Vaginitis
Vaginitis is when you have inflammation of the vagina.
Symptoms of vaginitis can include:
Vaginal discharge
Vaginal bleeding
Bad smell
Vaginal itchiness
Vaginal discomfort
In reproductive-aged females, normal vaginal discharge consists of 1 to 4 mL of fluid (per 24 hours), which is white or transparent, thick or thin, and mostly without a smell.
The most common causes of vaginitis are:
Vulvovaginal candidiasis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
Trichomoniasis.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma, can also present as nonspecific vaginal symptoms.
How is vaginitis treated?
Treatment will depend on the cause of the vaginitis. For example, different vaginal infections are treated with different medicines. If you have a vaginal infection, your doctor or nurse will want to figure out what type of infection you have so they can treat it with the right medicine.
If your vaginitis is caused by certain types of infections, your sex partner(s) will also need to see a doctor for treatment. (You might want to stop having sex until you know what is causing your symptoms).
Can vaginitis be prevented?
Sometimes. You can help prevent vaginitis by:
Using warm water and unscented non-soap cleanser to wash your vulva (the vulva is the area of skin around the outside of the vagina).
Not using sprays or powders on your vagina.
Not douching (putting liquid inside the vagina to rinse it out).
Not wiping with scented wipes or scented toilet paper after you use the toilet.
Do not smoke, or try to quit if you already smoke.