A Descriptive Study to Evaluate the Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Discharge by Clinical and Microbiological Examination in Reproductive and Post-Menopausal Women

Background: Abnormal vaginal discharge is one of the commonest gynaecological problems reported among women, specifically in the reproductive and post-menopausal age groups. Most of the time abnormal vaginal discharge is associated with multiple infectious and non-infectious aetiologies, and it significantly contributes to morbidity and impairs their quality of life. Objectives: To evaluate women presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge using clinical and microbiological methods and to identify the underlying etiological profile. Methods: This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that was conducted among women attending the gynaecology clinic as out-patients at Sri Muthukumaran Medical College and Research Institute between January–December 2023. A semi-structured questionnaire is used to collect necessary data, followed by clinical examination, and laboratory investigations such as vaginal pH, wet mount, KOH test, Gram stain, NAAT for gonorrhoea/chlamydia, Pap smear, and culture when indicated. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: A total of 160 women were evaluated and their mean age was observed as 41.87 ± 9.5 years, with most of them 73.2% belonging to the 30–49-year age group. Among 50% of the study participants white discharge was the most common presentation, followed by profuse discharge was observed among 41.3%. Diagnosis in our study showed that bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis, and other mixed infections as commonest causes. Sociodemographic and reproductive factors such as SES, education, marital status, sexual activity, and contraception practices were presented with distinguished patterns which helps us in arriving appropriate diagnosis. Conclusion: Abnormal vaginal discharge, a common conditions diagnostic accuracy can be improved with appropriate clinical evaluation with targeted microbiological assessment. Bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis remain the predominant causes.