Vaginitis

Not to be confused with Vaginismus.
Vaginitis
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 N76.0-N76.1
ICD-9 616.1
DiseasesDB 14017
MedlinePlus 000897
eMedicine med/3369 med/2358 emerg/631 emerg/639
MeSH D014627

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina.[1][2] It can result in discharge, itching and pain,[2] and is often associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva. It is usually due to infection.[3] The three main kinds of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis (BV), vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis.[4] A woman may have any combination of vaginal infections at one time. The symptoms that arise vary with the infection, although there are general symptoms shared by all vaginitis infections; infected women may also be asymptomatic. Testing for vaginal infections is not a part of routine pelvic exams; therefore, women should neither assume their health care providers will know of the infection, nor that they will provide appropriate treatment without their input.[4]

Signs and symptoms

A woman with this condition may have vaginal itching or burning and may notice a discharge.[5] The following symptoms may indicate the presence of infection, which should be followed up with a professional health care practitioner for diagnosis and treatment:[4]

Causes

Vulvovaginitis can affect women of all ages and is very common. Specific forms of vaginitis include the following types:

Infection

Infectious vaginitis accounts for 90% of all cases in reproductive age women and is represented by the triad:

Other less common infections are caused by gonorrhea, chlamydia, Mycoplasma, herpes, Campylobacter, improper hygiene, and some parasites, notably Trichomonas vaginalis.[6]

Vaginal infections often have multiple causes (varies between countries between 20 to 40% of vaginal infections), which present challenging cases for treatment. Indeed, when only one cause is treated, the other pathogens can become resistant to treatment and induce relapses and recurrences. Therefore, the key factor is to get a precise diagnosis and treat with broad spectrum anti-infective agents (often also inducing adverse effects).

Further, either a change in pH balance or introduction of foreign bacteria in the vagina can lead to infectious vaginitis. Physical factors that can contribute to the development of an infection include the following: constantly wet vulva due to tight clothing, chemicals coming in contact with the vagina via scented tampons, antibiotics, birth control pills, or a diet favoring refined sugar and yeast.[7]

Pre-pubescent girls

The pH balance in adolescent girls' bodies is not conducive to the growth of Candida albicans, so they are unlikely to contract a yeast infection.

Hormonal

Hormonal vaginitis includes atrophic vaginitis usually found in postmenopausal or postpartum women. Sometimes it can occur in young girls before puberty. In these situations the estrogen support of the vagina is poor.

Irritation/allergy

Irritant vaginitis can be caused by allergies to condoms, spermicides, soaps, perfumes, douches, lubricants, and semen. It can also be caused by hot tubs, abrasion, tissue, tampons, or topical medications.

Foreign body vaginitis (most common foreign bodies are retained tampons or condoms) may cause extremely malodorous vaginal discharges. Treatment consists of removal, for which ring forceps may be useful. Further treatment is generally not necessary.

Diabetes

Women who have diabetes develop infectious vaginitis more often than women who do not.[8]

Diagnosis

Women should inform their doctors of symptoms that may indicate infection, so that a diagnosis may be made.[4] Diagnosis is made with microscopy (mostly by vaginal wet mount) and culture of the discharge after a careful history and physical examination have been completed. The color, consistency, acidity, and other characteristics of the discharge may be predictive of the causative agent.Determining the agent is especially important because women may have more than one infection, or have symptoms that overlap those of another infection, which dictates different treatment processes to cure the infection.[4] For example, women often self-diagnose for yeast infections but due to the 89% misdiagnosis rate, self-diagnoses of vaginal infections are highly discouraged.[9]

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes for the several causes of vaginitis are:

Condition Description pH
Candida vaginitis (B37.3) Commonly referred to as a yeast infection, Candidiasis is a fungal infection that usually causes a watery, white, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharges. The discharge is irritating to the vagina and the surrounding skin. low (4.0–4.5)
Atrophic vaginitis (or Senile vaginitis) (N95.2) Usually causes scant vaginal discharge with no odor, dry vagina and painful intercourse. These symptoms are usually due to decreased hormones usually occurring during and after menopause.
Bacterial vaginitis (B96.3). Gardnerella usually causes a discharge with a fish-like odor. It is associated with itching and irritation, but not pain during intercourse. elevated
Trichomonas vaginalis (A59.0) Can cause a profuse discharge with a fish-like odor, pain upon urination, painful intercourse, and inflammation of the external genitals. elevated (5.0–6.0)

Another uncommon type of vaginitis, called desquamative inflammatory vaginitis also exists, and is underdiagnosed. The cause behind this type is still poorly understood.[10]

Prevention

Prevention of candidiasis, the most common type of vaginitis, includes using loose cotton underwear. The vaginal area should be washed with water. Perfumed soaps, shower gels, and vaginal deodorants should be avoided.[11] Douching is not recommended. The practice upsets the normal balance of yeast in the vagina and does more harm than good.[12]

Prevention of bacterial vaginosis includes healthy diets and behaviors as well as minimizing stress as all these factors can affect the pH balance of the vagina.[13]

Prevention of trichomoniasis revolves around avoiding other people's wet towels and hot tubs, and safe-sex procedures, such as condom use.[4]

