vaginitis

(noun)

Inflammation of the vagina.

Related Terms

Examples of vaginitis in the following topics:

  • Normal Genitourinary Microbiota

    • Normal flora bacteria can act as opportunistic pathogens at times of lowered immunity.The vaginal microflora consist mostly of various lactobacillus species .
    • Disturbance of the vaginal flora can lead to bacterial vaginosis.

  • Bacterial Vaginosis

    • Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition of disrupted balance of the vaginal microflora.
    • Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition where the vaginal microflora in women have become disrupted.
    • For diagnosis in the clinical practice, a swab from the vaginal wall is obtained and examined with a few different tests called the Amsel criteria:
    • Infectious agentsThe normal vaginal microflora contains many species with Lactobacillus as the dominant representative.
    • Factors that are known to disturb the balance are: antibiotics, pH imbalance (douching can alter vaginal pH), psychosocial stress, iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women and women with STD.

  • Vagina

    • The vaginal opening is much larger than the urethral opening.
    • The vaginal opening is at the caudal end of the vulva behind the opening of the urethra.
    • Vaginal lubrication is provided by the Bartholin's glands near the vaginal opening and the cervix.
    • The membrane of the vaginal wall also produces moisture, although it does not contain any glands.
    • The tissue may or may not be ruptured by vaginal penetration.

  • Gonorrhea

    • Women, on the other hand, are asymptomatic half the time or have vaginal discharge and pelvic pain.
    • Half of women with gonorrhea are asymptomatic while others have vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain or pain with intercourse.
    • The infection is transmitted from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
    • Men have a 20% risk of getting the infection from a single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected woman.
    • Women have a 60–80% risk of getting the infection from a single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected man.

  • Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

    • Candidal vulvovaginitis or vaginal thrush is an infection of the vagina's mucous membranes by Candida albicans .
    • It is the second most common cause of vaginal inflammation after bacterial vaginosis.
    • Non-albican Candida are commonly found in complicated cases of vaginal thrush such that first line treatment is ineffective.
    • The symptoms of vaginal thrush include vulval itching, vulval soreness and irritation, pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse (superficial dyspareunia), pain or discomfort during urination (dysuria) and vaginal discharge, which is usually odorless.

  • Female Sexual Response

    • For women, these changes include increased blood flow to the nipples, vulva, clitoris, and vaginal walls, and increased vaginal lubrication.
    • The beginnings of sexual arousal in a woman's body is usually marked by vaginal lubrication, engorgement of the external genitals, and internal enlargement of the vagina.
    • Further stimulation can lead to more vaginal wetness and further engorgement and swelling of the clitoris and the labia, along with increased redness or darkening of the skin in these areas.
    • Reduced estrogen levels may be associated with increased vaginal dryness and less clitoral erection when aroused, but are not directly related to other aspects of sexual interest or arousal.

  • Trichomoniasis

    • Trichomoniasis, sometimes referred to as "trich", is a common cause of vaginitis.
    • Symptoms include inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis), urethra (urethritis), and vagina (vaginitis) which produces an itching or burning sensation.
    • There may also be a yellow-green, itchy, frothy, foul-smelling ("fishy" smell) vaginal discharge.

  • Spermicides

    • Spermicide is a contraceptive substance that eradicates sperm and is inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy.
    • Spermicide is a contraceptive substance that eradicates sperm and is inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy.

  • Cervical Cancer

    • One of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage.
    • Vaginal bleeding, contact bleeding, or (rarely) a vaginal mass may indicate the presence of malignancy.
    • Also, moderate pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge are symptoms of cervical cancer.

  • Hysterectomy

    • Subtotal (supracervical) hysterectomy was originally proposed with the expectation that it may improve sexual functioning after hysterectomy, it has been postulated that removing the cervix causes excessive neurologic and anatomic disruption, thus leading to vaginal shortening, vaginal vault prolapse, and vaginal cuff granulations.
    • Febrile morbidity was less likely and ongoing cyclic vaginal bleeding one year after surgery was more likely after supracervical hysterectomy.