How to interview a patient with vaginal discharge
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Most vaginal discharge is yeast, bacterial vaginosis or a sexually transmitted infection. A calm, private interview gets the details that tell them apart.
Step by step
Introduce yourself and offer privacy
Explain that the questions are routine and confidential; offer a chaperone for any exam. [1]
Describe the discharge
Color, thickness, smell (fishy smell suggests bacterial vaginosis), amount and when it started. [2]
Associated symptoms
Itching, burning, pain with sex or urination, bleeding between periods. [2]
Pelvic infection signs
Lower belly pain, fever, pain with movement: possible pelvic inflammatory disease. [3]
Sexual history
New or multiple partners, condom use, partner symptoms, past infections. [3]
Pregnancy and other factors
Last period, chance of pregnancy, recent antibiotics, diabetes, douching. [3]
Summarize and plan
Explain the swab tests and treatment, including partners if needed. [1]
Common errors
- Judging the sexual history.
- Missing pelvic pain and fever.
- Not asking about pregnancy.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
- NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
- NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.