Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of pathological vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age.
Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that can be caused by several causes and germs.
Types of vaginitis including bacterial vaginosis that caused by bacteria, vulvovaginal candidiasis that caused by a type of yeast, trichomoniasis that caused by a type of parasite, atrophic vaginitis which is mostly seen when reduction of female hormone levels occurs, viral vaginitis that caused by a virus, and noninfectious vaginitis that is mostly caused by an allergic reaction.
Several infections and irritants can cause vaginitis infections including infection or excessive proliferation of specific types of bacteria and other pathogens, fistula formation between bladder and rectum, vaginal injury, having an inflammatory disease, dryness, and allergic reaction.
Risk factors that increase the possibility of having the disease including certain hormonal changes, lifetime frequency of sexual activity, taking certain medications such as antibiotics, having a weakened immune system, and frequent douching.
A normal vaginal pH of 3.5 to 4.6 is maintained by metabolizing of glucose to lactic acid by Lactobacilli acidophilus that lives normally in the vagina. In bacterial vaginosis, an abnormal change in pH facilities the replication of organisms that are normally suppressed, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis, resulting in infection and inflammation.
Signs and symptoms that associated with vaginitis including an abnormal vaginal discharge, pain when urinating or during sexual intercourse, light bleeding or spotting, and appearing of lesions called satellite lesions.
Physicians diagnose vaginitis by reviewing patient’s medical history, performing a physical examination to check the vagina, performing a microscopic examination to test vaginal discharge in the laboratory, and by PH testing.
Speaking of a treatment for vaginitis, an antibiotic called metronidazole is used to treat bacterial vaginosis while over-the-counter antifungal cream or suppository are usually used to treat yeast infections. Moreover, almost any nitroimidazole drug can be used to treat trichomoniasis, while estrogen can be used to manage both atrophic vaginitis and noninfectious vaginitis.
If not managed properly, vaginitis can lead to various complications such as developing the pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and catching sexually transmitted infections. In addition, getting vaginitis in pregnancy may lead to complications such as premature birth, miscarriage, and early breaking of the amniotic sac.
Some preventive measures that may be helpful in decreasing the risk of developing the disease include the avoidance of garments that hold in heat and moisture, avoidance of vaginal sprays and repeated douching.
Bacterial vaginosis may resolve without treatment. However, the relapse of the disease within three months of successful treatment has been seen in many cases.
Vaginitis, also called vulvovaginitis, is an inflammation, swelling, or infection in the vagina that can be attributed to various causes and germs. Vaginitis is a term that can refer to a spectrum of conditions that can generate several vaginal symptoms, such as burning, itching, irritation, odor, and vaginal discharge.
There are several types of vaginitis, including:
Various infections and irritants can cause vaginitis including:
Factors that increase the risk of developing vaginitis include:
Normally, a dynamic interrelationship exists in the vaginal environment between a bacterium called Lactobacillus acidophilus and other endogenous flora, estrogen, glycogen, vaginal pH, and pathogens. The vaginal environment can be affected by many factors including sexual intercourse, antibiotics, douching, contraceptives, stress, and hormones, which may eventually allow pathogens to grow.
A normal vaginal pH of 3.5 to 4.6 is maintained by metabolizing of glucose to lactic acid by Lactobacilli. In addition, a chemical compound called hydrogen peroxide is produced by Lactobacilli, which acts as a bactericidal.
In bacterial vaginosis, an abnormal change in pH facilities the replication of organisms that are normally suppressed, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis. This abnormal change is believed to result from some events that can cause a reduction in the number of Lactobacillus acidophilus organisms that normally produce hydrogen peroxide. Similarly, germination of yeast can be facilitated by adherence of Candida albicans to vaginal epithelial cells, which may result from increasing in glycogen production in pregnancy or from oral contraceptives that cause altered estrogen and progesterone levels.
Signs and symptoms of vaginitis may include:
To diagnose vaginitis, a physician may perform certain diagnostic methods including:
In clinical practice, the presence of three out of four Amsel criteria can indicate bacterial vaginosis. Amsel criteria include:
Vaginitis is caused by a variety of organisms and conditions, so treatment targets the specific cause:
If not properly managed, symptoms of vaginitis can worsen and can lead to various complications including:
Certain things can be carried out to decrease the risk of getting vaginitis, such as:
Vaginitis is common in women of all ages. At least one form of vaginitis exists in one-third of women at some time during their lives. Bacterial vaginosis may resolve without treatment. However, the relapse of the disease within three months of successful treatment has been seen in many cases.
The likelihood of catching HIV infection is increased among women with vaginitis. So quick and effective treatment of vaginitis is important. During pregnancy, yeast infections occur twice as often due to hormone fluctuations.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of pathological vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age.