Vaginal infections are common. They are more likely to occur in women who are sexually active. They may be caused by bacteria, yeast, or other substances. The most common types of vaginal infections include bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and trichomoniasis.
What are the types of vaginal infections?
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common type of vaginal infection. It is often caused by a change in the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms include itching and burning during urination or sexual activity, a fishy odor, or discharge. It may be treated with antibiotics. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the vagina. The symptoms include itching, burning, or pain during urination or sexual activity. Treatment is usually with creams, vaginal suppositories, or vaginal irrigations. Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted disease that can cause itching and burning during urination or sexual activity and other symptoms. Treatment includes antibiotics and sometimes a female condom.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is an infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The parasite may be present in the vaginal fluid of healthy women and does not cause any symptoms. However, if the parasite grows inside your vagina and reaches a certain level it can cause symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge or itching. It can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility if it spreads into the fallopian tubes or other parts of your reproductive system. Trichomoniasis is very common in women who have sex with men who have sex with other men (MSM).
Vaginal Yeast Infections (Vaginal Candidiasis)
Women are more susceptible to yeast infections because of the way their vaginal tissues develop. During puberty, a layer of dead cells forms in the vagina and this is called the _vaginal epithelium_. As these dead cells are shed from the vagina over time, new layers of healthy vaginal cells grow and replace them. This process can take anywhere from a few months to several years depending on how old you are when you first have sexual intercourse. The older the vaginal epithelium, the slower this process goes on. Because this is an ongoing process, women who have regular sexual activity can often have yeast infections after a long period of time without any symptoms. Women who have very active sex lives may also have yeast infections within hours after sexual intercourse because of an increased amount of yeast that has been introduced into their bodies during intercourse.
Vaginal Infections treatment
Vaginal infections are treated with antibiotics. Some of the most common types of vaginal infections are bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, and trichomoniasis (trichomoniasis is a very common infection that affects one in five women. It’s caused by a tiny parasite that lives in your vagina. The parasite can be passed on to a man during vaginal sex with someone who is infected, so if you have an STD and are having sex with an uninfected person, you may catch the virus). If you have a bacterial vaginosis infection, the doctor will likely treat you with metronidazole or clindamycin (antibiotics called “first-line” drugs for this condition) because they are more effective than the other drugs used to treat it. If you have a yeast infection, your doctor may prescribe nystatin (an antibiotic drug). He or she might also use some antifungal creams or vaginal suppositories to treat the infection.
If you are not pregnant and don’t have an STD, you may not need treatment. It is very important that you tell your doctor about any vaginal infections you have so he or she can make sure that they aren’t dangerous to you or your baby. If the infection is in a place other than the vagina, it may be treated with a different antibiotic. If it happens after birth, the doctor will probably tell you how to treat it.