MamasHealth.com Home Women's Health Adenomyosis Atrophic vaginitis Bartholin's abscess Cervical dysplasia Cervical polyps Cervictis Depo provera Domestic violence Endometrial hyperplasia Endometrial polyps Endometriosis Escape an attacker Folic acid Finding time for sex Hormone therapy Alternatives How to be a better mom HPV scare Important health tests Labial reduction surgery Menorrhagia Menopause Menstrual cramps Midlife checklist Mittelschmerz Moms need friends too Ovarian cysts Painful sex Pelvic exams PID PMS Polycystic ovarian Preeclampsia Pregnancy Salpingitis Toxic shock syndrome 1 Toxic shock syndrome 2 Urinary incontinence Urinary tract infection Uterine bleeding Uterine fibroids Vaginal cysts Vaginal dryness Vaginal rejuvenation Vaginal warts Vaginismus Vaginitis Vulvar dystrophy Vulvitis Vulvodynia Women & calcium Women & medicine Women & heart Disease Yeast infections Links Email Mama Tips to get him in the mood Why women should care about prostate cancer Donating your eggs Help for rape victims Stay at home moms Women and calcium 9 things women should know about men Shy girls guide to flirting	What is Vaginitis? Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina. Vaginitis is a common condition. After vaginitis is treated, it can reoccur. Symptoms of Vaginitis Some women with vaginitis may not have symptoms. When symptoms are present, the most common symptoms of vaginitis are: unusual vaginal discharge itching and irritation in the vaginal area pain during intercourse an unpleasant odor originating from the vaginal area pain in the lower abdomen What Causes Vaginitis? Vaginitis is usually caused by an infection. The infection can be transmitted through sex. Vaginitis is rarely caused by STDs Types of Vaginitis There are a few different types of vaginitis. Yeast Infection and Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) are the most common types of vaginitis. Yeast Infections are likely to develop if on antibiotics, corticosteroid medicines or birth control pills. The major symptoms include: itchiness in the vaginal area, white, cottage cheese-like discharge. Bacterial Vaginosis is very common. It is caused by having too much 'bad bacteria' in the vagina. There are many bacteria that live in a normal vagina. When you have bacterial vaginosis, there are not enough “good” bacteria in the vagina. This causes harmful bacteria to grow in the vagina, causing the vaginal environment to be out of balance. Symptoms include white or grayish, fish-smelling discharge. Complications of Vaginitis Complications of vaginitis can occur. If bacterial vaginosis is left untreated, it can increase the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, pre-term birth, premature rupture of membranes, low birth weight, intra-amniotic infections, endometritis, cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, post-gynecological surgery infections and increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Vaginitis Treatment. Vaginitis can be treated. Treatment will depend on the cause. Bacterial vaginosis is usually treated with antibiotics. Yeast infections are treated with antifungal creams or suppositories.
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