What is Vaginal Foreign Body

Vaginal foreign body is an object that gets stuck or left in the vagina. This can cause:

• Light vaginal bleeding.
• Fluid (discharge) coming from the vagina. This might smell bad or have some blood in it.
• Itching.
• Burning.
• Redness, swelling, or rash near the vagina.
• Belly (abdominal) pain.
• Fever.
• Burning when you pee (urinate).
• Peeing more often than normal.

In most cases, symptoms go away once the object is taken out. In rare cases, an object can break through the walls of the vagina. This can cause a very bad infection.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your doctor. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
• Do not have sex or use tampons until your doctor approves.
• Do not douche or use vaginal rinses unless your doctor says this is okay.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have belly (abdominal) pain.
• You have pain when you pee.
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You have a lot of blood or fluid coming from your vagina.
• You have very bad belly pain.

Summary

• A vaginal foreign body is any object that gets stuck or left inside the vagina.
• In most cases, symptoms go away once the object is found and taken out.
• Do not have sex or use tampons until your doctor approves.