What is vaginitis? Vaginitis (say...

What is vaginitis?

Vaginitis (say: vaj-en-eye-tis) is an irritation of the vagina. If a woman has vaginitis, she may have a bad-smelling fluid coming on the outside of her vagina. She also may have itching or burning in her vagina and genital area.

Vaginitis is united of the most common reasons that women papal court their doctor. It usually is not a bad question and often is easy to treat. There are three general types of vaginitis: yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis (say: vaj-en-oh-sis), and trichomoniasis (say: trik-oh-mow-ny-eh-sis).

What is a yeast infection?

A yeast infection is caused by way of a fungus called Candida (say: can-dih-dah). Many healthy women have any yeast in their vagina. They do not ne to be treated unles they have signs of a yeast infection.

Here are any signs that you could have a yeast infection:

* Itching and rednes in your vagina and genital area

* A thick, white discharge from your vagina

* A burning feeling when you urinate

by what mode is a yeast infection treated?

A yeast infection almost always secures better when it is treated with a special vaginal cream or vaginal suppository that you can corrupt at a drugstore. You use the cream or suppository for 3 to 7 nights. A yeast infection also gains better when it is treated with undivided tablet of a medicine that your doctor can prescribe. Your sex partner does not ne to be treated.

Based forward symptoms alone, it is hard for a woman to sum up if she has a yeast infection. Rather than treating yourself with over-the-counter yeast creams or suppositories, it is best to descry your doctor for an exam.

If you have yeast infections ofttimes or your yeast infection does not improve with treatment, your doctor can order special criterions to find the reason.

What is bacterial vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection. It happens when you have too abundant normal bacteria in your vagina.

Here are more [i]or[/i] less signs that you could have bacterial vaginosis:

* An unpleasant "fishy" odor that you may notice more after you have sex

* A change in your vaginal discharge. The discharge may examine white or gray and frothy

* Vaginal itching or burning and redness

in what manner is bacterial vaginosis treated?

Your doctor will check you to papal court if you have bacterial vaginosis. This infection usually is treated with an oral medicine for 7 days or a vaginal cream for 5 days. Your sex partner generally does not ne to be treated.

If you are pregnant, it is important to find not at home if you have bacterial vaginosis. Treatment may restrain you from going into labor before it is time for your baby to be born.

What is trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis is a habitual sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by dint of a tiny organism called Trichomonas vaginalis.

Here are an signs that you could have trichomoniasis:

* A foamy yellow or green discharge with a bad smell

* Vaginal itching

* An importune to urinate more often than usual

for what reason is trichomoniasis treated?

Your doctor must do an exam to find on the outside if you have trichomoniasis. An oral medicine almost always clears up this infection.

Your sex partner also emergencys to be treated. If your sex partner is not treated, you can become infected again. If you have more than individual sex partner, everyone must be treated.

Where can I learn more about vaginitis?

You can learn more about vaginitis from the following groups:

American Social Health Association Web Site: http://www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs/vaginitis.html

Center for Disease curb and Prevention (CDC) Web sites: http://www.cdc.gov/std/BV/STDFact-Bacterial-Vaginosis.htm http://www.cdc.gov/std/Trichomonas/STDFact-Trichomoniasis.htm

Hotline number: 1-800-227-8922

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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