Vaginitis
(Vaginal Irritation · Vaginal Discharge · Female Yeast Infection · Yeast Infection)
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Vaginitis
Your doctor will first consider your history of vaginal infections or sexually transmitted infections and perform a physical or pelvic examination. If you have a discharge from your vagina, a sample will be sent to a lab for analysis to determine whether there's an infection or not. The doctor will check your vaginal pH, as this may provide a clue to the cause of the vaginitis.
If an infection is ruled out, your doctor will ask questions about what chemicals or irritants (e.g., douches or latex condoms) your vagina has been exposed to.
In some cases, vaginitis can be diagnosed simply by considering a person's age, as postmenopausal people are prone to irritation of the vaginal lining.
Treating and Preventing Vaginitis
Treatment of vaginitis depends on the cause:
Tablets, gels, or creams are used to treat bacterial vaginitis. Some treatments might not be safe to use with alcohol or during pregnancy, and certain vaginal creams can weaken latex condoms. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to safely use the medication prescribed. Contact your doctor if symptoms return after treatment.
Trichomoniasis requires either a single dose or a 7-day course of prescription of metronidazole, an antibiotic, and sexual partners should be treated at the same time to prevent them from reinfecting each other. Intercourse should also be avoided until both the antibiotic therapy and the symptoms have resolved. Pregnant people should consult their doctors regarding the safety of the treatment. You can help prevent Trichomonas vaginalis infection by limiting the number of sexual partners and by ensuring your partner always uses a condom during sexual intercourse.
Antifungal oral pills, vaginal tablets and suppositories, or creams are available for vaginal yeast infections. It's a good idea to seek your doctor's opinion before purchasing over-the-counter products. It's especially important to see your doctor if:
- it's your first yeast infection
- you're pregnant or breast-feeding
- the treatments you've tried haven't worked
- the infection keeps coming back
- you're not sure it's a yeast infection
- if the infection has come back within 2 months
- you have any health conditions that weaken your immune system (such as HIV)
- you also have pelvic pain, fever, or a coloured or unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge
Some people have frequent yeast infections. If you've had 4 or more infections in the last year, see your doctor. Prescription products are also available.
Your doctor can also recommend a steroid ointment or cream to reduce the redness, swelling, and itching that can be caused by irritative or allergic vaginitis. Sitting in a cool sitz bath with baking soda or Epsom salts can provide some relief. It's important to identify the cause of the vaginitis so that irritants can be avoided in the future.
Atrophic vaginitis might be minimized by using estrogen therapy or lubricants. Estrogen therapy is not for everyone – talk to your doctor about whether it's a good choice for you.
If you have diabetes, managing your blood sugar helps reduce your chances of getting vaginitis from a yeast infection.
Using condoms can prevent infectious vaginitis. Good toilet habits are also helpful; wiping from front to back lowers the chance of spreading bacteria from the anus to the vagina.
Tips to keep your vaginal skin healthy and prevent non-infectious vaginitis include the following:
- Avoid prolonged moisture and friction, for instance rubbing vigorously with a towel.
- Don't wear wet or damp bathing suits or exercise clothes for long periods of time.
- Wear cotton underwear which provide some air-flow.
- Wear loose-fitting slacks.
- Avoid pantyhose.
- Find alternative contraceptives if your skin is irritated by lubricated condoms, jellies, creams, or sponges.
- Keep the area around the genitals clean and dry.
- Avoid irritants such as douches, feminine hygiene sprays, deodorized sanitary pads or tampons, and coloured or perfumed toilet paper.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Vaginitis
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