Is this your symptom?
- Genital symptoms, such as pain, itching, discharge, bleeding and rashes
- Vaginal discharge is the most common problem
- Symptoms not caused by an injury
Symptoms Covered in this Topic
- Vaginal symptoms include discharge, bleeding and pain.
- Vulva symptoms include itching, pain and pain when passing urine.
- Genital area skin symptoms include itching, pain, rash and swelling.
Vaginal Discharge: Normal versus Abnormal
- A clear or whitish discharge is normal. It may increase and contain more mucus around the middle of your menstrual cycle when you ovulate. This is normal.
- Two small glands (pea like structures) at the entrance to the vagina also produce clear mucus to help lubricate the vagina and keep the lining healthy.
- Yellow or green vaginal discharge can mean an infection.
- A bad-smelling discharge is also not normal.
- An abnormal discharge can also cause a genital rash.
Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Discharge and/or Itching
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
can be passed from either the female or male partner. They may also cause pain with passing urine, pelvic pain, and bleeding.
- Gonorrhea
- Trichomonas
- Genital Herpes
- See the STI Exposure care guide for more information.
- Vaginitis
often causes vaginal discharge and itching. It can be caused by an irritation or an infection, such as:
- Yeast infection
- Candidiasis
- Trichomonas
- Bacterial vaginosis (white-gray discharge, fishy odor).
- Vaginal Foreign Objects(such as a forgotten tampon) can cause an infection and discharge.
- Cervical Polyps are small fleshy growths which may cause vaginal discharge and/or vaginal bleeding and spotting.
- Cervical or Uterine Cancer can cause discharge, but there are often other symptoms, such as pain and vaginal bleeding.
- Bartholin's Cyst or Abscess. The Bartholin's glands produce clear mucus which helps keep the vagina healthy. If the gland gets blocked, it can swell and become a cyst. You may feel this as a small lump at the entrance of the vagina. The cyst may burst and cause vaginal discharge. The cyst can also become infected, causing severe pain and sometimes pus.
Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding(also see Vaginal Bleeding care guide)
- Hormone Changes
- Cervical Polyps
- Cervical Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Peri-menopausal Bleeding
- Post-menopausal Bleeding (serious)
Other Health Problems that Cause Vaginal Symptoms
- Dyspareunia (pain during sex)
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Pain
When to Call for Vaginal Symptoms
Call 911 Now
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
|
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
|
Self Care at Home
|
Call 911 Now
- Severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding
- Passed out (fainted) or too weak to stand
Go to ER Now
- From sexual abuse or assault
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Severe genital or pelvic pain
- Vaginal discharge and pelvic pain
- Fever and vaginal discharge
- Foreign object in the vagina (such as forgotten tampon)
- You gave birth in the last 8 weeks
- Painful swelling or lump at the opening of the vagina
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Vaginal discharge that is not normal (yellow, green, smells bad or a large amount)
- Pain or burning when passing urine
- Pregnant or could be pregnant
- Vaginal pain
- You think you might have an STI (sexually transmitted infection)
- Genital area looks infected (spreading redness, draining sore)
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Bleeding between your periods or after sex
- Bleeding after you have gone through menopause
- Pain during sex
- Vaginal dryness
- Rash or itching lasts 3 or more days
- All other female genital symptoms. Exception: mild rash for less than 3 days.
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Normal vaginal discharge
- Mild skin rash in genital area for less than 3 days
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