Some women consume good bacteria in food with live culture, such as yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi, or in probiotic supplements either to try to prevent candidiasis, or to reduce the likelihood of developing bacterial vaginitis following antibiotic treatment. There is no firm evidence to suggest that eating live yogurt or taking probiotic supplements will prevent candidiasis.[11]

Studies have suggested a possible clinical role for the use of standardized oral or vaginal probiotics in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, either in addition to [14] or in place of [15] the typical antibiotic regimens. However, recent articles[16][17] question their efficacy in preventing recurrence compared with other means, or conclude that there is insufficient evidence for or against recommending probiotics for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

Treatment

The cause of the infection determines the appropriate treatment. It may include oral or topical antibiotics and/or antifungal creams, antibacterial creams, or similar medications. A cream containing cortisone may also be used to relieve some of the irritation. If an allergic reaction is involved, an antihistamine may also be prescribed. For women who have irritation and inflammation caused by low levels of estrogen (postmenopausal), a topical estrogen cream might be prescribed.

The following are typical treatments for trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections:

Complications

Vaginal infections left untreated can lead to further complications, especially for the pregnant woman. For bacterial vaginosis, these include "premature delivery, postpartum infections, clinically apparent and subclinical pelvic inflammatory disease, [as well as] postsurgical complications (after abortion, hysterectomy, caesarian section), increased vulnerability to HIV infection and, possibly, infertility".[13] Studies have also linked trichomoniasis with increased likelihood of acquiring HIV; theories include that "vaginitis increases the number of immune cells at the site of infection, and HIV then infects those immune cells." [4] Other theories suggest that trichomoniasis increases the amount of HIV genital shedding, thereby increasing the risk of transmission to sexual partners. While the exact association between trichomoniasis infection and HIV genital shedding has not been consistently demonstrated, "there is good evidence that TV treatment reduces HIV genital shedding. Five studies were reported in the literature and, of these, four found a decrease in HIV genital shedding after TV treatment."[19]

Further, there are complications which lead to daily discomfort such as:

References

  1. ↑ Vaginal Health Organization (2010) Vaginal Yeast Infections — Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention July 10, 2010; account suspended as of November 5, 2010
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 www.mayoclinic.com — Diseases and Conditions — Vaginitis — Basics — Definition February 6, 2009
  3. ↑ FreeMD — Vaginitis Definition Last Updated: June 30, 2009
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Trichomoniasis." Gale: Contemporary Women's Issues. HealthyWomen, Dec. 2010. Web. April 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ Egan ME, Lipsky MS (2000). "Diagnosis of vaginitis". Am Fam Physician 62 (5): 1095–104. PMID 10997533.
  6. ↑ Hudson, Tori (2007). Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-146473-5.
  7. ↑ Northrup, Christiane (2010). Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing. New York: Bantam. pp. 297–9.
  8. ↑ Yeast Infections With Diabetes - Diabetes and Yeast Infections
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Yeast Infections." Gale: Contemporary Women's Issues. HealthyWomen, Dec. 2010. Web. April 7, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Prognosis and Treatment of Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis." Obstetrics and Gynecology. April 2011. Web. March 19, 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 NHS Choices, United Kingdom National Health Service -Preventing vaginal thrush, reviewed 2012-02-17, retrieved June 10, 2013
  12. ↑ Vaginal Health Organization How to avoid getting a Vaginal Yeast Infection July 10, 2010
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Bacterial Vaginosis." Gale: Contemporary Women's Issues. HealthyWomen, Dec. 2010. Web. April 7, 2011.
  14. ↑ Anukam K; Osazuwa E; Ahonkhai I; Ngwu, Michael; Osemene, Gibson; Bruce, Andrew W.; Reid, Gregor (May 2006). "Augmentation of antimicrobial metronidazole therapy of bacterial vaginosis with oral probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14: randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial". Microbes Infect. 8 (6): 1450–4. doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2006.01.003. PMID 16697231.
  15. ↑ Vujic G; Jajac Knez A; Despot Stefanovic V; Kuzmic Vrbanovic V (May 2013). "Efficacy of orally applied probiotic capsules for bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal infections: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.". Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 168 (1): 75–9. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.12.031. PMID 23395559.
  16. ↑ Bradshaw CS; Pirotta M; De Guingand D; Hocking JS; Morton AN; Garland SM; Fehler G; Morrow A; Walker S. (April 2012). "Efficacy of oral metronidazole with vaginal clindamycin or vaginal probiotic for bacterial vaginosis: randomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial". PLoS One. 7 (4): e34540. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034540. PMID 22509319.
  17. ↑ Senok AC; Verstraelen H; Temmerman M; Botta GA (Oct 2009). "Probiotics for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (4): CD006289. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006289.pub2. PMID 19821358.
  18. ↑ Sherrard, J; Ison, C; Moody, J; Wainwright, E; Wilson, J; Sullivan, A (March 10, 2014). "United Kingdom National Guideline on the Management of Trichomonas vaginalis 2014.". International journal of STD & AIDS 25 (8): 541–549. doi:10.1177/0956462414525947. PMID 24616117.
  19. ↑ Kissinger, P; Adamski, A (September 2013). "Trichomoniasis and HIV interactions: a review.". Sexually transmitted infections 89 (6): 426–33. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2012-051005. PMC 3748151. PMID 23605851.

Further reading