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Understanding Vaginal Infections: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment

Vaginal infection sets in when the balance of the vaginal microenvironment is destabilized by a bacterium, which affects the acidity of the pH and implicitly decreases the number of vaginal lactobacilli.

According to the World Health Organization, 90% of cases of vaginal infections are diagnosed with bacterial vaginitis (gardnerella vaginalis), trichomoniasis (trichomonas vaginalis) and candidiasis (candida albicans). Only the specialist doctor can tell you precisely what type of genital infection you have developed, especially since most of the symptoms are often the same.

How do vaginal infections occur?

Most of the time, vaginal infections are contacted following unprotected sexual intercourse with partners who carry the bacteria. Among the causes of the development of such a complication are antibiotic treatments, the use of contraceptive pills, a deficient immune system, the use of intravaginal preparations and spermicides, excessive or inadequate intimate hygiene, obesity, perfumes or tampons and foreign objects inserted intravaginally.

The most common symptoms of intimate infections

Change in vaginal secretions: they become much more abundant, change their color with gray, yellowish or greenish shades and acquire an unpleasant smell. Discomfort in the genital area: pain, stinging and vaginal itching are the most common, but also irritation, swelling and redness of the intimate area. Some women may experience more severe unpleasant reactions such as burning and severe pain, especially during intercourse and before menstruation. The need to urinate often: apart from this discomfort, there is pain and stinging when urinating. Urine can in some cases have a disturbing smell and a red, orange or brown color.

If you notice such changes, it is necessary to perform a vaginal discharge examination as soon as possible.

How do you prevent vaginal infections?

The most common way you can get a vaginal infection is through unprotected sex, especially with multiple partners. Vaginal infections are often called sexually transmitted infections precisely because this is the main reason for the disease.

Be cautious and adopt these habits to prevent the occurrence of intimate infections:

Use a condom during sexual intercourse to avoid transmitting the infection to your partner, but especially not to take over the other bacteria. Be disciplined about intimate hygiene, but do not overdo it with intravaginal washes. One important thing is to take care of your hygiene before and after intercourse. Do not wash with very hot water! Use underwear made of natural materials and avoid synthetic materials that do not allow the skin to breathe. Avoid fitted clothing! Moisture favors the growth of bacteria, so don’t stay in your bathing suit for long periods of time and be careful which public pools you frequent.

What is the treatment for vaginal infections?

Keep in mind that any infection is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, but there are some whose causes are initially of a fungal nature, in order to later become a source of infection for the sexual partner, while others are mostly acquired through sexual intercourse with carriers of virus.

Do not rely on advice from friends and relatives to treat a vaginal infection. Do not treat this problem lightly, because an ignored infection can lead to serious complications.

The recommended solution for treating any type of vaginal infection is to consult a gynecologist, who will recommend a personalized treatment.

Informative material created by Dr. Dana Popescu, obstetrics-gynecology primary physician, with skills in ultrasound and colposcopy, employed in the Obstetrics-Gynecology Department of the Târgu-Jiu County Emergency Hospital. Dr. Popescu can also be found in the Obstetrics-Gynecology Office in the Integrated Outpatient Clinic

2023-10-09 13:15:35
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