DEFINITION

The vaginitis, or infections of the vagina, are an inflammation of the vagina, which usually owes to an infection, although in some occasions other causes exist.

CAUSES

Although whenever a clinical vaginitis suspicion exists, the doctor must realize different procedures to try to determine if there is some responsible microbe, what is, and what treatment would be the most suitable, the true thing is that also there must be investigated other causes that irritate the genital area, causing inconveniences and inflammation. The above mentioned causes gather together fundamentally in two blocks:

• chemistries: some creams that are used close to the vagina or the urethra and excessively aggressive certain soaps are the principal causers.
• traumatic: in medicine, it is named a traumatism to the external physical aggressions. The traumatic causes that can cause an inflammation of the genital region are diverse: sexual relations without the suitable lubrication or too aggressive or the practice of some sports without the suitable clothing, are some of the most habitual.

The microorganisms that form the vaginal flow can be unbalanced by several factors: Menstrual cycle, sexual activity, the childbearing, the surgery, the antibiotics, the contraceptive hormonal ones, the intrauterine devices and the illnesses that diminish the immunity (defenses).

SYMPTOMS

It is an important knowledge that cannot give any symptom, or only any of those that we count, or their even small grades of several but that, nearly annoying, should happen to us unnoticed. For it, before the minimal doubt it is necessary to consult, without hoping that there should appear everything what is described next:

The typical thing is to present a secretion abnormally excessive, (every woman knows what is the quantity of snot that it usually segregates, and when it is secreting too much for the habitual thing in her), accompanied by itching (itch), ardor and discomfort. There can be pain on having urinated and in the sexual activity. Also annoyance and distension can appear in vulva and vagina.

TYPES

Although there are diverse gérmenes that can cause it, they stand out as more habitual six:

CANDIDIASIS

Candid vaginal infections for yeasts of a so called mushroom albicans. 75 % of the women with sexual activity is affected at least once in his life, and 10 % becomes appellants and gives chronic symptoms.

There can be condicones predisposing: pregnancy, not controlled diabetes, use of antibiotics or use of contraceptive hormonal and intrauterine devices (DIU). The symptoms often begin one week earlier or during the menstruation. The flow in this infection is thick, white with appearance of "cottage cheese". This infection cannot be considered to be a sexually transmitted disease, definitely speaking, since it is quite habitual that is candid in the vagina as part of the flora saprofita of the one that we were speaking earlier. It is possible to acquire in addition to the coitus, in towels, clothes, water of bath or bad hygienic habits. It is more frequent in women in fertile age or with hormonal treatments and it is strange in girls or after the menopause.

TRICOMONIASIS

Vaginal infections for a microorganism called Trichomona vaginalis. It is anticipated that approximately 20 % of all the women has it. Also up to 10 % of the men they can be bearers (this is, that it has the germ but that it does not cause them any problem, although they transmit it and infect his sexual couples). The principal form of transmission is for sexual contact; nevertheless, some studies suggest a transmission across contact in baths, with towels, swim suits and contaminated swimming pools.

The most common declarations of the vaginitis tricomoníasica there is the flow of bad smell, itch in the vulva and inconveniences on having urinated. Although there are women who cannot present any symptom, they are capable of infecting his couple (carrying women).

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (unspecific Vaginitis)

The causes of this suffering are multiple, but principally it is provoked for sobrecrecimiento of Gardnerella vaginalis and Mobilincus spp. (anaerobic) provoking an imbalance in the vaginal microflora.

The principal form of transmission is for sexual contact. Inside the principal symptoms, the woman I could present itch, vulvar ardor, stinking flow (principally after the sexual act) and greyish.

VAGINITIS FOR CLAMIDIA

It is caused by the Chlamidia trachomatis, it is one of the sexually transmitted diseases more frequent, and in numerous occasions it does not produce symptoms. It can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Illness. The clinic is the same than for the rest of the vaginitis, without any feature esoecial. The flow can turn out to be slightly spotted with blood, and it is possible that it is bled after the coitus. Also pain is appreciated sometimes in the low part of the abdomen.

VAGINITIS GONOCÓCICA

The germ is Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, more known like "gonococo". The vaginal infection can do that there appears a yellowish or dyed blood flow, as well as bled after or during the sexual relation, and in general unspecific symptoms as that have been mentioned.

VIRAL VAGINITIS

It is a question of a quite common cause, since numerous causative gérmenes of genital inflammation do not belong to the group of the bacteria, but of the viruses. Type treats for example 2 as the simple herpes, type 1, the human papilomavirus, and the herpes zóster.
The viruses of the family herpes cause in general extremely painful ulcers so much inside, as about the entry of the vagina, as well as in other genital areas like the vulva.

The papillomas cause warts, which can be painful. If it does not talk each other, it is known that they can cause after the years cancer of neck of the womb (cervix). They are detected by means of a special coloring named "Papanicolau".

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Since it is possible to have more than one type of infection simultaneously, the auto-diagnosis and treatment based on your own experience, it is not prudent.

To be able to determine who of the mentioned microorganisms is the person in charge of the vaginitis his gynecologist must realize some studies and can observe a sample of the vaginal flow, in the microscope.

The treatment depends on the type of microorganism that is causing the infection. Sometimes joint treatment will be indicated to his sexual couple.

PREVENTION

The special attention to the habits and hygiene personnels can stop the vaginal infections.

• To avoid synthetic underwear and to change it into cotton pledges.
• To suppress the use of vaginal showers and of "sprays" of intimate hygiene.
• The vulva toilets will have to be done by water and (soft) soap.
• The perfumed hygienic towels and the tampons can cause annoyance vulvar and favor the infections vulvovaginales.
• Support his fresh and free moisture genitals: avoid the pantimedias and the very tight pants, the humid swim suit is not left put, etc.
• Any change of his vaginal flow or appearance of itch or discomfort a gynecological consultation deserves.
• If it supports catalogued sexual relations like "of risk", this is, with persons who have some type of infection that is transmitted by sexual route, or with persons that he does not know if they are infected or not, it uses protection mechanisms from the first moment of the sexual contact, of the type of the condom, which safety, if it is used appropriately, is very high.

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