Vaginal Infections

Female infections, also known as vaginal infections, are commonly diagnosed in women of all ages. Anytime there is a disruption in the vaginal area it can trigger an infection, with some of the more common triggers including taking certain medications, undergoing hormonal therapy and a lack of good personal hygiene. It is important for women who believe they are living with a vaginal infection to make an appointment with a medical professional as soon as possible to find out what treatment option they will need to get rid of their infection.

Common treatment options include taking antibiotics and/or using vaginal tablets, antifungal creams and suppositories,

Common Risk Factors That Can Lead to an Infection

There are a few factors that can increase a woman’s chances of being diagnosed with an infection. Understanding these risk factors can prove to be very beneficial for women as they can choose to avoid many of them, decreasing their chances of being diagnosed with a vaginal infection. Some of the more common risk factors are listed below:

Taking certain medications, i.e. steroids
Using an IUD or spermicide as a birth control method
Living with uncontrolled diabetes
Using certain hygiene products, i.e. vaginal deodorant
Douching
Wearing clothes that are too tight or are slightly wet

Common Female Infections Treated by an OBGYN

Bacterial vaginitis: This type of infection happens when there are more bad bacteria in the vagina than good bacteria
Chlamydia vaginitis: A sexually transmitted disease that can lead to a pelvic inflammatory disease diagnosis if not treated in a timely manner
Viral vaginitis: A vaginal infection caused by different types of viruses, i.e. herpes, HPV
Trichomoniasis vaginitis: A sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite
Gonococcal vaginitis: An infection caused by the same type of bacteria that can cause diarrhea
Yeast infection (also known as Candida): This type of infection is caused by different types of fungus
Urinary tract infection: This type of infection is caused by E. coli living in the digestive system

Common Symptoms of Female Infections

The symptoms that come with female infections tend to be very similar. This makes it necessary for any woman who is experiencing one or more of the below symptoms to make an appointment with a medical professional so she can know what type of infection she has. Once she is diagnosed, she can move on with her treatment plan.

The majority of symptoms associated with vaginitis include a vaginal discharge that comes with an unpleasant odor, a burning sensation when urinating and general itching, swelling and/or redness in the external genital area.

Yeast infection symptoms include an odorless vaginal discharge that resembles white cottage cheese, as well as general itching, swelling and/or redness taking place in the external genitals.

Urinary tract infection symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating, an urge to urinate frequently, an urge to urinate immediately, urine that is dark, cloudy, bloody or has a strange smell, discomfort or pain in the lower abdominal area and fever or chills if the infection has reached the kidneys.

When to See an OBGYN

It is always better to be safe than sorry, making it essential for every woman to make an appointment with an OB-GYN when she experiences any of the above symptoms. While vaginal discharge is considered to be normal when it is clear, cloudy white or light yellowish color as this is the vaginas way to self-clean, any other type of discharge should be seen as a problem.

A few additional symptoms that can warrant an OB-GYN appointment include feeling overall fatigued for no apparent reason, experiencing severe abdominal pain that lasts more than a couple of hours and a rash or blisters located in the vaginal area.

Ready to Make an Appointment?

Female infections need to be addressed as soon as absolutely possible. When an infection is not treated as soon as possible, it will only continue to get worse. If you are experiencing any of the common symptoms above it is possible that you have a female infection. Since many infections display similar signs and symptoms, it is essential for you to be examined by a medical professional to determine whether or not you are currently living with some type of infection in your body.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your medical professional will discuss your treatment options with you so that both of you can come up with an option that is right for you.