Facts About Vaginal Infections

Learn common causes of infections and how to treat them.

Contributor

Iram Zubair, M.D.

Sutter Solano Medical Center

Sutter Medical Foundation

Causes of Vaginal Infection

Vaginal irritation can be caused by an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. “Yeast infections are perhaps the most well-known cause of vaginitis, but not the only one,” Dr. Zubair says. In addition to bacterial infections, sometimes the cause may be a one-celled organism called Trichomonas Vaginalis. An allergic reaction to chemicals in lotion or sprays used in or near the vagina may also cause similar symptoms.

Bacteria and yeast occur in the vagina naturally. It is only when normal, beneficial bacteria or yeast get out of balance that women experience symptoms of vaginitis, Dr. Zubair says. This imbalance can happen when a woman’s immune system is compromised by certain medications, in women with uncontrolled diabetes, during pregnancy, or when taking antibiotics for other conditions. However, the imbalance can happen without any of these identifiable causes.

Getting Treatment for Vaginal Infections

“It’s crucial to understand the type of vaginal infection a woman has in order to treat it,” Dr. Zubair says. “There are over-the-counter medications - like Monistat - that can be easily obtained at the drugstore, but they only treat a yeast infection.”

If you are experiencing symptoms of vaginitis, instead of trying to treat the infection yourself, see your doctor. A sample of vaginal discharge can be viewed under a microscope to accurately determine if the cause is yeast. If, after treatment with appropriate medications, the symptoms continue, another culture can help determine if the yeast is a more resistant type, needing different medications. Candida albicans, the most common yeast to cause infections, has “cousins” – Candida glabrata or Candida tropicalis – that can cause more severe infections in susceptible women.

A bacterial infection requires different medications than a yeast infection, and an infection with Trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted disease, needs its own specific treatment.

Dr. Zubair also notes that an improperly treated infection can continue to progress and, in some cases, can result in widespread pelvic inflammatory disease, which can damage the reproductive organs and potentially cause infertility.

Once a correct diagnosis is made, treatment options include creams or suppositories inserted into the vagina. Other options include pills taken by mouth that can treat the infection, including one that can do its work in one day.

Common Vaginitis and Sex

The typical vaginal yeast or bacterial infection is not transmitted between sexual partners. However, if the vagina is infected with Trichomoniasis, it can be passed to a partner through sex. While most vaginal infections may not be easily spread to a partner, the symptoms may make sexual intercourse uncomfortable.

Dr. Zubair notes that sexually transmitted diseases can have symptoms that may mimic a common vaginal infection, making a good diagnosis of symptoms even more important.

Home Remedies

A number of non-traditional, alternative treatments are popular for yeast infections, including yogurt, tea tree oil, eating a low-carbohydrate diet or douching. Dr. Zubair notes that no scientific studies have demonstrated the benefit of these alternative treatments.

“While there is evidence, for example, of the value of cranberry juice to prevent urinary tract infections, there is no such reliable evidence to date for alternative methods of treating vaginal yeast infections,” Dr. Zubair says. In particular, she recommends against douching, as it can upset the balance of flora in the vagina and actually make the situation worse.

Cautions for Girls and Teens

Dr. Zubair advises parents to exercise caution when a pre-pubescent girl or teen has symptoms of vaginitis. In girls who haven’t yet experienced puberty, symptoms are rarely due to yeast infections and are more likely attributed to contact dermatitis from a new lotion, a new type of toilet paper or soap. She recommends young girls with symptoms of vaginitis be seen by a medical professional.

Teen girls with symptoms should also be evaluated to rule out sexually transmitted diseases, Dr. Zubair recommends, as an untreated or improperly treated STD can potentially impact future fertility.