always be treated alongside you.

Timothy Vaughn44 said:See, you actually said it yourself right here... that we shouldn't just take antibiotics blindly. And honestly, that Klimicin is such a weak option that even if there is some bacteria present, it probably wouldn't help at all; it might just mess up your flora and make everything feel even worse.
As for yeast infections, it's not that they aren't a big deal just because they aren't physically dangerous; they're more of a mental struggle. I mean, dealing with that constant itching can really get under your skin and wear you down.😵
Sure, you can get them from your own gut, but you can also get them from a partner if they happen to have them, so ideally, he should always be treated alongside you.

Look, at the end of the day, she’s going back for a follow-up, so they’ll likely run some swabs and a Pap smear to see if the treatment actually did its job. If it didn't work, the doctor will just pivot to a different antibiotic. You make these antibiotics sound like absolute monsters, but honestly, I’d much rather deal with a yeast infection than whatever bacterial issue I mentioned earlier. If you want to believe her current antibiotic is weak, that’s your prerogative, but gynecologists aren't exactly playing guessing games—they know what they’re doing. They don't prescribe medication that doesn't work, and if the doctor suspected a specific strain, she gave her exactly what targets it. Getting swabs done is the smart move, sure, but that shouldn't mean blindly rejecting a doctor's prescription every single time. The tests will show whether the Klimicin was effective; if it worked, great, because she didn't have to wait for lab results to feel better. If it didn't, they'll switch gears, and that's that. Personally, I’ve never once dealt with a yeast infection from any antibiotic I’ve taken—and I've been through the ringer with Augmentin, Novocef, Amoxil, Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, and plenty more. Never once. But again, a yeast infection is the least of our worries here. If the doctor noticed a specific discharge—I think there was mention of it being gray?—then there’s clearly an underlying issue. Not every infection presents with the same color, so the doctor likely tailored the therapy based on those clinical signs. Think about it this way: whenever someone takes an antibiotic for anything, ideally, you’d perform a culture and sensitivity test. It’s the same when someone goes to a GP for a cough; you’d want to analyze the phlegm before deciding on a drug. But let's be real—who is actually sending patients for those tests every single time? Nobody. I realize gynecology is a specialized field, but there’s a real chance the Klimicin will work perfectly fine. Besides, since she's applying it locally, it isn't going to wreck her stomach or cause systemic issues. If it works, mission accomplished. If not, she gets a different one, and we move on.

Timothy Vaughn44 said:See, you actually said it yourself right here... that we shouldn't just take antibiotics blindly. And honestly, that Klimicin is such a weak option that even if there is some bacteria present, it probably wouldn't help at all; it might just mess up your flora and make everything feel even worse.
As for yeast infections, it's not that they aren't a big deal just because they aren't physically dangerous; they're more of a mental struggle. I mean, dealing with that constant itching can really get under your skin and wear you down.😵
Sure, you can get them from your own gut, but you can also get them from a partner if they happen to have them, so ideally, he should always be treated alongside you.

The statistical probability of passing this over to a partner sits at roughly 33%, but if we’re looking at the biological reality, men generally have a much harder time actually developing fungal infections. If you were to poll most gynecologists in the country, the consensus would be pretty much unanimous: if the woman is dealing with *Candida*, there is no inherent need to treat the partner—unless, of course, he is actively experiencing symptoms. If he’s asymptomatic, medical professionals typically won't prescribe anything because the infection simply doesn't take hold in men as easily. Of course, the logic flips if he is the primary carrier; if he develops it first, he can certainly pass it back to her, in which case treatment is mandatory. In my own experience, every single gynecologist I’ve consulted has declined to provide therapy for a partner unless the woman explicitly pointed out that he was symptomatic. Otherwise, they don't bother. It isn't just an opinion, either; if you dive into the actual medical literature, that's exactly how the standard protocol is laid out.

Timothy Vaughn44 said:Check out what Jerry Booth10 wrote!
Does anyone here actually know much about antibiotics?

Look, there are some symptoms a doctor can just spot instantly without needing a lab report because they’ve probably seen them a hundred times before. They aren't just handing out prescriptions for fun. Honestly, I don't really care if you want to take an antibiotic or not, but presumably, the doctor knows what the hell they're doing better than we do...

