Vaginitis

What is vaginitis?

Vaginitis means your vagina and the area around it becomes sore and swollen. It's very common and usually gets better with the right treatment.

What are the signs?

You might notice:

• Your vagina feels itchy or sore
• Discharge that looks, smells or feels different than usual
• Your vagina feels dry
• It hurts when you pee or have sex
• Light bleeding between periods
• The skin around your vagina looks sore, swollen or cracked

You don't have to have all these signs - even one or two can mean you have vaginitis.

What causes it?

There are many reasons why you might get vaginitis:

Thrush - You might see white, lumpy discharge (like cottage cheese) along with itching and soreness.

Sexually transmitted infections - Yellow, green or smelly discharge with pain when peeing or having sex could be caused by infections like chlamydia.

Hormone changes - Going through the menopause, breastfeeding, or taking some types of contraception can make your vagina dry and itchy, especially during sex.

Skin conditions - Problems like eczema can cause itchy, sore patches around your vagina and other parts of your body.

Irritation - Strong soaps, perfumed products, or leaving a tampon in too long can irritate your vagina.

When should you see your GP?

Speak to your GP or visit a sexual health clinic if:

• This is the first time you've had these symptoms
• You've had vaginitis before but it's much worse or different this time
• Your discharge is unusual for you
• You have these symptoms after sex with a new partner
• You feel hot, cold, shivery, or have pain in your lower tummy

Important: Don't have sex until you've seen a doctor or nurse, as you might have an infection that could spread.

What happens at your appointment?

Your doctor or nurse might:

• Ask about your symptoms and any sexual partners
• Look at the skin around your vagina
• Look inside your vagina using a smooth tool called a speculum
• Take a small sample with a cotton bud to test for infections

You can ask them to stop at any time if you feel uncomfortable.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on what's causing your vaginitis:

• Antifungal medicine for thrush
• Antibiotics for sexually transmitted infections
• Special moisturisers or hormone treatments for menopause symptoms
• Steroid creams for skin conditions

How to help yourself

Do:

• Wash around your vagina with water only and dry well
• Wear loose, cotton underwear
• Use pads instead of tampons during your period
• Use condoms and lubrication during sex

Don't:

• Clean inside your vagina (douching)
• Have hot baths
• Use scented soaps or deodorants near your vagina

Remember, vaginitis is very common and treatable. If you're worried about any symptoms, speak to your GP or visit a sexual health clinic for advice.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.