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vaginal discharge in question

I am 52 yrs old and had dealt with endometriosis for years (since I was at least 16). I finally had a total hysterectomy in 2001 and developed a hole in my bladder. After 2 surgeries it finally healed but I now deal with interstitial cysytitis. My problem is I am having a strange discharge from my vagina. It does not itch, smell, or hurt when I urinate. I have been tested for yeast infections by my P.A. and nothing. I also was tested for sexual diseases and nothing. It does clump on my pubic hairs by the libia. I recall having tis when I was in high school and had no clue back then what it was. Now after the hysterectomy and getting rid of the endometriosis I REALLY have no clue. Can you help?? Can a person have discharge from too much sugar in their system? My P.A. has put me on low dosages of estrogen (both pill and cream). bad idea?? HELP...... Thank you

Dear Arizona: Yes, one can be postmenopausal and/or hysterectomized and still get Trichomonas from an infected partner. Yet your PA would have likely seen the mobile trichs swimming around during the microscopic exam of your vaginal secretions. Trich tends to have a pronounced malodor as well.

Unless one is an uncontrolled diabetic, yeast (the most common sugar linked vaginal infection) is not going to be rampant. That you have been put on low dose estrogen is a good idea and does suggest an endocrine basis for the discharge. When systemic and local estrogen levels are low a woman can develop "atrophic vaginitis". The vaginal tissues shrink down from about 30 cells thick to 6-8 cells thick. In a postmenopausal woman who has low levels of estrogen, her vagina is more likely to contain gram positive cocci (eg staph aureus, staph epidermis, group A strep) and gram negative rods(eg proteus, E Coli). Her vaginal pH will be more alkaline, and there will be fewer of the beneficial lactobacilli bacteria. So estrogen can help promote vaginal health.

In your specific situation I would suggest giving the estrogen a trial of several months (it can take up to 6 weeks to see full effect). One would hope that this will eliminate the current symptoms.

Yours, Jane