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Vaginitis - Vaginitis symptom, treatment, causes

Vaginitis is the inflammation of the vagina. The most common cause is infection, often by the fungus Candida albicans, which causes thrush (see CANDIDIASIS), and less commonly by the parasitic protozoon Trichomonas vaginal is, which causes TRICHOMONIASIS. Occasionally bacteria are responsible for the inflammation.

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and often associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva leading to vulvovaginitis. This is a common gynecological problem found in women of all ages, with most women having at least one form of vaginitis at some time during their lives. The vagina is the muscular passageway between the uterus and the external genital area. When the walls of the vagina become inflamed, because some irritant has disturbed the balance of the vaginal area, vaginitis can occur. Vaginitis is a very common disease affecting millions of women each year. Vaginitis can be caused by a number of infections, including bacteria (such as Gardnerella and gonorrhea ), protozoans (such as trichomonas ), and yeast ( Candida ). Vaginal yeast infection is often referred to as vaginal Candidiasis.

Vaginitis is infectious or noninfectious inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and sometimes the vulva. The most common cause is the decrease in estrogen after the menopause although it can be caused by other conditions. It is caused by a lack of estrogen . Symptoms include vaginal soreness and itching, as well as painful intercourse, and bleeding after sexual intercourse. This type of vaginitis results from overgrowth of one of several organisms normally present in your vagina, upsetting the natural balance of vaginal bacteria. More than one in six pregnant women in the United States has bacterial vaginosis, though many aren't aware of it. A naturally occurring fungus called Candida albicans usually causes this type of vaginitis. An estimated three out of four women will have a yeast infection in their lifetime.

Vaginitis without infection may result from thinning and dryness of the vaginal lining due to lack of oestrogen after the menopause (atrophic vaginitis), or from allergy or chemical irritation (mostly as a reaction to substances in douches, rarely to intravaginal medications or spermicides, and even more rarely to the rubber of diaphragms or condQms. or their lubricants). Vaginitis is often accompanied by inflammation of the skin of the external genitals.

Symptom of Vaginitis

Candida causes redness and swelling of the vaginal lining and a white, milky or lumpy discharge that can be maddeningly itchy. The discharge has no particular smell. The inflammation often extends to the genital skin. which becomes reddened, swollen and tender to touch. Small splits in the skin can develop, and will sting badly when wet by urine or washing. Sex and inserting tampons are usually painful. Trichomoniasis in the vagina causes increased greyish yellow discharge, often bad-smelling, that usually makes the genitals itchy and sore. Bacterial infections cause similar symptoms, though itch may be absent. Some common Symptoms of Vaginitis :

• Vaginal discharge.
• Irritation and/or itching of the genital area.
• Discomfort or burning when urinating.
• Light bleedin after intercourse.
• Slight vaginal discharge .
• Painful sexual intercourse .

Causes of Vaginitis

The common Causes of Vaginitis :

• Allergies.
• Sexual activity.
• Age.
• Infections.
• Lack of the hormone estrogen.
• Hygiene.
• Anatomy of the genital area

Atrophic Vaginitis

Atrophic vaginitis causes redness and thinning of the vaginal lining and is almost always associated with inflammation of the genital skin, which becomes itchy and sore. Sex is usually painful. Atrophic vaginitis reduces vaginal resistance to candidiasis and other infections. which may com-plicate the condition. Allergic vaginitis causes redness and swelling of the vaginal lining and usually copious watery discharge that is not irritating. But if the skin of the vulva (female external genitals) is also inflamed by the allergy. it may be itchy or sore.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Vaginitis

Infections are diagnosed by taking swabs from the discharge to identify the culprit Treatment is by appropriate anti fungal or antibiotic drugs, applied locally or taken by mouth. Atrophic vaginitis is usually obvious from the appearance of the vulva and vagina. and can be confirmed by microscopic examination of cells wiped from the vaginal lining, which show changes characteristic of oestrogen deficiency.

• Anti-fungal, vaginal creams and suppositories.
• Antibiotics.
• Vaginal tablets.
• Avoid the use of deodorized pads and tampons.
• Avoid bath soaps, lotions, gels, etc. which contain perfumes.
• Use a detergent free of dyes, enzymes, and perfumes on any clothing that comes in contact with your vulva such as: underwear, exercise clothes, towels, or pajama bottoms.
• Avoid all bubble baths, bath salts and scented oils.
• Pat dry rather than rubbing with a towel or Use a hairdryer on a cool setting to dry the vulva.

The diagnosis of allergic or chemical vaginitis may at first be difficult if it is not suspected. Often women do not think to mention that they have been using something in the vagina or that their partner has a new brand of condom. If the vagina is inflamed but swabs show no evidence of infection or lack of oestrogen. allergy or chemical irritation is the most likely source of the problem. Treatment is by finding and eliminating the cause.