Why is a vaginal wet mount done?
A vaginal wet mount is done to find the cause of vaginal itching, burning, rash, odor, or discharge.
How is a vaginal wet mount done?
You will take off your clothes below the waist and drape a gown around your waist. You will then lie on your back on an examination table with your feet and legs supported by footrests.
Your doctor will place a tool called a speculum into your vagina. The speculum helps to open the vagina a little bit, which allows your doctor to see the inside of the vagina and the cervix.
Samples of fluid inside the vagina are taken with a swab. The sample is put on a slide for testing.
How do you prepare for a vaginal wet mount?
You don't need to do anything to prepare for this test.
What do the results of a vaginal wet mount mean?
Your doctor may talk to you about the results after the test. If the sample needs to be looked at by a lab, the results may be ready in 1 to 2 days.
Normal: | No abnormal vaginal discharge is present. |
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Abnormal: | A white, lumpy discharge that looks like cottage cheese may mean a vaginal yeast infection is present. A yellow-green, foamy discharge that has a bad odor may mean trichomoniasis is present. A thin, gray-white vaginal discharge with a strong fishy odor may mean bacterial vaginosis is present. |
Normal: | No yeast, bacteria, trichomoniasis, or clue cells are found on the slide. White blood cells are not present or very low in number. |
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Abnormal: | High numbers of white blood cells often mean a vaginal infection. Yeast cells found on the wet mount may mean a vaginal yeast infection is present. Trichomonads on the wet mount mean trichomoniasis is present. Clue cells may mean bacterial vaginosis is present. |
Normal: | Vaginal pH is about 3.8–4.5. |
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Abnormal: | Vaginal pH is higher than 4.5. A higher pH may be caused by bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. |
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