What is Vaginal Infection? What are the Symptoms?

What is Vaginal Infection?

Vaginal infections are divided into bacterial infections, fungal infections and parasitic infections. Vaginal infection usually occurs with itching, discharge and pain in the vagina.

What Causes Vaginal Infection?

Vaginal infections or vaginitis, may develop after an external bacterial, virus, parasite or fungal infection into the vagina, or they may occur with the proliferation of small amounts of disease-causing bacteria or fungi naturally present in the vagina. Although it can be seen in all age groups, including childhood and menopause, it is most common in the sexually active reproductive age. 

What are the Symptoms of Vaginal Infection?

Vaginal infections most commonly manifest themselves when the odorless physiological discharge, which is transparent or white, changes color, begins to smell, and increases in quantity and density. Along with this, there may be itching, stinging, burning in the vagina and vulva, which is our external genital area, and pain and suffering during intercourse or sometimes during urination. Some color, consistency or odor changes described by the patient may be typical enough to identify the type of infection without even examining it. For example, the smell of dead fish is typical in bacterial vaginosis infection, which is common, and sour cheese smell, curd-like discharge and genital itching are typical in fungal infection. When it cannot be diagnosed with these descriptions and examination findings, the vaginal culture test taken helps us reveal the type of infection. 

What are the Symptoms of Genital Infections?

When the issue is considered not only vaginal but also genital infections in a broader sense, it is necessary to include the symptoms of redness, edema on the inner and outer lips, warts, vesicles, wounds and rashes in the external genital area and groin.  In some advanced genital infections, especially sexually transmitted infections, there may be irregular bleeding, pain in the groin and lower abdomen, fever, and palpable lymph node swelling in the groin. Symptoms of genital infection and urinary tract infection may overlap or be confused by patients due to the proximity of the genital system and urinary tract, but they are completely different systems, different tests are required, and they are often treated with different medications and approaches.

What Triggers Vaginal Infections? 

The decrease in lactobacilli, which are beneficial bacteria in the vagina, due to personal care habits and antibiotics used, changing hormone levels throughout life and during the menstrual cycle, seasonal conditions, our clothing choices that affect the ventilation of the vagina, our diet and poor hygienic conditions. Environmental conditions such as pH, heat and humidity can cause disease. It may cause changes in favor of bacteria and fungi.  In the summer months, when the temperature and humidity increase, as well as when pads, wet swimsuits and bikinis are not changed in time, favorable environments are created for the growth of fungi and bacteria. Bacteria, which can multiply in an oxygen-free environment and cause a bad odor, reproduce more easily due to tight and synthetic clothes or pads that do not allow air. It is also important that vaginal tampons remain in the vagina for a long time as it can cause a rapidly progressing and potentially fatal infectious condition called toxic shock syndrome. Dirty seas and crowded pools, even if chlorinated, are risky environments for both vaginal and urinary tract infections.
In addition, having more than one partner increases the risk of infection, while decreased immunity, heavy smoking and alcohol use make it easier to contract vaginal infections.  Disruption of the vaginal flora due to the above reasons and the chronicity of this condition is called vaginal dysbiosis; This situation itself makes it easier to catch other infections such as HPV, considering the immune response in the vagina.

How to Treat Vaginal Infection? 

Vaginal infections, like all other infections, are treated mainly with antibiotics, antifungal drugs and probiotics. These can be given orally or in the form of vaginal suppositories or creams. Antiseptic solutions can also be used for external genital area and vaginal washing. Creams can be applied depending on the type of skin lesions that occur in the external genital area. Warts can be treated with special solutions, freezing (cryotherapy) or burning (cauterization) methods. Aromatherapy can be used to treat and take precautions against vaginal infections by dropping some special essential oils into underwear.  
In persistent vaginal infections, vaginal laser application can also be performed to increase vaginal blood flow and support repair by increasing collagen production. When vaginal infections last for a long time, they can cause redness and irritation, known as “sores,” on the cervix.  Although it is not used as much today, cervical burning or freezing procedures can be beneficial in repairing this appearance and reducing discharge.

How to Prevent Vaginal Infections?

Personal hygiene is very important in preventing vaginal infections. However, what needs to be done can be listed as follows: 
• After going to the toilet, cleaning should be done with pre-washed hands, from front to back each time. Especially in little girls, vaginal discharge may develop due to failure to pay attention to this. 
• In public toilets, since infection can also occur from commonly touched places such as door handles and faucet valves, great care should be taken in terms of manual contamination, and one should not sit on the toilet without laying a disposable material on it. 
• If one of the household members has symptoms of genital infection, he/she should be provided with treatment; Until then, a short preliminary cleaning with disinfectant should be done when using public toilets.
• Personal products should not be shared, and underwear should not be tried on in stores in a way that directly touches our skin. 
• Care should be taken to ensure that epilation applications are not performed in centers that are not reliable in terms of hygiene. 
• Underwear should be washed at a high temperature by rinsing thoroughly, the laundry should be ironed with steam at high temperatures before wearing, and cotton laundry and breathable clothes should be preferred.
• Monogamy and condom use significantly reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections. If the patient has signs of intense infection or the partner has symptoms such as discharge from the tip of the penis, a wound or rash on the penis, or pain during urination, it would be best to abstain from sexual intercourse until treatment. 
• When using sexual toys, attention should be paid to hygiene and not to irritate the vaginal mucosa. Excessive hygiene practices can be harmful as well as lack of hygiene. 
• The inside of the vagina should not be washed as it will cause the probiotics in our flora to decrease. Although pH-appropriate genital shampoos can be used to clean the external genital area, washing this area only with warm water is sufficient.  
• Since fungal infections are common after antibiotic use, taking probiotic supplements with food or ready-made probiotic supplements will be protective. In addition, probiotic support is important for those who swim frequently in the pool, as chlorine can disrupt the flora. 
• Finally, annual routine examination is very important for detecting infection-related lesions or findings that are sometimes unrecognized and for cervical cancer screening.  For this reason, not skipping annual examinations after the start of sexual activity and consulting a doctor without delay if one of the symptoms listed above is observed will prevent vaginal infections from progressing or becoming chronic. 
• Likewise, it is very important for men to consult a urologist without hesitation when they encounter any symptoms related to the genital area, so that the disease does not progress and they do not infect their partners.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vaginal Infection