Patient's question:
I have always been healthy, but the past two days, I've had some swelling and itching in my external genital area. I suspect it might be inflammation, so I took two pills of Niuhuang Jiedu Pian (Bezoar Pills) last night. The next day, my vaginal discharge increased and resembled cottage cheese in color. When I urinated, a large amount of chewed gum-like substance was expelled directly from my vagina—three to four times a day. This has been happening for two days now, but there's no odor, and I haven't felt any other discomfort. What could be going on??????????????Doctor's answer:
Hello: There is a possibility of candidal vulvovaginitis, which can be diagnosed through a vaginal discharge smear test. The most common symptoms of candidal vulvovaginitis are external genital itching and a significant increase in vaginal discharge. The itching symptoms of patients may vary in intensity and frequency. The itching caused by candidal vulvovaginitis is generally more pronounced than that caused by trichomoniasis. Severe itching can make patients restless and unable to sleep or eat properly. Patients may also experience a burning sensation in the vagina, especially during urination. In more severe cases, symptoms such as frequent urination, dysuria, and pain during intercourse may occur. An increased amount of vaginal discharge is another main symptom of this condition. The discharge is usually viscous and may be white or yellow, or sometimes thin. Typical candidal vulvovaginitis discharge appears as cottage cheese-like or creamy clumps. During gynecological examinations, depending on the severity of the condition, the labia minora and vaginal mucosa may show varying degrees of congestion and edema of the labia minora. The vagina may contain a significant amount of viscous discharge, or the vaginal mucosa may be covered with a white membrane. When the membrane is removed, the exposed mucosa appears red, swollen, and eroded, or may have superficial ulcers.