What Causes Foul Smelling Discharge From My Ear?

I have a really foul smelling yellow discharge that leaks out of my ear, mostly at night. It will mostly come after I itch my ear with a qtip. This has been going on for about 3 years or more but went away when I was pregnant. My cousin is a PA and gave me a steroid cream called Elidel but it only work for a couple days and then the discharge comes back. I don't have insurance but I know I probably need to go see a doctor. Do you have any advice that would help?