Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
How do you get Vaginitis/How can you get Vaginitis? Vaginitis Causes:
Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that can result in discharge, itching and pain.
It can be caused by bacteria, yeasts, viruses, and other parasites. Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause vaginitis, as can various chemicals found in bubble baths, soaps, and perfumes. Environmental factors such as poor hygiene and allergens may cause this condition as well and lastly, it can also result from reduced estrogen levels after menopause.
The most common types of vaginitis are:
- Bacterial vaginosis, which results from overgrowth of one of several organisms normally present in your vagina
- Yeast infections, which are usually caused by a naturally occurring fungus called Candida albicans – all people can contract this
- Trichomoniasis, which is caused by a parasite and is commonly transmitted by sexual intercourse – all people can contract this
- Vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis), which results from reduced estrogen levels after menopause
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 primarily sexually transmitted and it will be important for partners to be treated so it is not passed back and forth.
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 person’s monthly cycle. When the balance between the “good” bacteria and the “bad” bacteria is upset, “bad” bacteria grow too fast and cause infections.
How to tell if you have Vaginitis? Vaginitis Symptoms:
Vaginitis symptoms may include:
- Change in color, odor or amount of discharge from the vagina
- Irritation and itching of the genital area
- Pain during intercourse
- Painful urination
- Light vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Inflammation (irritation, redness, and swelling) of the labia majora, labia minora, or perineal area
Symptoms specific to bacterial vaginosis (BV) are often so mild that people don’t know they have it. If a person does have symptoms, they may include:
- A strong fishy smell, especially after sex
- White or grey discharge
- Watery or foamy discharge
Symptoms specific to a yeast infection include:
- Thick, white “cottage cheese” discharge
- Pain, itching, burning, or redness around the vagina
- A smell like baking bread
In people with penises, there are generally no symptoms, but a rash may appear on the penis as a result of a yeast infection.
Symptoms specific to a trichomoniasis infection include:
- Discharge that is green, yellow or grey
- A bad smell
- Itching in or around the genitals
- Pain during sex
- Pain when urinating
How to know if you have Vaginitis? Vaginitis Tests:
To diagnose your condition, your doctor may review your history of vaginal infections or sexually transmitted infections and conduct a pelvic examination or an examination of the infected area.
A wet prep (microscopic evaluation of discharge) is usually done to identify a vaginal infection or overgrowth of yeast or bacteria. In some cases, a culture of the discharge may identify the organism causing the infection.
A biopsy of the irritated area may be recommended if there are no signs of infection.
Relief spells (Rolaids?!) Vaginitis Treatment:
Treatment depends on what is causing the infection. Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics taken by mouth or applied to the skin
- Antifungal cream
- Antibacterial cream
- Cortisone cream
- Antihistamine, if the irritation is due to an allergic reaction
- Estrogen cream, if the irritation and inflammation is due to low levels of estrogen
It is often helpful to allow more air to reach the genital area. You can do this by:
- Wearing cotton underwear (rather than nylon) or underwear that has a cotton lining in the crotch area. This increases air flow and decreases moisture.
- Removing underwear at bedtime.
What’s going to happen to me?!!?! Vaginitis Expectations:
If a sexually transmitted infection is diagnosed, it is very important that any all partners receive treatment, even if they do not have symptoms. If your partner is infected but not treated, you risk becoming infected over and over again.
Things to be aware of… Vaginitis Complications:
Vaginitis is rarely dangerous. Less frequently, vaginitis can cause:
- Discomfort that does not go away
- Skin infection (from scratching)
- Complications due to the cause of the condition (such as gonorrhea and candida infection)
- Detailed Vaginitis Symptoms
- Pictures of Vaginitis
- STI Interviews
- STD Hotlines
- Vaginitis Blog
- How to Not Give an Eff about Having an STI
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.
yeast infection
Interesting article. The article took a lot of thought, which makes reading it more interesting. I may return and take a look at what else you have to write.
Asta Overgaard
I have been researching about bacterial vaginosis when I found this blog! Thanks for this! It’s quite difficult to find out about it when people don’t write about it a lot. Thanks!!
Jenelle Marie
Hi Asta –
So happy to have helped; thanks for letting us know this was useful!