Patients with vaginal discharge in general practice

In a multi-practice study, 80 general practitioners registered 327 patients with spontaneous complaints of vaginal discharge. Forty-eight percent of the patients were between 20 and 29 years of age, compared with 20% in the general female population (p less than 0.001). An increase in discharge was reported by 89% of the women, itching by 53%, and malodour by 38%. More than one symptom was reported by 61%. The symptoms present were mutually independent and no correlation was found with age. Seventy-six percent of women 25 years or older had had earlier instances of vaginal discharge. In patients aged 15-19, 60% had experienced earlier episodes. Male consort symptoms were reported by 14% of patients less than 25 years old and by 7% of the patients 25 years or older (p less than 0.05). Symptoms had persisted for one week or less in 36% of the women, for between 1 and 2 weeks in 27%, and for more than one year in 5%.