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What
is Vaginitis?
How common is it?
How is it transmitted?
Symptoms
Testing/Diagnosis
Treatment
What does it mean for my health?
Reduce your risk
Should you talk to your partner about vaginitis?
What is vaginitis?
Vaginitis is
a name for swelling, itching, burning
or infection in the vagina that can
be caused my several different germs.
The most common kinds of vaginitis
are bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast,
a fungus. Sometimes trichomoniasis (trich,
pronounced "trick") is called vaginitis too. Trichomoniasis is
caused by a parasitic protozoa called Trichomonas vaginalis.
How common is it?
Vaginitis is very common. If you are like most women, you will have some kind
of vaginitis at least once in your life.
How is it transmitted?
The healthy vagina has a balance of many different kinds
of bacteria. "Good" bacteria
help keep the vagina a little-bit acidic. This keeps "Bad" bacteria from growing
too fast. A healthy vagina makes a mucus-like discharge that may look clear or
a little milky, depending on the time of a woman's monthly cycle. When the balance
between the "Good" bacteria and the "Bad" bacteria is upset, "Bad" bacteria
grow too fast and cause infections. Discharge may have a funny color or a bad
smell. Sometimes these "Bad" bacteria and other germs that cause vaginitis can
be spread through sex. Other things that can upset the balance of the vagina
are:
- antibiotics (medicines)
- pregnancy
- douching
- damp underwear
- tight pants
- poor diet
- vaginal products (sprays, lubricants, birth control devices)
Symptoms
The signs or symptoms of vaginitis are different, depending on the germ
that you have. Signs or symptoms of:
- bacterial
vaginosis
- yeast
- trichomoniasis
Testing/Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of vaginitis, see your health care provider for a correct
diagnosis. To help your provider find out what you have:
- Schedule the exam when you're not having your monthly period.
- Don't douche 24 hours before your exam.
- Don't use vaginal sprays 24 hours before your exam.
- If you have sex less than 24 hours before the exam, use condoms.
- Tests for
BV - Tests
for yeast - Tests
for trichomoniasis
Treatment
The treatment will depend on which germ is causing the infection.
What does it mean for my health?
These infections are usually treated with a prescription from your health care
provider. With trichomoniasis, if your partner does not receive treatment as
well, re-infection can occur.
Having BV has been associated with an increased risk in developing pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID), which is a serious infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
BV and trichomoniasis increase a woman's risk of getting HIV if she is exposed
to a partner with HIV. Having trichomoniasis or BV may also increase the chance
that an HIV-infected woman passes HIV to her partner(s).
Having BV or trichomoniasis while pregnant may put a woman at increased risk
for some complications of pregnancy, including potentially having a baby born
early or with low birth weight. Treatment of BV might help reduce the risk of
these complications. Having a yeast infection during pregnancy does not typically
pose any risk to the baby or the pregnancy.
We encourage you to speak with your health care provider about any questions
or concerns you may have.
Reduce your risk
- Wash your vaginal area every day. Use mild soap. Rinse well and pat dry.
- Wipe your vagina and anus from front to back.
- Don't douche, this can upset the natural balance of the vagina.
- Take antibiotics only when needed. Antibiotics can
kill "good" bacteria.
- Limit the number of your sex partners. Always use condoms with a new partner
or with multiple partners.
- Wear cotton or cotton-lined underpants.
- Don't wear tight pants and don't wear panty hose in hot weather.
- See your health care provider if you have any unusual discharge or smell.
Should you talk to your partner about vaginitis?
This depends. Women who are not sexually active may develop BV or yeast infections.
Remember that most of the time these infections are caused by an upset in the
balance of bacteria that is normal in the vagina. Trichomoniasis on the other
hand is sexually transmitted and it will be important for sex partners to be
treated so it is not passed back and forth. It is important for partners to be
treated even if they do not show any symptoms.
How do I learn more about Vaginitis?
To learn
more about Vaginitis and other STIs call:
- American
Social Health Association (ASHA)
http://www.ashastd.org
1-800-783-9877
This line plays recordings about
STI information 24 hrs a day and
has health communication specialists
available to answer questions between
9am and 6pm, ET, Monday through Friday.
- Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/std/
1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
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