What is Inflammatory Vaginitis?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
The inflammation or infection of the vagina which may result in itching, discharge, and pain in the vagina is known as inflammatory vaginitis. The vagina is an elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract that provides sensation and lubrication.
Inflammatory vaginitis may occur due to infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and irritations caused due to chemicals in sprays, chemicals, or clothes. Some skin disorders, multiple sexual partners, and reduced estrogen (female sex hormone) levels can also result in vaginitis. Inflammatory vaginitis can also be an autoimmune (when the body’s immune or disease-fighting system attacks the healthy cells of the body) disorder.
In this article, we will be discussing inflammatory vaginitis in detail-
- What are the different types of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- What are the causes of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- What are the risk factors of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- What are the symptoms of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- How to diagnose Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- What is the treatment for Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- What are the complications of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- How to prevent Inflammatory Vaginitis?
What are the different types of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
The common types of vaginitis depending on its cause are:
- Atrophic vaginitis: The lining of the vagina known as the endothelium gets thinner when the estrogen levels decrease during a woman’s menopause. This makes the vagina prone to irritation and inflammation.
- Bacterial vaginosis: An overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina leads to bacterial vaginosis. In normal circumstances, a woman has a low level of lactobacilli (bacteria present in the vagina).
- Candida albicans: A yeast causing fungal infection is known as vaginal thrush or candida albicans. Candida is usually present in small quantities in the gut and is kept in check by the normal bacteria in the gut.
- Trichomonas vaginalis: This infection is caused by a sexually transmitted parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It may cause an infection in the other parts of the urogenital tract, like the urethra (the part from where the urine leaves the body).
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What are the causes of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
The various causes of inflammatory vaginitis include:
Bacterial vaginosis: It is commonly seen in women between 15 and 45 years of age. It occurs due to an imbalance between the good and harmful bacteria in the vagina and may be caused due to:
- Taking antibiotics
- Using an intrauterine device (IUD)
- Douching (cleaning or washing the inside of the vagina using water or other mixtures of fluids)
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Having unprotected sex
Candidiasis (yeast infections): It occurs due to excessive growth of candida in the body. This may occur due to:
- Pregnancy
- Antibiotics
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Use of corticosteroid medications
Trichomoniasis: It is a sexually transmitted disease caused due to parasitic infection.
Other causes: Other causes of vaginitis include:
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause
- Allergic reactions to certain vaginal sprays, douches, soaps, detergents, spermicides, or fabric softeners that you may be using (called non-infectious causes)
- Foreign objects like tissue paper or forgotten tampons in the vagina (non-infectious causes)
- Autoimmune disorder
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What are the risk factors of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
Certain factors may increase the risk of developing inflammatory vaginitis and may include:
- Multiple sexual partners
- Pregnancy
- Use of birth control pills
- Menopause
- Having a sexually transmitted disease
- Use of medications like steroids and antibiotics
- Diabetes
- Douching
- Using bubble bath, vaginal deodorant, or vaginal spray
- Wearing tight-fitting clothes
- Use of intrauterine device for birth control
- Use of spermicides for birth control
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What are the symptoms of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
The symptoms of inflammatory vaginitis include:
- Vaginal irritation or itching
- Pain during urination
- Pain during intercourse
- Mild vaginal spotting or bleeding
- Change in odor, color, or amount of discharge from the vagina
- In case of bacterial vaginosis, a fishy odor, and foul-smelling, grayish-white discharge is seen
- In case of a yeast infection, vaginal itching and a white, thick discharge may be noticed
- In the case of trichomoniasis, a greenish-yellow, frothy discharge is observed
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How to diagnose Inflammatory Vaginitis?
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine you, and ask you about your medical history, including the history of the vagina or any sexually transmitted infections.
- Pelvic exam: The doctor inserts one or two of his/her gloved and lubricated fingers into the vagina to check the female genitalia. An instrument known as a speculum may be used by the doctor to look inside the vagina for the presence of any abnormal discharge or inflammation.
- Sample collection for lab testing: The doctor may take a sample of the vaginal discharge and send it to the laboratory to check what kind of vaginitis you may be having.
- pH testing: The vaginal pH may be checked by the doctor by the application of a pH paper or pH test stick to the vaginal wall. An increase in pH may be indicative of trichomoniasis or bacterial vaginosis.
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What is the treatment for Inflammatory Vaginitis?
The treatment for inflammatory vaginitis depends on the different conditions and organisms that cause the condition. The various treatment options include:
Bacterial vaginosis:
- The doctor may recommend metronidazole tablets to be taken orally.
- A metronidazole gel or clindamycin cream can be prescribed to be applied to the vagina.
Yeast infections:
- These infections are treated using over-the-counter antifungal cream.
- Suppositories like miconazole, butoconazole, tioconazole, or clotrimazole can also be used to treat the condition.
- Oral antifungal medication like fluconazole can also be used to treat the condition.
Trichomoniasis:
- The doctor may prescribe metronidazole or tinidazole tablets to treat this condition.
Atrophic vaginitis:
- Estrogen, in the form of tablets, vaginal creams, or rings can help in the treatment of this condition.
Non-infectious vaginitis:
- The source of irritation needs to be diagnosed and avoided.
- Possible sources could include laundry detergent, soaps, sanitary napkins, or tampons.
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What are the complications of Inflammatory Vaginitis?
The following complications may be associated with inflammatory vaginitis:
- Increased risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases
- Lower birth weight babies
- Premature deliveries
- Fever
- Chills
- Pelvic (area below the stomach) pain
- Pain during sex
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How to prevent Inflammatory Vaginitis?
The following tips can help in preventing inflammatory vaginitis:
- Maintain good vaginal hygiene
- Avoid bubble baths, hot tubs
- Avoid scented tampons and pads
- Avoid douches
- Avoid scented, hard soaps
- Wipe from front backward after using the toilet
- Use a condom during sexual intercourse
- Wear cotton underwear
- Use antibiotics only when necessary
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We hope we could answer all your questions about Inflammatory Vaginitis through this article.
If you want to get more information and treatment about inflammatory vaginitis, you can contact a good Gynecologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
