WOMEN: VAGINAL PROBLEMS. RETAINED TAMPON AND VAGINAL FISTULAS

Retained tampon

Part or all of a tampon may be unwittingly left in the vagina after a period. It may be that a bit separated from the tampon during withdrawal, or that the string became tucked inside the vagina and the tampon was forgotten, or that a second tampon has been inserted without remembering to take out one that’s already there.

Chemical changes in the blood held in the tampon give a particularly unpleasant ‘bad-meat’ smell to the vaginal discharge, which may be slightly increased in amount and brownish in colour. When the tampon is removed, the smell goes away almost immediately and no further treatment is necessary.

Most women feel quite foolish when a medical visit about a smelly discharge reveals a retained tampon as the cause. But it’s an easy mistake to make and will happen to most of us at least once during our reproductive lives. If you develop that particular meaty smell soon after a period ends, it’s worth checking in your vagina for a retained tampon. It will feel rough and spongy, and you can pull it out with your fingers and ‘cure’ yourself.

Vaginal fistulas

A fistula is an abnormal, tunnel-like passage connecting two hollow organs or an internal organ and the skin surface. A fistula between the bladder and the vagina called a vesico-vaginal fistula) results in constant leakage of urine from the vagina. If the fistula is small there may be just a slight trickle of urine as the bladder fills, but if it is large, there will be total urinate incontinence. Fistulas between the urethra and the vagina only cause leakage oil urine during voiding, which may not be noticed. Fistulas between the rectum and the vagina result in leakage of faeces.

Most fistulas opening into the vagina are caused by tearing during prolonged, obstructed delivery, and are rare in countries where good obstetric services prevent such injuries. However, there are many parts of the world where fistulas still result from childbirth. Other less common causes include accidents during difficult pelvic surgery, and extensive radiation for pelvic cancer.