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A 32-year-old female asked:
I have a fishy and sometimes ammonia vaginal odor. had tests done for bv, trichomoniasis, and yeast. all negative. can these tests show a false positive? what else causes these issues besides infection?
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Consider rechecking for bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, which are the two main causes of fishy vaginal odor. (Yeast infections generally do not cause significant odor.) Make sure you are tested for trichomonas DNA (i.e. PCR test). Other tests for trich, like culture or microscopy, are frequently false negative, missing up to half of all infections, whereas PCR detects all infections.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Nov 06, 2021
Related questions
A 16-year-old female asked:
Ive got tested for bv and yeast Infection plenty of times but it always came back negative. I have a bad vagina Odor and my discharge is like flakey. I noticed that if I eat sweet stuff the smell will get worse. Ive had this issue for two years Now?
Dr. John Berrymananswered
Obstetrics and Gynecology 56 years experience
Vaginal odor ?'s: Whether you are sexually active or not, vaginal odor usually involves infection. See your gyn physician to determine the cause.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
61 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
If my vagina doesn't smell fishy, do I have a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis?
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 27 years experience
Yeast infections: don't usually have a strong fish odor. If you aren't sure of the reason - then it is best to be medically evaluated to correctly identify the dx.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Vagina discharge smells like copper mixed with sewage also.I am not sexually active,Ive did testing for BV and yeast infection and it came out negative.They took a ph strip and it was yellow. So they did more testing and gave a yeast pill?
Dr. Hiep Leanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 44 years experience
It won't hurt if you take the antifungal pill first and wait for the result of further tests. I would treat you empirically for BV if your symptoms ha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Feb 09, 2023
A 27-year-old female asked:
I think I have cervical erosion but doctors wont test me. bv , yeast and std free. Ammonia smell /white discharge. Vagina becomes dry during intercourse. I been dealing with this for some time. I just want it to go away. Any doctors can help me?
A Verified Doctoranswered
Urology 53 years experience
Here are some...: When was the last time you saw PCP or gyn doc? Why do you think of cervical erosion, which is diagnosed by direct inspection with biopsy as needed. As... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
414 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Jan 22, 2018
A 35-year-old female asked:
I have a chronic vaginal odor. I have been to the doctor and it is not BV or Yeast infection. Is Norform suppositories safe for long term use?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Get rechecked: This depends a lot on the nature of the odor and other symptoms, like discharge. Yeast doesn't cause odor, so that make sense. But if the odor is fish... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 6, 2021
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