It is very unfortunate that your gynecologist left you with so little information about what's going on with your body!  If bacteria was found when your pap was done, it does NOT mean you have a UTI.  In fact a UTI - urinary tract infection- is assessed by a urine test.

 A pap exam involves inserting a speculum into your vagina and taking a small pinch of cells from your cervix to test for cell changes related to pre-cancerous changes.  Frequently, doctors will also do "swabs" of your vagina to test for other things such as yeast, bacteria, or sexually transmitted diseases such as gonhorrea or chlamydia.  A swab is like wiping a big Q-tip inside you and then the cells on the swab are examined at a lab.

If you were told you had a bacterial infection, I suspect it might be Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).  Bacterial vaginosis is believed to be the most common vaginal infection.

Many women with BV experience no symptoms at all.  The most common complaint is a strong, foul or fishy odor.  Another common symptom is excessive white or gray discharge.  Itching or irritation are much less common.

The cause of BV is an imbalance of the normal bacterias that live in the vagina.  The exact cause of this change is unknown.  BV is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, if you have a sexual partner they do not need to be treated. 

BV is generally treated with a prescription antibacterial medication.  The most commonly used medication is metronidazole (also called Flagyl) which can be given orally or intravaginally (inserted into the vagina with an applicator).  Flagyl (oral) should be taken with food to minimize stomach irritation.  Take the medication exactly as directed (seek clarification from a pharmacist if the instruction's are unclear to you).  Do not skip doses or double up on doses.  If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.  This medication may cause an unpleasant metallic taste in your mouth, sugarless gum and candy as well as good oral hygiene should relief the dry mouth feeling.  This medication may cause your urine to turn a darker than normal color.

IMPORTANT: You should not drink any alcohol during flagyl therapy and for at least one day after completion of therapy- including if you are on the vaginal application not oral dose.  If you drink alcohol you may experience severe vomiting, nausea, headache, and abdominal cramps.

Sometimes the drug Clindamycin is used to treat BV.  Take this medication as directed and finish the drug completely even if  your symptoms improve.  Diarrhea, abdominal cramping or bloody stools are possible side effects and should be reported to your doctor if they occur.  Do not treat yourself with anti-diarrhea medication without consulting a health care professional. 

You really need to get ahold of your doctor to clarify what is going on with your body!  You may not have BV, you could have Trichomoniasis Vaginalis (trich) which is another common infection which is treated by specific antibacterial treatment available only by prescription.  With trich, symptoms are usually excessive discharge which may be yellow, green or frothy, unpleasant odor, and itching with painful urination.

If you have any further questions, please write me back (with as many details as possible, ie. the name of the medication you were prescribed).  Take care!