"Irritating, uncomfortable, recurrent, difficult to live with and sometimes embarassing".

These are the comments women use to describe vaginal infections. 

 

How Common?

Most women,sometime in their life, have experienced an infection to some degree .  Even those

women who have never engaged in sexual relations have had to deal with a vaginal

infection at times in their lives.  Women with diabetes, or autoimmune diseases more

often have infections. 

 

What Causes them?

Although the common types (yeast, bacterial and trichomonas)

are not life threatening; they are still unpleasant and need to be treated. 

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, Human Papilloma Virus, and HIV are not

the common types of infection and is discussed in detail under another heading.

 

What invites them?

The most common triggers for these infections are stress, poor nutrition, not drinking

adequate amounts of water daily (8-10glasses is average), smoking, drinking alcohol

(excessively), drug use, lack of sleep, antibiotic use, diarrhea, fragrant bath gels/soaps/bubble baths. 

 

In addition, frequent douching, wearing sanitary pads, tight clothes and nylon clothes

(especially underwear) can also keep moisture next to the skin and be a good medium for

bacterial growth. 

 

Hormonal changes after childbirth/breastfeeding and during peri/post/menopause

can also cause vaginal and perineal irritation that may need to be treated. 

 

How do I know if I have vaginal Infection? Which type?

The discharge can be watery or thick or even "cheesy" in appearance and can even have a yellow or greenish

color to it.  In bacterial infections there is even a characteristic "fishy" odor that can be

quite unpleasant along with a burning sensation that may mimic a bladder infection. 

Yeast infections tend to have more of an itching sensation whereas, trichomonas could

be burning, itching and a heavy, odiferous discharge.

 

Your care provider (Physician or Nurse-Midwife) can make a slide of the discharge to

determine what type of infection you have and suggest the proper treatment.  However,

in order to prevent a reoccurrence, it is important to follow the health maintenance

suggestions listed above. 

 

 

How is it treated?

 In the case of hormonal changes, sometimes the use of a hormonal vaginal cream may help the symptoms as well.  Being open and frank in your discussion with your health care provider will help him/her to know how to treat you and

in some situations where the infection is chronic; it may be necessary treat your partner

as well.  Even though men can get these infections also, they usually get rid of them

easier than women.  However, if necessary, your husband may need to use the same

medication as his wife in order to put an end to this cycle of infections.