Vaginal infections are widespread among a large number of women and differ in their symptoms from one woman to another, differing in symptoms such as itching and burning, and in the harms they cause, such as delayed pregnancy and health complications for a pregnant woman and her fetus. Therefore, attention must be paid to treating vaginal infections and to raising awareness of how to avoid them. Follow the article below with Dr. Ahmed Marzouk to learn more.
The treatment of vaginitis differs according to the causes of the inflammation itself, and whether the inflammation occurred due to bacteria, fungi, or as a result of wrong habits:
1. Bacterial vaginitis:
A woman can get a bacterial infection in the vaginal area as a result of a disturbance in the balance of the beneficial bacteria present in the vaginal area, due to a change in some hormones or contracting this infection from her husband. Bacterial vaginitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Gray-colored discharge.
- Redness of the vagina.
- A burning sensation in the vagina.
- Pain when urinating.
Bacterial vaginitis is treated by taking oral medications, such as metronidazole tablets (Flagyl) or clindamycin, and topical medications, such as clindamycin cream applied to the vagina or metronidazole gel (MetroGel), or by prescribing capsules placed inside the vagina.
2. Fungal (yeast) vaginitis:
It occurs as a result of a change in the acidity (pH) of the vaginal area due to hormonal changes, and the chances of it occurring increase as a result of frequent use of antibiotics or having diabetes. You can recognize its symptoms, which occur through:
- Itching in the vagina.
- The appearance of thick white discharge resembling cheese.
- A burning sensation in the vagina.
- Pain during intercourse.
Fungal vaginitis is treated with some oral medications such as fluconazole tablets, or clotrimazole or miconazole cream.
3. Trichomoniasis:
It results from a woman being infected with a type of parasite, and it is transmitted through sexual intercourse. Its most important symptoms are:
- Yellow or green, very foul-smelling discharge.
- Severe itching.
- Burning when urinating.
- Feeling pain during intercourse.
Trichomoniasis is treated by taking metronidazole tablets (Flagyl).
4. Atrophic vaginitis:
It is a type of vaginitis that occurs after menopause as a result of low estrogen levels, and atrophic vaginitis can be treated by taking medications that contain replacement estrogen hormone.
Given the problems that vaginitis causes for women, especially pregnant women, we will review with you the most important causes and risk factors that increase your chance of getting vaginitis.
Causes of a vaginal infection:
There are many causes of vaginitis, such as the following:
- A disruption of the proper balance of bacteria inside the vagina.
- External contamination, whether bacterial or fungal.
- Low estrogen levels during menopause.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Frequent use of antibiotics.
- Having diabetes.
- Hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy.
- Using contraceptive methods such as the IUD.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding.
If you have vaginitis, how will you be diagnosed?
1. Through knowing the patient's medical history and whether you have previously suffered from any sexually transmitted diseases. 2. Through a pelvic examination and determining the acidity (pH) of the vagina: a vaginal examination helps to identify the causes of the discharge, and high acidity indicates the possibility of having trichomoniasis or a bacterial infection. 3. Taking a sample of the vaginal discharge: analyzing the vaginal discharge helps to reveal its cause and treat it.
How do you protect yourself from getting vaginitis?
1. Always wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom. 2. Refrain from washing the vagina with soap and use a special wash or water only. 3. Do not use vaginal douching, because it changes the balance of the germs naturally present in the vagina. 4. Use a condom during marital intercourse. 5. Wash your hands well and regularly. 6. Quit smoking. 7. Wear cotton underwear and stay away from tight trousers. 8. Change underwear more than once a day. 9. Do not use scented sanitary pads. 10. Do not use unsanitized swimming pools. 11. Eat yogurt and curdled milk for their role in maintaining the bacterial balance of the vagina. 12. Control the blood sugar level.
Can you have intimate relations with your partner if you have vaginitis?
If you have active vaginitis and feel the severity of the symptoms, then having intimate relations may cause you discomfort and may increase the severity of the symptoms. If the vaginitis is caused by trichomoniasis, which is sexually transmitted, you may transmit the infection to your partner. However, if the doctor has confirmed to you that you have a chronic fungal infection and you do not have severe and bothersome symptoms, then you can have intimate relations without worrying about the symptoms worsening, as long as it does not bother you when doing so, while paying attention to personal hygiene after intercourse and using your special antiseptic wash.
Vaginitis and pregnancy:
Vaginitis becomes active in a pregnant woman as a result of the major change in the body's hormones, which causes her discomfort and itching. But the effect of having vaginitis does not stop there, as it causes many harms if left untreated, such as:
- The possibility of premature birth.
- The possibility of miscarriage.
- Low birth weight of the newborn.
- Inflammation of the placenta.
- Inflammation of the uterine lining after a cesarean delivery.
- Death of the fetus.
- Not treating vaginitis negatively affects a woman who wishes to become pregnant, because it causes a change in the acidity of the vagina, which affects the sperm and the possibility of fertilization occurring.
Treating vaginitis in a pregnant woman:
In the case of a pregnant woman having vaginitis, the doctor prefers to use washes and topical treatments such as creams and vaginal suppositories, to avoid the effect of some oral medications on the fetus, especially in the first period of pregnancy.
