BMJ  2007;335:1147-1151 (1 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39378.633287.80

Clinical Review

Clinical review

Vaginal discharge

Des Spence, general practitioner1, Catriona Melville, specialist registrar, sexual and reproductive healthcare2

1 Maryhill Health Centre, Glasgow G20 9DR, 2 Sandyford Initiative, Glasgow G3 7NB

Correspondence to: D Spence destwo@yahoo.co.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Although many cases of vaginal discharge are not caused by sexually transmitted infections and do not need to be treated, common curable sexually transmitted infections can present with this symptom. Controlling the spread of sexually transmitted infections and HIV are key public health priorities worldwide.1 Recent advances are changing investigation techniques and the management of vaginal discharge. Clinicians need to be aware of emerging epidemiological data, the different presentations of vaginal discharge, and how to approach their management so that the symptom can be treated according to its aetiology (box 1).


  • Physiological
  • Cervical ectopy
  • Foreign bodies, such as retained tampon
  • Vulval dermatitis

  • Bacterial vaginosis
  • Candida infections

  • Chlamydia trachomatis
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • Trichomonas vaginalis


Many women have what they perceive as an abnormal vaginal discharge at some point in their lives, but usually it is just a normal physiological discharge. This is a white or clear, non-offensive discharge that varies with the . . . [Full text of this article]


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