How to deal with various types of vaginitis? Experts from Sanqin Hospital teach you effective methods.
How to deal with various types of vaginitis? Vaginitis is one of the most common gynecological inflammations in women, with diverse symptoms and a tendency to recur. Many women suffer from vaginitis, which brings inconvenience to their daily lives and work. Vaginitis is a hidden pain for many women, and they may encounter it at different stages of life due to various reasons. So, how to deal with various types of vaginitis? Gynecological experts from Xi'an Women's Hospital provide detailed introductions:
1. Trichomonas Vaginitis
This type of vaginitis is caused by the pathogen - Trichomonas vaginalis, which can be transmitted through sexual intercourse or indirectly (such as bathing, swimming, or contact with contaminated clothing, dressings, and instruments). The main symptoms include external genital itching, increased vaginal discharge that turns into pale yellow foam, severe cases may have blood mixed in the discharge or accompanied by burning sensation and pain during intercourse. If there is a urethral infection, it may cause frequent urination, painful urination, or hematuria.
Treatment usually involves oral sensitive antibiotics and placing metronidazole suppositories in the vagina, with a course of treatment lasting 7-10 days. At the same time, a 1% lactic acid solution can be used to wash the vulva continuously for 3 months. The husband of the patient should also undergo treatment simultaneously, and sexual activity should be avoided during the treatment period. Additionally, patients should pay attention to personal hygiene, avoid unclean sexual intercourse, and prevent cross-infection.
2. Candidiasis Vaginitis
This type of vaginitis is caused by an infection with the pathogen - Candida albicans, commonly occurring in women who have been using hormones or antibiotics for a long time, diabetic patients, and pregnant women. Transmission routes mainly include sexual intercourse, bathing, or contact with contaminated clothing. The main symptoms include cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge and external genital itching.
Treatment can involve oral antifungal medication or inserting antifungal suppositories into the vagina. During the treatment period, sexual activity should be avoided, underwear should be changed frequently, and cleaning tools should be boiled for disinfection.
3. Gardnerella Vaginitis
This type of vaginitis is caused by the pathogen - Gardnerella vaginalis, which can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. It is more prevalent in people with promiscuous sexual relationships. Infections caused by Gardnerella are more common in women with promiscuous sexual behavior. Symptoms in the acute phase may include increased vaginal discharge with a fishy or ammonia odor, dampness and discomfort in the vulva, often accompanied by vaginal burning sensation, pain during intercourse, and external genital itching.
Treatment involves creating suppositories with tetracycline and sulfathiazole, inserting them deep into the vagina once a night for 10 consecutive days, while taking oral sensitive antibiotics. For systemic infections, intravenous medication can be used.
4. Gonococcal Vaginitis
This type of vaginitis is caused by the pathogen - Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can be transmitted through unclean or promiscuous sexual intercourse. A small number of people may also be infected indirectly by wearing swimsuits contaminated with gonococci or through contaminated bathtubs or toilets. Symptoms include lower abdominal pain, increased vaginal discharge that becomes purulent, redness and swelling around the vaginal opening, etc. If not treated in time, it can turn into chronic gynecological inflammation, with 10%-20% of patients potentially experiencing infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
Treatment involves intramuscular injection of sensitive antibiotics, and herbs such as Ma Liu Ye, Cang Zhu, Huang Lian, Huang Bai, Baitouweng, etc., can be decocted in water and used to wash the vulva 1-2 times a day. A course of treatment lasts 7 days, and generally, 1-2 courses of treatment will result in recovery.
5. Pediatric Vaginitis
This condition is more common in young girls wearing open-crotch pants. The cause of the disease is that girls sit on the ground while playing, insert fingers directly into the vagina, or place foreign objects inside, leading to contamination of the vulva and vagina, thus triggering vaginitis. The main symptoms include redness and swelling of the vulva, watery secretions from the vagina, vaginal burning or severe pain.
Treatment for pediatric vaginitis only requires washing the vagina and vulva with花椒water or Six-One Powder (containing talc and licorice), which can yield satisfactory results. To prevent potential problems, do not let girls wear open-crotch pants; instead, opt for loose, easy-to-remove closed-crotch pants. Girls should also be educated about hygiene, avoiding touching the vagina with hands or foreign objects, and the vulva should be washed every night.
6. Menarche Vaginitis
Girls experiencing their first menstruation may, due to shyness and limited understanding of menstruation, neglect menstrual hygiene and use unclean sanitary napkins, allowing bacteria to thrive and invade the vulva, causing menarche vaginitis. Its characteristics include a feeling of heaviness and burning in the perineum, increased vaginal discharge, which may even become purulent. Due to the increase in vaginal discharge stimulating the urethral opening, patients may experience frequent urination and painful urination.
Treatment for this type of vaginitis involves washing the vaginal opening and vulva before bedtime, drying it, and gently inserting a suppository using clean fingers. This method has good anti-inflammatory effects without damaging the hymen.
7. Tight Underwear Vaginitis
As the name suggests, this type of vaginitis is caused by women frequently wearing tight-fitting triangular panties and high-elasticity, snug-fitting fitness pants. Some fashion-conscious girls often like to wear tight pants that highlight body curves. These pants have a tight crotch and fit snugly around the hips. Their fabric is dense and non-breathable, making it difficult for vaginal secretions and sweat to dissipate, providing an ideal environment for bacterial growth and reproduction, easily leading to vaginitis. The main symptoms include excessive vaginal discharge, itching of the vagina and labia majora and minora, and urinary frequency and urgency.
Treatment for this type of vaginitis involves not wearing synthetic tight-fitting pants, opting for cotton underwear and loose-fitting pants, and appropriately using medication under a doctor's guidance.
8. Senile Vaginitis
This type of vaginitis is common in postmenopausal women. Due to a lack of estrogen, local resistance decreases, allowing bacteria to invade and reproduce, causing vaginitis. Symptoms include external genital itching or a burning sensation, severe cases may involve urinary frequency, painful urination, increased vaginal discharge that is light yellow, or bloody pus-like discharge accompanied by an odor. Further examination is necessary to rule out tumors.
Once senile vaginitis is detected, early treatment is essential. Delaying treatment may lead to vaginal adhesions. Treatment typically involves local external cleansing, inserting tablets or suppositories into the vagina, and may also involve estrogen therapy. However, estrogen therapy must be conducted under a doctor's guidance.
9. Pregnancy Vaginitis
Women should ideally check if they have vaginitis before becoming pregnant, and if so, thoroughly treat it before conceiving. Before pregnancy, doctors can use medications boldly without worrying about the impact on the fetus. Moreover, treatment effects are much better outside of pregnancy than during pregnancy. During pregnancy, due to elevated hormone levels, increased secretions, and changes in the pH of the vagina, bacteria residing in the vagina become more active, leading to vaginitis.
Treatment for pregnancy vaginitis should be particularly cautious, and medication should be used under the guidance of gynecological experts. Depending on the type of vaginitis, topical medications can be used for local treatment to prevent fetal malformations caused by medication. Additionally, fungi can infect the fetus in the birth canal, causing a condition called "thrush" in newborns. Therefore, pregnant women should thoroughly treat vaginitis to prevent fungal invasion of the fetus during delivery.
The above is a detailed introduction to "How to deal with various types of vaginitis?" Gynecological experts from Xi'an Sanqin Hospital remind all women friends that the symptoms of vaginitis vary in severity. Therefore, if the symptoms worsen, patients should promptly seek professional medical examination and treatment at a regular hospital to avoid delaying treatment. Xi'an Sanqin Hospital wishes you good health!