How to cope with vaginitis
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- Dr. Jennifer Wu , Obstetrician-Gynecologist
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Dr. Jennifer Wu
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Sooner or later, most women have some kind of vaginal infection, known as vaginitis. Dr. Jennifer Wu, an OB/GYN with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, explains the symptoms and treatment.
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Instructions
How to cope with vaginitis
Have you ever experienced any kind of vaginal discomfort, discharge or swelling? If you’re like most women you have. The medical term for this is called vaginitis and it’s often secondary to an infection. The good news is that in most cases it’s easily treatable. Here’s what you need to know:- The most common vaginal infections are yeast, or an overgrowth of bacteria such as gardnerella or trichomonas. While yeast infections or gardnerella are not contagious, trichomonas is. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease. All of these vaginal infections are uncomfortable. Some women will feel mildly uncomfortable while other women will be so uncomfortable they can hardly sit down.
- Some common causes of vaginitis such as yeast are antibiotics, because taking antibiotics can cause a ph change in your vagina. Things like douching can also alter the PH in your vagina, causing an infection. Trichomoniasis, on the other hand, is sexually transmitted. One way to prevent it is to us a condom when engaging in sexual intercourse.
- One important note about douching. Women do not have to douche. Some women feel more comfortable douching after their menstrual cycle. But there is no medical reason that you have to douche. The down side of douching is that it can alter the ph balance of your vagina and you can get an overgrowth of one type of bacteria leading to bacterial vaginitis.
- If you think you might have vaginitis the first thing you should do is see your gynecologist to determine the type of vaginitis you have and figure out the best treatment. Your doctor will diagnose you to make sure you don’t’ have a more serious infection. To determine what kind of infection you have your doctor will conduct an exam, and may do some swabs or cultures.
- Treatments for yeast are antifungal medication in the form of a pill or a cream that is applied in the vagina. If you have an overgrowth of bacteria vaginous you may be treated with oral antibiotics or with an antibiotic gel that is applied in the vagina and if you have trichomoniasis you will most likely be treated with oral antibiotics.
- Once treated you should feel better within 24 to 36 hours. However, it’s recommended not to have sex during that time as sexual intercourse may increase the swelling and the irritation.
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