Vaginitis Treatment
There can be no medications listed as a vaginitis treatment, because the term vaginitis encompasses several conditions. These include yeast infections, Chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis and others. The vaginitis treatment would depend on which type you had.
Vaginitis can be as simple as irritation due to tight clothing. It can also be an infection which could mean more involved treatment. Some symptoms of vaginitis are itching and burning, pain during sex and unusual discharge.
Below is a list of some common types of vaginitis along with the vaginitis treatment for each.
Yeast Infection
Vaginitis treatment in the case of a yeast infection may involve a number of treatment options. You could choose an over the counter medication, a home remedy or, in severe cases, a prescription medication. Over the counter options include Monistat and Vagistat. Home remedies include the use of yogurt, garlic or cranberry juice. Boric acid and antifungal medications are what a doctor may prescribe if no other treatment works.
Chlamydia Vaginosis
This is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause very serious long-term effects, including infertility. Vaginitis treatment in this case would include antibiotics. If the infection is severe enough, the patient may need to be hospitalized. Chlamydia is a perfect example of why it is dangerous for a woman to diagnose herself unless she CERTAIN about what she is dealing with. If a woman mistook Chlamydia for a yeast infection, she could end up infertile because the real problem (Chlamydia) would be left untreated.
If in doubt, see your doctor!
Trichomoniasis Vaginitis
This is another sexually transmitted disease that can cause problems with pregnancies in the future if not treated. Vaginitis treatment for this problem would include a round of antibiotics.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Among all vaginal infections, bacterial vaginosis is the most common. Because the infection is usually very mild, often no vaginitis treatment is required. If the infection persists, you may need a round of antibiotics, so see your doctor.
Diagnosis
Because many forms of vaginitis present similar symptoms, it can be very difficult to try and figure out which one you have on your own. If you have been diagnosed with a yeast infection in the past, it may be easy to know when you have another one. Still, it never hurts to have the diagnosis confirmed by a physician.
For the other types of vaginitis, proper diagnosis can only be made through laboratory tests.
Some women are at greater risk for certain types of vaginitis. For yeast infections, the high risk groups include women with diabetes and those who have recently been on an antibiotic. For sexually transmitted diseases, the high risk group would be women with multiple sex partners and girls who start having sex at a young age.
In most cases, treatment of even the more serious forms of vaginitis will provide a cure with no lasting effects. However, left untreated, some of the possible effects can last a lifetime.
It is always better to be safe than sorry, so if you have symptoms of vaginitis, and are not sure it is a yeast infection, see your doctor.