Jerry Booth10 said: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.

Thanks, dear, for the heads-up on the Lactogyn (by the way, can you pick that up over the counter without a prescription?)...

As for everything else, I pretty much know all that... I was more curious about whether every single infection has to be linked to Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and all those other things they check for in swabs, or if it can just be inflammation on its own and cause bleeding when taking the Pope?

Jerry Booth10 said: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.

Now this is what I wanted to hear...
It's exactly what you said. It feels pretty illogical to me to just be prescribed antibiotics based solely on a quick exam. It makes way more sense to get a swab or something similar to actually isolate the bacteria, if it's even really there..

Timothy Vaughn44 said:Well, obviously I'm aware there are plenty of illnesses without symptoms, but like we established earlier, besides the lack of symptoms, there's also a lack of actual evidence! I mean, there's no way the doctor could have identified the cause just by using her "microscopic" vision alone, especially since she didn't run any swabs. It honestly makes no sense to use that Klimicin to wipe out her Lactobacillus and just end up catching Candida or an actual infection all over again. Sure, the doctor might be right, and if she actually suspected something, she would have ordered more tests.🙄
Man, people seriously don't realize that overusing antibiotics and this kind of irresponsible medical behavior will kill us faster than not using them at all...

I think you're right.😍

Jerry Booth10 said:Look, at the end of the day, she’s going back for a follow-up, so they’ll likely run some swabs and a Pap smear to see if the treatment actually did its job. If it didn't work, the doctor will just pivot to a different antibiotic. You make these antibiotics sound like absolute monsters, but honestly, I’d much rather deal with a yeast infection than whatever bacterial issue I mentioned earlier. If you want to believe her current antibiotic is weak, that’s your prerogative, but gynecologists aren't exactly playing guessing games—they know what they’re doing. They don't prescribe medication that doesn't work, and if the doctor suspected a specific strain, she gave her exactly what targets it. Getting swabs done is the smart move, sure, but that shouldn't mean blindly rejecting a doctor's prescription every single time. The tests will show whether the Klimicin was effective; if it worked, great, because she didn't have to wait for lab results to feel better. If it didn't, they'll switch gears, and that's that. Personally, I’ve never once dealt with a yeast infection from any antibiotic I’ve taken—and I've been through the ringer with Augmentin, Novocef, Amoxil, Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, and plenty more. Never once. But again, a yeast infection is the least of our worries here. If the doctor noticed a specific discharge—I think there was mention of it being gray?—then there’s clearly an underlying issue. Not every infection presents with the same color, so the doctor likely tailored the therapy based on those clinical signs. Think about it this way: whenever someone takes an antibiotic for anything, ideally, you’d perform a culture and sensitivity test. It’s the same when someone goes to a GP for a cough; you’d want to analyze the phlegm before deciding on a drug. But let's be real—who is actually sending patients for those tests every single time? Nobody. I realize gynecology is a specialized field, but there’s a real chance the Klimicin will work perfectly fine. Besides, since she's applying it locally, it isn't going to wreck her stomach or cause systemic issues. If it works, mission accomplished. If not, she gets a different one, and we move on.

Hey sweetie, one quick question please... is an antibiogram just another word for swabs, or is it something extra?
If it is, can you get that done at a public clinic? I'd rather not deal with the same doctor again...

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?

Yeah, fungal.

fadedpilot2 said:Thanks, dear, for the heads-up on the Lactogyn (by the way, can you pick that up over the counter without a prescription?)...

As for everything else, I pretty much know all that... I was more curious about whether every single infection has to be linked to Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and all those other things they check for in swabs, or if it can just be inflammation on its own and cause bleeding when taking the Pope?

Gardnerella.

fadedpilot2 said:Hey sweetie, one quick question please... is an antibiogram just another word for swabs, or is it something extra?
If it is, can you get that done at a public clinic? I'd rather not deal with the same doctor again...

She wasn't asking me, but here's the lowdown:
An antibiogram is basically an extra step they take after a swab identifies exactly which bacteria are causing the trouble. Once they isolate the bacteria, the lab tests them against various antibiotics (or combinations) to see which ones actually work—meaning what you should take to kill the infection—and which ones the bacteria are resistant to. They include those results with your report so you know exactly what medication to grab instead of just guessing with random antibiotics.

