subject: Vaginitis Causes and Symptoms and Treatment to prevent Vaginitis [print this page] Vaginitis Causes and Symptoms and Treatment to prevent Vaginitis
Vaginitis means inflammation of the vagina. In most cases it is due to a fungal infection. The patient typically has a discharge, itching, burning, and possibly pain. It is frequently linked to an irritation or infection of the vulva. Vaginitis is a very common condition. It is especially common in women with diabetes.
Read more on Vaginal Discharge Treatment and Irregular Menstruation Treatment and also visit on Menopause Remedies
Causes of Bacterial vaginitis
The main cause of bacterial vaginitis is an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and the Gardnerella organism. Generally in a vagina there are more Lactobacillus bacteria than bad bacteria like Gardnerella Vaginalis and Mobiluncus. When the number of bad bacteria increases in vagina, they upset the balance. and this imbalance causes bacterial vaginitis. Bacterial vaginosis or the gardnerella infection as it is sometimes called is the result of significant change in the microflora of the vagina. This type of an imbalance can be caused by the prolonged use of antibiotic medication and so it is advisable to drink plenty of water and include generous amounts of yogurt in your diet if you are on antibiotic medication. The additional intake of water helps to flush out the urinary tract while yogurt contain several types of healthy bacteria and this helps to maintain the right balance of bacteria within the vagina. It is also important to avoid self-medication as this could result in a number of negative reactions.
This Imbalance Could be Caused Due to Various Reasons Such As
1. Repeated sexual intercourse in a short duration which leads to a rise in the vaginal pH and results in growth of bacteria and infectionlike symptoms. Urinating after sexual intercourse has been proven to have several positive effects, including the prevention of bacterial vaginosis as it helps to flush out the bacteria within the urethra and this will help to prevent a bacterial vaginosis infection. In addition to this, it is also advisable to use a water based lubricant as this will help to reduce friction. This will help to reduce the risk of vaginal infections as damaged skin tissue is more susceptible to infectious pathogens.
2. Moisture (for long period of time) in the vaginal area caused by restrictive and nonabsorbent synthetic clothing. -Use of chemicals that may cause irritation.-Use of antibiotics that disrupt the balance of the bacterial environment in the vagina.
What are the treatments for vaginitis?
The key to treating vaginitis is knowing which kind you have. The treatment must be specific to the type of vaginitis present.
1. Yeast infections are usually treated with an anti-yeast cream or suppository placed inside the vagina. A health care provider can write a prescription for most yeast infection treatments.
Although you can also buy medicine to treat yeast infections over-the-counter, it is a good idea to see a health care provider the first time you have symptoms of a yeast infection. Because this medicine will not cure other types of vaginitis, it is important to be sure you actually have a yeast infection before using these treatments.
2. Bacterial vaginosis is treated with an antibiotic that gets rid of the "bad" bacteria and leaves the "good" bacteria. There is no over-the-counter treatment for bacterial vaginosis, so it is important to see your health care provider for a prescription.
3. Sexually transmitted forms of vaginitis need to be treated by a health care provider right away. It is important to avoid sexual contact until you have been treated to prevent spreading the infection. A woman's sexual partner(s) will need treatment as well.
4. Trichomoniasis and Chlamydia are both treated by antibiotics. Neither genital herpes nor HPV can be cured, but both can be controlled with the help of your health care provider and medications.
5. Non-infectious vaginitis can be treated by stopping the use of the product that caused the allergic reaction or irritation. Your health care provider may also be able to provide medicated cream to help reduce the symptoms until the reaction goes away.
