Vaginitis (cont.)
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.
In this Article
- Vaginitis facts
- What is vaginitis?
- What causes vaginitis?
- What are the risk factors for vaginitis?
- What are the symptoms of vaginitis?
- What about vaginitis in children?
- What about vaginitis during pregnancy?
- How is vaginitis diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for vaginitis?
- What home remedies are available to treat vaginitis?
- Can vaginitis be prevented?
- What is the prognosis for vaginitis?
- Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
What home remedies are available to treat vaginitis?
There are no home remedies for infectious vaginitis, but certain self-care measures may increase comfort. For example, allowing more air to circulate around the genital area can be helpful for some women. This can be accomplished by wearing cotton or cotton-lined underwear and removing underwear or constrictive sleepwear at night.
Can vaginitis be prevented?
Some forms of vaginitis (STDs) can be prevented by engaging in safe-sex practices such as condom use, limiting the number of sexual partners, and not engaging in sex with those who practice hi-risk sexual behavior.
Prevention of bacterial vaginosis may not be possible since its cause is not completely understood. Likewise, yeast infections may not be preventable as they can arise due to suppression of the immune system or antibiotic use. Nonspecific vaginitis can sometimes be prevented by careful hygiene and avoiding contamination of the vaginal area with stool (teach young girls to wipe from front to back).
What is the prognosis for vaginitis?
Vaginitis can typically be treated successfully with antibiotics. If left untreated, infections of the vagina may spread to involve the pelvic organs such as the uterus and Fallopian tubes, a potentially dangerous condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Recurrence of an infection is always possible if safe-sex practices are not followed.
Recurrence of bacterial vaginosis is possible even after successful treatment. More than half of those patients treated experience recurrent symptoms within 12 months, and the reason for this recurrence is unclear. A second course of treatment may be required in the event of a recurrence.
REFERENCES:
CDC.gov. Bacterial Vaginosis - CDC fact sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm
CDC.gov. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
Patient Comments
Viewers share their comments
- •
- Submit »
- •
- Submit »
- •
- Submit »
- •
- Submit »
http://www.medicinenet.com/vaginitis/article.htm
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
Updated & New
