Vaginitis (Vaginal Infection)

Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina. It’s due to an imbalance of yeast and bacteria that normally live in the vagina.

Along with discomfort, you may notice a smell that's different than usual. You could have an infection caused by bacteria, yeast, or viruses. Chemicals in soaps, sprays, or even clothing that come in contact with this area could be irritating the delicate skin and tissues.

It's not always easy to figure out what's going on, though. You'll probably need your doctor's help to sort it out and choose the right treatment.

Types and Causes of Vaginitis

Bacterial vaginosis, inflammation of the vagina due to an overgrowth of bacteria. It typically causes a strong fishy odor. Candida or "yeast" infection, an overgrowth of the fungus candida, which is normally found in small amounts in the vagina. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in women, usually in those ages 18 to 35 who have multiple sex partners. Gonorrhea is another common infection spread through sex. It often comes along with chlamydia.

Trichomoniasis is an infection spread by sex that’s caused by a parasite. It raises your risk for other STIs. Viral vaginitis is inflammation caused by a virus, like the herpes simplex virus (HSV) or human papillomavirus (HPV), which spread through sex.

Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) aren’t obvious. If you're sexually active (especially if you have multiple partners), you should talk to your doctor about getting tested for them at your annual check-up. If left untreated, some of these can permanently damage your reproductive organs or cause other health problems. You could also pass them to a partner.

Sometimes, itching, burning, and even discharge happen without an infection (non-infectious vaginitis). Most often, it's an allergic reaction to or irritation from products such as:

• Detergents
• Douches
• Fabric softeners
• Perfumed soaps
• Spermicides
• Vaginal sprays

It could also be from a lower level of hormones because of menopause or from having your ovaries removed. This can make your vagina dry, a condition called atrophic vaginitis. Sexual intercourse could be painful, and you may notice vaginal itching and burning. Although they may have different symptoms, a diagnosis can be tricky even for an experienced doctor. Part of the problem is that you could have more than one at the same time.

You could also have an infection without any symptoms.

Yeast infection vs. bacterial vaginosis

Two of the most common causes of vaginitis are related to organisms that live in your vagina. They can have very similar symptoms. Yeast infections are an overgrowth of the yeast that you normally have in your body. Bacterial vaginosis happens when the balance of bacteria is thrown off. With both conditions, you may notice a white or grayish discharge. How can you tell them apart? If there's a fishy smell, bacterial vaginosis is a better guess. If your discharge looks like cottage cheese, a yeast infection may be to blame. That's also more likely to cause itching and burning, though bacterial vaginosis might make you itchy, too. It’s possible to have both at the same time.

Journal of Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine is an interdisciplinary journal that explores clinical, medical, social and economic aspects of female reproductive health and medication worldwide.

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Media Contact
John Kimberly
Associate Managing Editor
Journal of Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine
Email: womenshealth@emedscholar.com