Worried....vaginal infection questions

[deb0202]

I haven't been online much...I guess I'm just getting more and more worried as the 20 week mark looms ahead like a terrible nightmare.

I am almost 17 weeks and the last couple days, I've had a bit more vaginal discharge (mostly whitish, but occasionally light-yellowish) and today I noticed it has an odor...not really fishy- I know that's what they say is common for bacterial vaginosis- but definitely an odor. I've called my ob, he's out on vacation this week...ugggh....and I called my peri and left a message, but have not gotten a call back yet.

I'm wondering when you all who have cerclages, started having vaginal cultures done....I have not had any done up to this point. I had my cerclage placed at 11 weeks...and I've had discharge off & on, but it seems like a bit more lately, and this odor really has me worried. Could I have BV?

Another question...when you do have a vaginal culture, do they have to culture for each bacteria individually, or does one culture pick up ANY infection?

Thanks for any input.....
Deb

[Twins_Squared]

Deb,

I began having cultures done the day of my second beta. Like you, I have a history of loss (though mine is PROM, PTL and IC related), so my Peri really wanted to stay on top of things. I had one culture done (its similar to a pap smear) and then that culture was sent off to the lab at my hospital and grown/observed for a few days. So, truth be told, I'm not sure if my Peri had given specific orders to test for certain things (i.e. e-coli, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, BV, yeast, etc.) or if the lab techs just waited to see what materialized.

As for the odor, I would definitely call your Peri back or your OB's office (if there is a partner filling in for your OB) and not wait too long. Typically, there should not be an odor associated with any discharge you are having, though the amount and color sound within normal.