{"id":1555,"date":"2022-03-29T10:20:51","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T10:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/?p=1555"},"modified":"2022-05-28T16:05:21","modified_gmt":"2022-05-28T16:05:21","slug":"most-common-types-of-vaginal-infections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/most-common-types-of-vaginal-infections\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Common Types Of Vaginal Infections"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaginal problems such as vaginitis, inflammations, and infections are actually relativelyr common. Most women happen to experience some of the different types of vaginal infections at least once in their life. The typical symptoms of <\/span><a href=\"\/myobgynoffice\/services\/gynecological-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vaginal infections<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include itching and pain in that area, often accompanied by vaginal discharge of a strong smell. It\u2019s possible for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) to cause gynecological infections, but the reality is that the most common vaginal problems have nothing to do with STDs. In general, some women tend to be more prone to vaginal infections for no apparent reason.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Things That Could Mess Up Regular Vaginal Ecosystem<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s perfectly normal that there are certain bacteria and even yeast in a healthy vagina that are infection-free. However, when the vaginal ecosystem becomes upset and gets thrown off balance, the naturally occurring bacteria and yeast could end up growing too much, which then triggers vaginal problems. Some of the common things that could cause this to happen include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in the hormonal levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sexual intercourse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy and breastfeeding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking antibiotics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Douching<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s true that it\u2019s not always possible to avoid most of the above-mentioned things, except for douching. If it\u2019s not strictly recommended by your gynecologist, douching is completely unnecessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Most Common Types of Vaginal Infections<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most typical vaginal infections include yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis, the last one being caused by STDs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Yeast Infection<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1586 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection.jpg\" alt=\"Woman Suffering From Itching Her Crotch Hand Scratching Itchy, Pain Vaginal Caused by Wearing Tight Jeans\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Yeast-Infection.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeast infection is actually one of the most common vaginal problems women could experience. It is typically triggered by candida, which is a type of fungus. Small numbers of candida tend to be present in one\u2019s body, vagina included. However, as mentioned, it could happen for candida to overgrow, which can then lead to gynecological infections.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The common conditions that could cause candida to overgrow include menstruation, using birth control pills, and pregnancy, and all the things that could affect normal hormonal levels. Other conditions such as high blood sugar or poor immunity due to HIV could increase the risk of yeast infections as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When affected by a yeast infection, women will often experience thicker vaginal discharge. Sometimes, there will also be an itching sensation in the vaginal area together with redness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Bacterial Vaginosis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from yeast, there are also the so-called friendly bacteria in a healthy vagina, called lactobacilli. In the case when these particular bacteria drop in number, women could be affected by bacterial vaginosis (BV).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not exactly known why these bacterial levels could change, but when lactobacilli lower, they could be replaced in numbers by other bacteria, which actually cause gynecological infections. For instance, the most commonly associated bacteria with BV are called Gardnerella.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As one of the most common vaginal problems, BV is often characterized by symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge that\u2019s either thick and whitish or unusually clear and slippery. It\u2019s also possible to experience an almost fishy odor. In the case of BV, burning and itching is unlikely.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Trichomoniasis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to different types of vaginal infections, another very common one is known as trichomoniasis, and it\u2019s actually caused by STDs. This infection is also often referred to as just trich. The infection occurs when one partner infects the other with the parasite called trichomonas vaginalis as a result of sexual intercourse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When women suffer from trichomoniasis, they often have symptoms similar to other vaginal infections, such as redness and irritations, burning, fishy smell, swelling of the vulva, and abnormal vaginal discharge of greenish\/yellowish color. It\u2019s also possible for some women to feel pain when urinating.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Other Conditions That Could Affect the Vagina<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a couple of other conditions, both STD-related and unrelated, that could cause vaginal problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Chlamydia Vaginitis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An STD that could trigger vaginal inflammation is chlamydia. It\u2019s generally recommended that all sexually active women younger than 26 take annual chlamydia tests. Namely, this condition can sometimes be completely asymptomatic, and when left untreated, it can cause fertility issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it shows symptoms, women affected by chlamydia often experience abnormal vaginal discharge. In the case when the infection spreads further from the cervix and vagina, bleeding between periods could also happen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Gonorrhea<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another STD that could cause vaginal problems is gonorrhea. It can also be completely asymptomatic or followed by symptoms such as vaginal discharge and\/or painful intercourse and urination. It\u2019s not uncommon for women suffering from chlamydia to also suffer from gonorrhea, which is why one positive test would often warrant testing for the other STD.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Noninfectious Vaginitis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the name suggests, noninfectious vaginitis is not an infection per se, but it can cause some vaginal problems due to vaginal sensitivity to certain products such as scented soaps, fabric softeners, or scented tampons. The solution to this problem is to find out what\u2019s causing it and then simply stop using it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When they reach menopausal age, women could also suffer from atrophic vaginitis. This condition is caused by fluctuating hormonal levels when the vaginal walls turn thinner and lose flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Vulvodynia<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vulvodynia is essentially a persistent pain of the vulva, but the cause of this pain is often unknown. Symptoms can be very similar to actual vaginal infections, such as swelling, redness, and irritation, together with burning and soreness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Viral Vaginitis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaginal infections could also happen because of a virus, especially one contracted via sexual contact. For instance, the most common trigger of viral vaginosis is the herpes simplex virus. The common symptoms, in this case, are sores and lesions in the genital area as well as pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1587 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor Keeps a Card With the Name of the Diagnosis - Vaginitis\" width=\"1000\" height=\"609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis-200x122.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis-400x244.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis-600x365.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis-800x487.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/03\/Viral-Vaginitis.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Treatment for Vaginal Infections<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All types of vaginal infections can be successfully treated as long as women pay regular visits to their gynecologist and report any issues soon after they appear. The key to effective treatment is to pinpoint exactly what\u2019s causing the infections.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, when they suspect a yeast infection, women can easily get over-the-counter meds to treat it. However, if the meds fail to work, chances are that the infection is triggered by something other than yeast overgrowth. This is when it\u2019s important to get in touch with your doctor. You can always count on <\/span><a href=\"\/myobgynoffice\/gostal-arcelin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Gostal Arcelin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your provider at Women&#8217;s Health Partners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to maintain your gynecological health, it\u2019s crucial to learn how to listen to what your body tells you. Make sure to create a proper self-care routine, protect yourself during sexual intercourse, and choose products that won\u2019t make the sensitive <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org\/hometown-health\/speaking-of-health\/vulvar-health-pay-attention-speak-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genital area<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> react adversely. Most importantly, schedule regular gynecological appointments; after all, prevention is the best kind of treatment. That said, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to us at Women\u2019s Health Partners for any questions or concerns you might have. We offer a full set of minimally invasive and top-notch services when it comes to treating a range of different gynecological conditions. In order to help you find the best possible course of action for your health and individual needs, we will thoroughly discuss all the available options, from contraception to menopause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vaginal problems such as vaginitis, inflammations, and infections are actually relativelyr common. Most women happen to experience some of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[27,25,23,24,26],"class_list":["post-1555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gynecology","tag-common-vaginal-problems","tag-gynecological-infections","tag-types-of-vaginal-infections","tag-vaginal-infections","tag-vaginal-problems"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1555\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}