Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Stacy Sampson, DO
Vaginitis STI/STD Brief
These briefs are intended to give readers (specifically those readers who weren’t aware many of these STIs/STDs existed) an overview of each STI/STD, their commonality, treatment options, and diagnostic tests available.
This information is by no means all-encompassing and The STI Project encourages using these briefs as primers and then further delving into the resources section when subsequent questions arise.
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Vaginitis Symptoms, Test & Treatment
Common? Very common – Nearly every person with a vagina gets vaginitis at some point in their life – Around 20 million people with a vagina contract it in the U.S. annually
Symptoms Vagina or vulva may be red, irritated, or uncomfortable. Vaginal fluid come out of the vagina that is different from usual discharge. The discharge may have an unpleasant smell. There may be itching or burning in or around the vagina. Vaginal intercourse may be uncomfortable. One may feel as if they need to urinate (pee) more often than usual.
Cure? Creams, suppositories, vaginal tablets, or oral medicines. Some medicines are available without a prescription.
Bacterial/Viral/ Fungal/Parasitic Can be bacterial, viral, fungal (yeasts), or parasitic
Test Pelvic exam or sample of discharge
Life-Long? No
Life-Threatening? No – however, pregnant people with bacterial vaginosis have a higher risk of miscarriage, especially in the first trimester. Bacterial vaginosis is associated with premature delivery, low birth weight, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Vaginitis can also increase the risk for HIV infection.
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- Think You Might Have an STI/STD? Your Ultimate Reference Guide
- Pictures of Vaginitis
- Looking for more information about vaginitis?
- Looking for STI testing centers, vaginitis treatment, STI hotlines, or STI blogs and forums?
- Would you like to read stories about people living with an STI/STD?
References
- Symptoms
- Sobel, Jack D. “Approach to women with symptoms of vaginitis.” UpToDate. August 19 (2016).
- Paavonen, Jorma, and Robert C. Brunham. “Bacterial Vaginosis and Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis.” New England Journal of Medicine 379.23 (2018): 2246-2254.
- Mitchell, C., et al. “Vaginal bacteria and cytokines in women with idiopathic vaginitis.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 219.6 (2018).
- Hillier, Sharon, et al. “Clinical practice and accuracy of vaginitis diagnosis in community based settings.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 219.6 (2018).
- Nwankwo, Theophilus Ogochukwu, Uzochukwu Uzoma Aniebue, and Uchenna Anthony Umeh. “Syndromic diagnosis in evaluation of women with symptoms of vaginitis.” Current infectious disease reports 19.1 (2017): 3.
- Sanguinetti, Maurizio, et al. “In Vitro Activity of Fenticonazole against Candida and Bacterial Vaginitis Isolates Determined by Mono-or Dual-Species Testing Assays.” Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (2019): AAC-02693.
- Van Schalkwyk, Julie, et al. “Vulvovaginitis: screening for and management of trichomoniasis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 37.3 (2015): 266-274.
- Johnston, Christine, et al. “O11. 1 Decline in genital shedding in the year after first clinical episode genital herpes simplex virus type 1.” (2017): A24-A25.
- Khan, Shahla. “A survey on Vulvovaginal Candidiasis or Vulvovaginitis-A Vaginal yeast infection by the fungus Candida albicans.” (2018).
- Vezzani, Cristina, et al. “Vulvovaginitis in Childhood.” Good Practice in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Springer, Cham, 2018. 1-17.
- Vieira-Baptista, Pedro, et al. “Bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, vaginal inflammation and major Pap smear abnormalities.” European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases 35.4 (2016): 657-664.
- Testing
- Van Der Pol, Barbara, et al. “Molecular-based testing for sexually transmitted infections using samples previously collected for vaginitis diagnosis.” Clinical Infectious Diseases 68.3 (2018): 375-381.
- Hillier, Sharon, et al. “Clinical practice and accuracy of vaginitis diagnosis in community based settings.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 219.6 (2018).
- Ackerman, Stacey J., et al. “Health care utilization and costs following amplified versus non-amplified molecular probe testing for symptomatic patients with suspected vulvovaginitis: a US commercial payer population.” ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research: CEOR 11 (2019): 179.
- Schwebke, Jane R., et al. “Diagnostic performance of a molecular test versus clinician assessment of vaginitis.” Journal of clinical microbiology 56.6 (2018): e00252-18.
- Danby, C., et al. “7: Is more always better? comparing nucleic acid amplification testing to traditional methods in diagnosis of vaginal infections in gynecology and vulvovaginal referral offices.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 213.6 (2015): 885-886.