So, long story short, an antibiogram is a list showing which specific drugs were tested on the bacteria and whether they actually did the job or not.👍

fadedpilot2 said:Thanks, dear, for the heads-up on the Lactogyn (by the way, can you pick that up over the counter without a prescription?)...

As for everything else, I pretty much know all that... I was more curious about whether every single infection has to be linked to Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and all those other things they check for in swabs, or if it can just be inflammation on its own and cause bleeding when taking the Pope?

It could be any number of other bacteria triggering that inflammation: Gardnerella, Trichomonas, Streptococcus, Escherichia, Enterococcus, and so on. However, all of them will show up on a standard swab. When doctors order swabs, they aren't just looking for the specific stuff like Ureaplasma or Mycoplasma; they include aerobes and anaerobes as well. Those aerobic and anaerobic tests catch all those other bacteria I mentioned above, along with others. So, it’s entirely possible you have one of those present, and that is what’s causing the irritation and inflammation.

fadedpilot2 said:Hey sweetie, one quick question please... is an antibiogram just another word for swabs, or is it something extra?
If it is, can you get that done at a public clinic? I'd rather not deal with the same doctor again...

The way Linea explained it was spot on. Basically, if they identify a specific pathogen, they run it against a whole battery of antibiotics. Your results then show you a list of what works great, what works okay, and what doesn't work at all. You really want the one that hits it dead on; otherwise, you’re just playing games with your health or potentially failing to clear the infection entirely. But don't worry, the doctor handles that once they see the report. Public clinics do them too, because they end up sending those samples off to places like the CDC or major municipal labs anyway, so it's standard procedure. Just make sure your referral specifically asks for "swabs plus antibiogram." Sometimes they forget to write it down, or maybe they just miss it—I didn't get mine, and when I asked my doctor why, she claimed it was because my bacterial count was low, and apparently, a small amount isn't worth testing for. Who knows? Honestly, I ended up taking an antibiotic blindly because they isolated Ureaplasma. Even though the count was low, my doctor decided it was worth treating because that thing is a real pain in the neck, and I wanted it gone regardless.

Jerry Walker79 said:Look, there are some symptoms a doctor can just spot instantly without needing a lab report because they’ve probably seen them a hundred times before. They aren't just handing out prescriptions for fun. Honestly, I don't really care if you want to take an antibiotic or not, but presumably, the doctor knows what the hell they're doing better than we do...

I second that. Personally, I'm all for getting those swabs done first and foremost, but that discharge you described sounds suspicious due to the color. It would be smarter to start the therapy she prescribed now, then follow up with the tests. That way, you'll actually see if it worked—and if it didn't, you can get a different treatment tailored specifically to the culture results.

fadedpilot2 said:Thanks, dear, for the heads-up on the Lactogyn (by the way, can you pick that up over the counter without a prescription?)...

As for everything else, I pretty much know all that... I was more curious about whether every single infection has to be linked to Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and all those other things they check for in swabs, or if it can just be inflammation on its own and cause bleeding when taking the Pope?

You can pick up Lactogyn or Vagisan over the counter without a prescription. Honestly, I usually grab everything without one—even the vaginal suppositories and creams. Usually, my doctor just calls me to give me the results from the Pope test and tells me what I need, and since I can't be bothered to deal with the paperwork and waiting around for prescriptions, I just go get them. Sometimes they might be difficult about it, but then I just head to a different pharmacy and they hand it over. It all depends, but generally, most places will help you out, and those two specifically are available without a script.

fadedpilot2 said:Thanks, dear, for the heads-up on the Lactogyn (by the way, can you pick that up over the counter without a prescription?)...

As for everything else, I pretty much know all that... I was more curious about whether every single infection has to be linked to Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and all those other things they check for in swabs, or if it can just be inflammation on its own and cause bleeding when taking the Pope?

Well, inflammation is really just the process triggered by some microbiological culprit... basically, you have a microbe (like a bacterium, a virus, or fungi) acting as the cause, and then the inflammation is what follows as the consequence. So yeah, any inflammation is going to be tied back to some kind of microbe.