What's causing my vaginal symptoms?
Ask the doctors
Q. For the past week I've been dealing with vaginal itching, burning, and discharge. What might be causing these symptoms?
A. Vaginitis, inflammation of the lining inside the vagina, sounds like the culprit. But vaginitis — which can also include vaginal odor and soreness inside and around the vagina and vulva — is an umbrella term encompassing several distinct conditions that inflame or infect the vagina, all with different causes and treatments.
These include bacterial vaginosis, when natural bacterial levels are out of balance; yeast infection, a fungal infection involving an overgrowth of yeast; sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis; and atrophic vaginitis, which is common among women in the menopause transition and beyond due to dryer, more delicate vaginal tissue.
See your primary care clinician or gynecologist to get to the root of your symptoms. Treatments may include antibiotics, antifungal medications, or vaginal moisturizers. To keep vaginitis at bay, avoid products such as douches, vaginal wipes, or sprays; don't wear damp underwear or bathing suits; limit your sexual partners; and avoid STIs by asking male sex partners to wear condoms.
Image: © Doucefleur/Getty Images
About the Authors
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor at Large, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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