What Are The Causes Of Vaginal Infection?
Vaginal infections in women can lead to several complications
, apart from destroying her sexual life, and need immediate medical attention. There are many causes of vaginal infection. Let us try to brief on the more common causes.Bacterial Vaginosis accounts for about 50% of all Vaginitis cases. When the commonly present bacteria, Gardnerella Vaginalis, overgrow, a woman will start feeling the symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis.
Candida Albicans, a fungus, causes vaginal yeast infections, which is also called Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Candidiasis, and Genital Candidiasis. This kind of infection can become life threatening and mostly affects women with weak immune defenses, such as diabetes, being on steroids, pregnancy, or to HIV positive cases. The infection can spread to skin, esophagus, mucus membranes, heart valves, etc. Among the other causes of vaginal infections, such potential causes require our serious attention.
The overgrowth of fungi in the vagina can cause vaginal yeast infections. This disease is not transmitted through sexual contacts. The bacteria that present in vagina naturally, can become one of the causes of vaginal infection when their balance is disturbed.
The vaginal conditions in pregnancy and diabetes offer favorable ground for fungal growth, and also lower the glycogen store in certain vaginal cells. Vaginal pH and sugar content also increase. Such factors increase the risk of yeast infection in women.
Since using antibiotics destroys the 'good' bacteria in vagina that stand guard against Candidal organisms, the risk of yeast infection increases. Moreover, birth control pills cause some changes in vaginal environment that give rise to conditions favoring fungus growth.
Another cause of vaginal infection in women is Trich or Trichomoniasis, which is the infection of genital and urinary tract, and it is a sexually transmitted disease.
Some infections are caused due to a woman's being allergic to some vaginal hygiene products like spermicides, fabric softeners or detergents. Moreover, vaginitis or thinning of the vaginal walls during menopause can affect women in their older age.
As some other causes of vaginal infections, we find unhygienic vaginal conditions and lack of immunity become responsible for an infection. Some women also get infections through sexual contact with an infected person, and also if the vagina is kept constantly moist. Wearing tight and non-cotton underwear, using douches, and such other factors also favor the infection.
In any case, it is always highly advisable to consult a doctor once any of the symptoms appear. Medical attention can prevent many complications if addressed on time.
by: Ryan Mutt