Q & A: Get personal answers about your physical or emotional intimacy and relationship problems.

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At Very Private we get many letters from women at any age about vaginal infections. We want to help you understand what vaginal infections are, how to recognize one from another and what to do about treatment and prevention.

Vaginal infections and Irritations:
Are vaginal infections common and dangerous?
What are the symptoms of a vaginal infection?
Can there be discharge without an infection being present?
What are the most common vaginal infections?

Yeast Infections:
What is a yeast infection?
What are the symptoms?
Why does it happen and how can I prevent it?
When should I see a doctor?
What can I expect when I see the doctor?

Bacterial Vaginosis:
What is Bacterial Vaginosis - also called BV?
What are the symptoms?
How do I get it and how do I avoid it?
Should I see a doctor and how can it be treated?

Trichomoniasis:
What is Trichomoniasis, also called "trich?"
What are the symptoms?
How do I get it and how can I avoid it?
Does it require medical attention?

Q: Are vaginal infections common and dangerous?

A: Yes, they are very common. Data says that four out of five women in the US will have a vaginal infections at some point her life and many women suffer from recurrent vaginal infections.

This gynecological disorder is known as vulvovaginitis and while it makes you feel uncomfortable, it is generally not a dangerous health problem and usually responds quickly to appropriate medication.

However, if untreated it can develop into a serious health condition. So prompt diagnosis and treatment is very important.

Q: What are the symptoms of a vaginal infection?

A: Most frequently the symptoms include: itching, vaginal discharge that can be whitish, yellowish, gray or even greenish, unpleasant odor, discomfort or pain in the vulva (the external genital area), burning or discomfort or pain in the vagina (the internal area), at any time but especially during or after intercourse.

You may also notice redness or swelling, sometimes you may detect little bumps on the inside of the vaginal lips.

Q: Can there be discharge without an infection being present?

A: Yes. Normal vaginal discharge occurs when the aging cells are cast off from your vaginal walls and expelled. Other secretions that are present in the vagina and cervix may also constitute normal discharge which has no noticeable odor.

It is influenced by your menstrual cycle and by changing hormone levels, which occur during your monthly cycle, puberty, menopause, and during and after pregnancy.

Normal discharge can be lighter or heavier and change slightly in texture and color depending on the day of your cycle.

Q: What are the most common vaginal infections?

A: Yeast Infections, Candida Albicans, most common, (80% of all yeast infections).

Recurrent yeast infections, Candida Glabrata, more serious infection
Bacterial Vaginosis (often mistaken for a yeast infection),
Trichomoniasis.

There are also two vaginal conditions, Allergic Vaginitis and Atrophic Vaginitis that are not infections but may produce pain, discomfort, itching and or burning and swelling and are often mistaken for a vaginal infection.

Sometimes, when you have a vaginal infection, several organisms may be present. Back to Top

Q: What is a yeast infection?

A: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis; the medical term for a yeast infection, is the most common type of vaginal infection caused by the disruption of the normal vaginal environment.

This disturbance provokes an overgrowth of fungi to occur, the same fungi normally present in the vagina. It is this change of the normal, healthy pH or the normal hormonal balance in the vagina that allows the fungus to multiply quickly and cause a vaginal yeast infection.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: Persistant itching, ranging from mild to severe. Vaginal discharge that is whitish in color and looks like little cottage cheese curds, redness, discomfort and the urge to urinate more often than usual.

Redness, inflammation of the vulva and the vagina makes intercourse very uncomfortable, even painful.

Q: Why does it happen and how can I prevent it?

A: There are many reasons why these infections occur and many ways to protect yourself:

a) Personal hygiene: Using inappropriate products in the vaginal area can easily lead to the destruction of the natural pH and the normal vaginal environment. Products containing fragrance, plant or other additives, chemical colors or vitamins should not be used in the vaginal area such as soaps, body washes, bubble baths, douches or vaginal sprays.

It is best to use vaginal lubricants or moisturizers containing NO fragrance, plant additives or flavors but are FDA APPROVED. Consequently, you should avoid sitting in scented bubble baths, using douches and vaginal sprays.

It is best to use a pH balanced soap or body wash such as Very Private pH balanced Body Wash and plenty of lukewarm water for rinsing.

b) After using the bathroom, be sure to wipe from front (vaginal area and bladder) to back (rectal area) because the yeast fungus is present in the intestines.

c) Everyday habits: Clothing such as synthetic underwear, tight jeans or active wear, damp or wet bathing suits or elasticized, tight exercise wear; they all create a moist, perfect environment in which the yeast fungus thrives.

If you're susceptible to vaginal infections wear cotton panties or pantyhose with a cotton inset, remove your damp bathing suit or exercise wear quickly and wash with a pH balanced soap or the Very Private pH balanced Body Wash.

It actually contains an ingredient to help prevent vaginal irritations. Also, don't forget to rinse out your clothing before re-use.

d) Sexual contact: Can I catch a yeast infection from my partner? It is possible but not very likely to infect your male sex partner. First of all, the man's penis is exposed to air, which dries the fungus out.

However, your sexual partner can get infected through frequent contact. In such a case he may notice redness or itchy little bumps appear on his penis and require treatment.

A female partner is more likely to become infected. Condoms are your best protection if you don't know your sexual partner well. During sexuality be careful not to introduce organisms from your rectum into the vaginal area.

e) Medical treatments: Often women get yeast infections during or right after the use of certain antibiotics. Treatments with steroids can also cause yeast overgrowth.

Hormonal changes play a role. During your regular monthly cycle the estrogen hormone deposit a form of sugar, called glycogen, in the cells lining your vagina.

Another hormone, progesterone, causes these cells to shed and consequently this sugar becomes available to the yeast fungus, which is normally present in the vagina, to feed on and multiply.