- Paavonen, Jorma, and Robert C. Brunham. “Bacterial vaginosis and desquamative inflammatory vaginitis.” New England Journal of Medicine 379.23 (2018): 2246-2254.
- Vieira-Baptista, Pedro, et al. “Bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, vaginal inflammation and major Pap smear abnormalities.” European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases 35.4 (2016): 657-664.
- Gaydos, Charlotte A., et al. “Clinical validation of a test for the diagnosis of vaginitis.” Obstetrics and gynecology 130.1 (2017): 181.
- Van Schalkwyk, Julie, et al. “Vulvovaginitis: screening for and management of trichomoniasis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 37.3 (2015): 266-274.
- Wallis, Luke, and Richard P. Usatine. “Vulvar pain in pregnancy: the patient was first diagnosed with candida vaginitis, but a second opinion and a closer look at the clinical picture gave way to a different diagnosis.” Journal of Family Practice 65.3 (2016): 201-204.
- Du, Qiuling, et al. “The antiviral activity of arbidol hydrochloride against herpes simplex virus type II (HSV2) in a mouse model of vaginitis.” International immunopharmacology 68 (2019): 58-67.
- Khan, Shahla. “A survey on Vulvovaginal Candidiasis or Vulvovaginitis-A Vaginal yeast infection by the fungus Candida albicans.” (2018).
- Treatment
- Santos, Carolina MA, et al. “Selection of Lactobacillus strains as potential probiotics for vaginitis treatment.” Microbiology 162.7 (2016): 1195-1207.
- Rioux, Jacques Emile, et al. “17β-estradiol vaginal tablet versus conjugated equine estrogen vaginal cream to relieve menopausal atrophic vaginitis.” Menopause 25.11 (2018): 1208-1213.
- Zalewski, Jerzy, et al. “Calophyllum inophyllum in vaginitis treatment: Stimulated by electroporation with an in vitro approach.” Advances in clinical and experimental medicine: official organ Wroclaw Medical University (2018).
- Donders, Gilbert GG, Katerina Ruban, and Gert Bellen. “Selecting anti-microbial treatment of aerobic vaginitis.” Current infectious disease reports 17.5 (2015): 24.
- Van Schalkwyk, Julie, et al. “Vulvovaginitis: screening for and management of trichomoniasis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 37.3 (2015): 266-274.
- Nyirjesy, Paul, and Jane R. Schwebke. “Secnidazole: next-generation antimicrobial agent for bacterial vaginosis treatment.” Future microbiology 13.5 (2018): 507-524.
- Bohbot, J. M., et al. “PRISM study: Comparison of a nystatin-neomycin-polymyxin B combination with miconazole for the empirical treatment of infectious vaginitis.” Medecine et maladies infectieuses (2019).
- Goje, Oluwatosin, and Jessian L. Munoz. “Vulvovaginitis: Find the cause to treat it.” Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine 84.3 (2017): 215-224.
- Shi, Hui-Juan, et al. “Efficacy and safety of combined high-dose interferon and red light therapy for the treatment of human papillomavirus and associated vaginitis and cervicitis: A prospective and randomized clinical study.” Medicine 97.37 (2018).
- Khan, Shahla. “A survey on Vulvovaginal Candidiasis or Vulvovaginitis-A Vaginal yeast infection by the fungus Candida albicans.” (2018).
- Sobel, Jack D., and Carol A. Kauffman. “Candida vulvovaginitis: Treatment.” Review Up to date May (2018).
- Prevention
- Wan Muda, Wan Mahfuzah, Li Ping Wong, and Sun Tee Tay. “Prevention practices of vaginitis among Malaysian women and its associated factors.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 38.5 (2018): 708-715.
- Koledin, Slađana, et al. “Evaluation of incidence and prevention of vulvovaginitis in juvenile stage: Professional article.” Sestrinska reč 20.73 (2016): 4-6.
- Sobel, Jack D., and Carol A. Kauffman. “Candida vulvovaginitis: Treatment.” Review Up to date May (2018).
- Cianci, Antonio, et al. “Observational prospective study on Lactobacillus plantarum P 17630 in the prevention of vaginal infections, during and after systemic antibiotic therapy or in women with recurrent vaginal or genitourinary infections.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 38.5 (2018): 693-696.
- Obiero, Jael, et al. “Nifuratel‐Nystatin combination for the treatment of mixed infections of bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomonal vaginitis.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 4 (2018).
