Diagnostic Role of Vaginal Ph, Wet Mount and Pap Smear in Women with Vaginal Discharge Attending Gynecological OPD

BACKGROUND: Vaginal discharge is one of the common reasons in women of reproductive age group seeking gynecological consultation. Of all the vaginal infections known, Bacterial vaginosis accounts for 40%-50% of cases, Monilial infection 20%-25% of cases and Trichomonas infection 15%-20% of cases. AIM: To assess the diagnostic role of Pap smear, vaginal pH and wet mount in women with vaginal discharge attending Gynecological OPD at a Tertiary Care Hospital. METHODS: Hospital based prospective study in 100 women attending Gynecological OPD, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati. RESULTS: Among 100 women, majority of women with pathology were in the age group of 26-35 years (71%), with parity larger than2 (65%) with BMI larger than30 (39%). Most of them belong to lower socioeconomic status (86%), 82% were married, 42% have substance abuse, 39% have symptoms in partner, 4% have HIV and 19% have PID changes. In the present study, 95 members have been diagnosed to be having pathology. Most common disease diagnosed was Bacterial Vaginosis (48%), Candidiasis (26%) and Trichomonas vaginalis (11%). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that Bacterial vaginosis is the most common infection leading to vaginal discharge followed by Candidiasis and Trichomonas vaginalis and considerable number of mixed infections. In low resource settings, results of vaginal pH, wet mount and the presence of characteristic vaginal discharge is of much diagnostic value.