Women who are pregnant often get yeast infections because there is more sugar produced in the vagina at that time which is available to the fungus to feed on and then reproduce.

If you are pregnant, or believe to be, and have caught a yeast infection be especially careful about using OTC medication. Many yeast treatments carry warnings for pregnant women. It is best to check with your doctor right away.

Women who are obese or have diabetes more easily get yeast infections because these conditions have a propensity to disrupt the vaginal balance, causing the yeast fungus to reproduce.

In diabetics, when blood sugar is high, yeast often grows rapidly and causes an infection.

Q: When should I see a doctor?

A: If this is your first yeast infection or you are not completely sure that it is a yeast infection, it is best to get a medical check up. Two out of five women diagnose themselves wrongly because bacterial infections can produce very similar symptoms as those of yeast infections.

If the infection is not treated correctly, it can become more serious.

If you have treated yourself with an OTC (over-the-counter) medication but the symptoms are not completely gone after full treatment, it is possible that other organisms are present or there is an underlying condition that may be more serious. By all means see your doctor.

Sometimes a yeast infection product may not be effective for your particular yeast infection. If so, call your doctor for advice.

Q: What can I expect when I see the doctor?

A: When you visit your general practitioner or gynecologist report all of your symptoms and history, including facts about your sexual partner(s) and when you first discovered the problem.

Yes, this is sensitive information, but it is kept strictly confidential and helps your doctor make a proper diagnosis.

The check-up includes an examination of your vulva and vagina as well as your cervix to tell if there is any tenderness in your uterus or ovaries. Usually a sample of your discharge is examined microscopically in the doctor's office.

Sometimes cultures are needed for accurate diagnosis. The results of these tests are usually available within 48 hours. The examination is not painful at all, just a little awkward for most women. Back to Top

Q: What is Bacterial Vaginosis - also called BV?

A: It is the most common bacterial infection in women of childbearing age. It accounts for about 40% of all medical visits having to do with vaginal infections.

BV does not represent a significant health risk for the women who are NOT pregnant. However, expectant mothers with symptoms of BV should definitely get medical treatment promptly.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: Moderate to profuse almost clear or white, sometimes grayish discharge. The discharge is sometimes frothy and often has a distinct "fishy" odor. The odor is most noticeable when BV comes into contact with an alkaline substance such as semen or soap.

You may also notice it more after sex, while washing with soap or if you are in menopause when your vaginal pH becomes less acidic and more alkaline.

Sometimes there is burning during urination or itching around the outside of the vagina. In some cases there are hardly any symptoms noted.

Q: How do I get it and how do I avoid it?

A: Just like other vaginal infections, BV develops when there is an imbalance in the vaginal environment. Research data suggests that it is related to sexual activity.

Women with a new sexual partner or multiple sexual partners are more prone to get BV. It is rare for women who never had sex to get BV.

IMPORTANT: Using inappropriate products in the vaginal area can destroy the healthy vaginal pH and the vaginal environment and cause BV. Therefore, avoid vaginal cleansing products containing fragrance, chemical colors, plant, vitamin or other additives.

It is safest to use a hypoallergenic, pH balanced cleansing product such as Very Private pH balanced Body Wash. Avoid sitting in scented bubble baths, douching, vaginal sprays. Using deodorant tampons or intrauterine devices (IUD's) have also been known to cause BV.

Q: Should I see a doctor and how can it be treated?

A: Yes, because it can cause complications without proper medical attention. When untreated, BV can spread and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. In pregnant women, untreated BV can lead to premature birth and serious infection in the mother.

Inform your doctor of other medications you are using which may trigger BV. If you are using a spermicide, you may need to choose a different method of contraception. For protection, especially with a new sexual partner, condoms are recommended.

BV treatment encompasses antimicrobial medicines prescribed by your doctor. If infection reoccurs, your sexual partner may need treatment as well. Sometimes the treatment needs to be repeated to be totally effective. Back to Top

Q: What is Trichomoniasis, also called "trich?"

A: It is a sexually transmitted parasite, Trichomonas Vaginalis, which affects about five million American women each year. This infection rarely produces symptoms in men. A large percentage of women who carry the infection also have none, or hardly noticeable symptoms.

Consequently, the infection is often spread unintentionally because the carriers are not aware that they actually have it.

Like other organisms causing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the trichomonad cannot live long when outside of the body. It dies quickly when exposed to dry air.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: From none to very uncomfortable. You may notice substantial intense smelling discharge that may be yellowish-to-gray or yellowish-to-green, sometimes white or brown and possibly frothy in appearance.

You may experience really uncomfortable itching and burning in the vagina and vulva and burning during urination. Sometimes the odor has a "fishy" smell.

Q: How do I get it and how can I avoid it?

A: For the most part it is transmitted through sexual contact. Sometimes the infection can be traced to sharing sponges or washcloths for intimate cleansing and/or towels.

The best way to avoid it is the use of condoms, especially if you have a new sexual partner or multiple partners. Remember, a large percentage of potential carriers have no symptoms at all and don't know they are contagious.

Because the parasite cannot live in a dry environment you cannot catch it from using toilet seats or dry bed linens. If using swimming pools and hot tubs, be sure they have been treated with chemical purifiers.

Q: Does it require medical attention?

A: Yes! In 90% of all cases antibiotic treatment is very effective in curing the infection and both partners should be treated. If left untreated, trichomoniasis may increase the risk of making a woman more susceptible to getting other sexually transmitted diseases.

It has also been linked to premature birth so it is especially important for pregnant women to seek medical treatment quickly.

If irritating itching and burning symptoms don't go away be sure to call your doctor. This is especially important for women in menopause. For them these kinds of symptoms may indicate a more serious pre-cancerous or cancerous condition. Back to Top

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