- Ratner, Adam J., and Saul Hymes. “Treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis and Gardnerella vaginalis infections.” U.S. Patent No. 9,198,957. 1 Dec. 2015.
- Heczko, Piotr B., et al. “Supplementation of standard antibiotic therapy with oral probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” BMC women’s health 15.1 (2015): 115.
- Fang, Cheng, et al. “Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Rehabilitation in Preventing Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis.” Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 6.4 (2018): 94-97.
- Donders, Gilbert GG, et al. “For publication Aerobic vaginitis: no longer a stranger.” (2017).
- Shen, Danting. “PREVENTION OF SERIOUS INFECTIONS DURING PREGNANCY.” (2017).
- Paavonen, Jorma, and Robert C. Brunham. “Bacterial vaginosis and desquamative inflammatory vaginitis.” New England Journal of Medicine 379.23 (2018): 2246-2254.
- Wallis, Luke, and Richard P. Usatine. “Vulvar pain in pregnancy: the patient was first diagnosed with candida vaginitis, but a second opinion and a closer look at the clinical picture gave way to a different diagnosis.” Journal of Family Practice 65.3 (2016): 201-204.
- Du, Qiuling, et al. “The antiviral activity of arbidol hydrochloride against herpes simplex virus type II (HSV2) in a mouse model of vaginitis.” International immunopharmacology 68 (2019): 58-67.
- Shi, Hui-Juan, et al. “Efficacy and safety of combined high-dose interferon and red light therapy for the treatment of human papillomavirus and associated vaginitis and cervicitis: A prospective and randomized clinical study.” Medicine 97.37 (2018).
- Transmission
- Grinceviciene, Svitrigaile, et al. “Sexual behaviour and extra‐genital colonisation in women treated for recurrent Candida vulvo‐vaginitis.” Mycoses 61.11 (2018): 857-860.
- Wang, Haixia, et al. “An epidemiological study on vaginitis in 6,150 women of reproductive age in Shanghai.” The new microbiologica 40.2 (2017): 113-8.
- Paavonen, Jorma, and Robert C. Brunham. “Bacterial Vaginosis and Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis.” New England Journal of Medicine 379.23 (2018): 2246-2254.
- Donders, Gilbert GG, et al. “Is multiple-site colonization with Candida spp. related to inadequate response to individualized fluconazole maintenance therapy in women with recurrent Candida vulvovaginitis?.” Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease 92.3 (2018): 226-229.
- Mills, Benjie Brown. “Vaginitis: beyond the basics.” Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics 44.2 (2017): 159-177.
- Wariso, K. T., et al. “Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis among Patients with Vulvovaginitis in a Tertiary Hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.” Asian J. Med. and Health 7.4 (2017): 1-7.
- Van Der Pol, Barbara, et al. “Molecular-based testing for sexually transmitted infections using samples previously collected for vaginitis diagnosis.” Clinical Infectious Diseases 68.3 (2018): 375-381.
- Rulisa, Stephen, et al. “Nifuratel‐Nystatin combination for the treatment of mixed infections of bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomonal vaginitis.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018.4 (2018).
- Vieira-Baptista, Pedro, and Jacob Bornstein. “Candidiasis, Bacterial Vaginosis, Trichomoniasis and Other Vaginal Conditions Affecting the Vulva.” Vulvar Disease. Springer, Cham, 2019. 167-205.
- Van Schalkwyk, Julie, et al. “Vulvovaginitis: screening for and management of trichomoniasis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 37.3 (2015): 266-274.
- Brady, Paula C. “Vulvovaginitis and Vaginal Bleeding in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients.” Handbook of Consult and Inpatient Gynecology. Springer, Cham, 2016. 235-271.
- Nenoff, P., et al. “Non-viral sexually transmitted infections-epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostics and therapy: part 2: Chlamydia and mycoplasma.” Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete 68.1 (2017): 50-58.
- Khan, Shahla. “A survey on Vulvovaginal Candidiasis or Vulvovaginitis-A Vaginal yeast infection by the fungus Candida albicans.” (2018).
- Isaac, N., et al. “Routine screening for Trichomonas vaginalis among human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive antenatal clients in Zaria: A necessity or option?.” Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 33.3 (2016): 322.
- Wallis, Luke, and Richard P. Usatine. “Vulvar pain in pregnancy: the patient was first diagnosed with candida vaginitis, but a second opinion and a closer look at the clinical picture gave way to a different diagnosis.” Journal of Family Practice 65.3 (2016): 201-204.
