I need to find out what this is. In 2006, I was celibate and didn't have any sexual partners. In December I met someone and we had sex, once unprotected. About 2 weeks later I had some bleeding and abnormal discharge. The discharge was brownish-red, foul smelling. I had all tests done at my doctors and it was not HIV, not a STD, basically they couldn't determine what it was and it went away. They gave me a one shot deal of Metronidazole. 4 pills at once. It went away. In February, I met someone new and 3 days before my period, I had the same symptoms again, brown/red discharge (green as well) with a VERY bad odour. I was prescribed the same medication, having been told it was a bacteria vaginosis. It went away with the medication. I was fine for the entire month. Now, my period is due in about 3 days and I'm getting the same symptoms as last month. This is happening right before my period. I'm not experiencing pain, itching, burning, or bleeding, no painful intercourse, just the discharge that won't go away and the bad smell. Is there something I can do? I don't have multiple sex partners, I don't douche... why is this suddenly happening to me? I've never had this before. I'm 39 years old. Shouldn't this medication have cured this problem for me?

Bacteria vaginosis is not an STD (as you may already be aware) and can be cause by irratants such as laundry detergent, soap or body wash or scrubs, underwear... even toilet paper. If you think back are there any pre-menstral rituals that you do that could possibly be the cause of these problems?

Hi and thanks for responding! The only new thing I can think of was about 3 months ago I started to use a body scrub with soap lotion instead of a soap bar... it's just strange as it happens before my period and there is nothing that I'm doing pre-menstrual. But thanks, I think I will go back to the soap for awhile and see if that helps! I appreciate your thoughts.