Symptoms of vaginal and vulval infections include discomfort, itching, and a peculiar vaginal discharge.
Sexually transmitted infections can cause vaginal infections but most common vaginal infections are not caused by the aforementioned.
Bacteria, fungi, or viruses can cause vaginal infections by growing in or around your vagina and vulva.
Your vaginal ecosystem can be disrupted by douching, hormonal imbalance, antibiotics, and unprotected sex, which can lead to vaginal infections.
Symptoms of most common vaginal infections include pain when urinating, itchiness or soreness in or around the vagina, cysts around your vulva, pain when you have sex that is not caused by lack of arousal fluid, an unusual vaginal discharge (normal vaginal discharge is clear or white), pain in your lower abdomen or pelvis, and bleeding after you have sex or in between your periods.
Yeast infection
It is the most common vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of a fungus known as Candida which lives in your body harmlessly. The overgrowth may be caused by hormonal level changes, birth control pills or menstruation.
The symptoms include an abnormal vaginal discharge, redness of the vagina and vulva, and vaginal itching.
Bacterial Vaginosis
It is triggered by a reduction in the bacteria Lactobacilli which lives in the vagina.
Symptoms include a fishy odour when having sex.
Trichomoniasis
If you are sexually active and have unprotected sex you are prone to get this vaginal infection since it is passed from partner to partner during sex.
It is caused by Trichomonas Vaginalis parasite.
One may experience burning, irritation, redness swelling of the vulva, greenish or yellow-grey vaginal discharge, pain when urinating, and a fishy odour is also possible.
Chlamydia
It is a sexually transmitted infection. It causes inflammation of the vagina. One may or may not experience a discharge. If it spreads bleeding after sex and in between your periods is a symptom.
It can show up without symptoms and one should be tested often if they are sexually active.
Gonorrhoea
It is also a sexually transmitted infection and may not show any symptoms. However, if it does show symptoms they include vaginal discharge, pain during sex, and pain when urinating.
If one has gonorrhoea, in most cases they also have chlamydia.
Vaginitis
It can be non-infectious or viral.
Noninfectious vaginitis is caused by a vaginal irritant. These include scented tampons, perfumed soaps, or fabric softeners.
For treatment one needs to get rid of the irritants.
Noninfectious vaginitis can also show up as atrophic vaginitis which is brought about by a decrease in hormonal levels as one hits menopause.
In this case, vaginal walls become drier, thinner, and less flexible.
Viral vaginitis is caused by viruses. Most can be spread through sex.
Herpes simplex virus is the common cause of viral vaginitis. Symptoms include pain in the genital area due to sores.
Genital cysts
Human papillomavirus causes genital cysts. It is spread through engagement in sex. They emerge as little swellings on or near your vulva, cervix, vagina, or anus and can be uncomfortable, itchy, or bleeding.
All the above infections can be treated.
