Expert: Doctor Joan - 3/27/2011

Question
Dear Dr, It's been 4 weeks since my abortion. I bled "normally" the first week and by the end of the second week,I was ok-no more blood. By the end of the 3rd week,I started bleeding profusely, bright red blood with large clots. This lasted for about 3 hours and the bleeding reduced to menstrual-like bleeding. By day 2 of bleeding, I was using panty liners. Now,I have read that this is normal, however, exactly 7 days later, the bleeding started again. this one lasted for about an hour,relatively lighter than previous and had smaller clots. Again,may be this is normal too, but something that I think is abnormal happened. About 4 days after the 2nd bleeding, I noticed a foul smell. the little blood that comes out smells like something rotten. A day after this, I felt a slight itch inside. Now, I'm thinking that I have a bacterial infection. I took my antibiotics as directed and my follow-up visit was normal. Just wondering,do I have an infection;and if so what antibiotics do you recommend? Also where should I go to read about this kind of infection for most of the blogs i read don't really address this? Also let me mention that before the first phase of bleeding, I had terrible crumps which went with the that phase. now my health feels good,no fevers, no backache,headaches,nothing whatsoever save for the smell and itch.
Please Dr. can you help?
Thank you.
Karen

Answer
If the blood has a fishy odor, you have bacterial vaginosis which is caused by an overgrowth of the normal flora.  Most facilities use Doxycycline which is not the treatment for BV.  You need Metronidazole.  You should just go have an examination and get treated.