What are the symptoms of vaginitis?

Vaginitis can be treated with drugs. Since there are several types of vaginitis, the treatment of vaginitis should be based on the type. Patients with vaginitis should pay attention to personal hygiene, change and wash underwear frequently, and refrain from having sex before recovery. They should also eat a light diet, avoid eating hot peppers, and not drink alcohol. Vaginitis can cause many adverse symptoms. What are the symptoms of vaginitis? Let’s take a look at it next.

1. Typical symptoms

Increased vaginal discharge, odor, vulvar itching and burning, and pain during sexual intercourse.

2. Common symptoms

The main symptoms of bacterial vaginitis are increased vaginal discharge with a fishy odor, which is especially aggravated after sexual intercourse, and mild vulvar itching or burning sensation; the main symptoms of candidal vaginitis are vulvar itching, burning pain, pain during sexual intercourse, frequent urination, and painful urination. The discharge is white and thick and looks like curd or bean dregs.

3. Other symptoms

The main symptoms of Trichomonas vaginitis are increased vaginal discharge that is thin, purulent, yellow-green, foamy, and smelly, as well as vulvar itching.

4. Causes

1. Bacterial vaginosis

In a normal vagina, lactobacilli that produce hydrogen peroxide are dominant. Bacterial vaginosis is an endogenous mixed infection caused by a decrease in Lactobacillus and an increase in Gardnerella and anaerobic bacteria in the vagina.

2. Candidal vaginitis

(1) 80% to 90% of pathogens are Candida albicans, which grow easily in an acidic environment and are diphasic bacteria (yeast phase and hyphae phase).

(2) The patient's vaginal pH is 4.0-4.7, and usually less than 4.5.

(3) Conditionally pathogenic bacteria (yeast phase → mycelium phase).

(4) Common causes: pregnancy, diabetes, and large-scale use of immunosuppressants and broad-spectrum antibiotics.

(5) Other contributing factors: gastrointestinal Candida, wearing tight synthetic underwear, and obesity.

3. Trichomonas vaginitis

(1) Trichomonas vaginalis grows best in a humid environment with a temperature of 25℃ to 40℃ and a pH of 5.2 to 6.6.

(2) The vaginal pH changes before and after menstruation, becoming close to neutral after menstruation, making it easier for Trichomonas to reproduce.

(3) The patient's vaginal pH is generally between 5.0 and 6.5, with most cases being > 6.0.

(4) Parasitic on the vagina, urethra or paraurethral glands, bladder, renal pelvis, male foreskin folds, urethra, and prostate.

(5) Often coexists with other vaginitis.

4. Senile vaginitis

Postmenopausal women have declining ovarian function, lower estrogen levels, vaginal wall atrophy, thinning mucosa, increased vaginal pH, reduced local resistance, and other pathogenic bacteria may over-multiply or easily invade and cause inflammation, mainly aerobic bacteria.

5. Vaginitis in young girls

It is caused by poor development of the vulva, low estrogen levels and foreign objects in the vagina of infants and young children, which trigger infection. Common pathogens include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus aureus, etc.

5. Drug treatment

Metronidazole, tinidazole, and clindamycin can be used to treat bacterial vaginosis; miconazole suppositories and fluconazole can be used to treat candidal vaginitis; metronidazole can be used for the initial treatment of Trichomonas vaginitis. If side effects are found, the drug should be discontinued and drinking is prohibited during medication. Estrogen can be supplemented for senile vaginitis.