Frequency of Different Organisms Responsible for Vaginal Discharge

Abstract

Background: Vaginal discharge is one of the most common gynecological complaints among women of reproductive age, often resulting from infections that disrupt the vaginal microbiota. While bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis are recognized globally as leading causes, regional epidemiologic data from Balochistan, Pakistan, remain scarce. Objective: To determine the frequency and distribution of microorganisms responsible for vaginal discharge among women of reproductive age presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Quetta. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bolan Medical College/SPH, Quetta, from June to December 2023. A total of 179 women aged 15–45 years with abnormal vaginal discharge were enrolled through consecutive sampling. Specimens were examined microscopically using wet mounts, Gram staining, and KOH preparations. Data were analyzed with SPSS v26 using descriptive and inferential statistics, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 28.3 ± 4.2 years. Infectious etiologies were identified in 89.2% of cases: bacterial vaginosis (49.4%), vulvovaginal candidiasis (30.9%), trichomoniasis (6.0%), gonococcal vulvovaginitis (2.4%), and genital herpes (0.5%). Mean vaginal pH differed significantly by infection type (p<0.001). Conclusion: Bacterial vaginosis was the most prevalent cause of vaginal discharge, strongly associated with elevated vaginal pH. Routine laboratory confirmation and pH assessment should be integrated into clinical management to improve diagnostic accuracy and guide rational antimicrobial use.