A vaginal infection can cause irritation, intense itchiness, and discharge from the vagina and the vulva and inner vaginal wall – the tissues at the opening and inside of the vagina. According to the recent statistics, vaginal infections affect up to 2 out of 4 women at some point in their lifetimes. Most of the women experience at least three episodes.
Some vaginal infections are considered sexually transmitted infections, while others are not. But, there is an increased risk of vagina infections at the time of first sexual activity. There is also evidence that vaginal infections may be linked to the genital to mouth contact (oral-genital sex) and vice versa.
Most cases of vaginal infections can be effectively treated with medications. If you have recurrent vaginitis (four or more within a year), you may need to have a longer treatment course and a maintenance plan.
1Vaginal Infections Types
In general, there are three common types of vaginal infections: bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and trichomoniasis, a type of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Infectious Vaginitis
Doctors refer to various conditions that can cause inflammation of the vagina termed as “vaginitis.” The most common kinds include:
- Candida or “yeast” infections
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Viral vaginitis
- Trichomoniasis
Although people with infectious vaginitis may have different symptoms, a definitive diagnosis can be tricky for a doctor.
