Physical Exam Inspect carefully for the presence of lesions, foreign bodies and odor. Palpate to determine cervical tenderness. Yeast has a thick white cottage-cheese discharge and red vulva. Gardnerella has a foul-smelling, thin discharge. Trichomonas has a profuse, bubbly, frothy white discharge.
Foreign body is obvious and has a terrible odor.
Cervicitis has a mucopurulent cervical discharge and the cervix is tender to touch. Chlamydia causes a friable cervix but often has no other findings. Gonorrhea causes a mucopurulent cervical discharge and the cervix may be tender to touch. The uterus is mildly tender. Chancroid appears as an ulcer with irregular margins, dirty-gray necrotic base and tenderness.