Free Book Excerpt from "The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health"

A sexually transmitted disease

Persistent vaginal discharge always signals for your clinician to check for some very common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The most prevalent is chlamydia, but gonorrhea shares similar symptoms. They cause a yellowish-white discharge, perhaps a little itching, and, sometimes, constant pelvic pain. These infections affect the cervix but give vaginal symptoms. (See "The Silent STDs Worth a Routine Test" in Chapter 9.) Herpes, before the blisters appear, may cause vulvar stinging and burning along with discharge, as well as muscle aches and general discomfort with fever.