Vaginal Problems

Most women experience minor vaginal problems from time to time. These problems can be related to menstrual cycles, sex, infection, birth control methods, aging, medicines, or changes after pregnancy.

A change in your normal vaginal discharge may be the first sign of a vaginal problem. Changes in urination, such as having to urinate more frequently or a burning feeling when you urinate, also may be a symptom of a vaginal problem.

Conditions that may cause a change in your normal vaginal discharge include:

* Infections of the vagina, such as a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus (HPV), or herpes.
* Infection of the cervix (cervicitis).
* An object in the vagina, such as a forgotten tampon.
* Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
* Various sex practices, such as oral-to-vaginal and anal-to-vaginal contact.
* Vaginal medicines or douching.

Vaginal infections

The presence or excess growth of yeast cells, bacteria, or viruses can cause a vaginal infection. A vaginal infection may occur when there is a change in the normal balance of organisms in your vagina.

The three most common types of vaginal infections are:

* Candida vulvovaginitis (yeast infections).
* Bacterial infections (bacterial vaginosis).
* Parasitic infections (trichomoniasis).

Common symptoms of vaginal infection include:

* Increase or change in the vaginal discharge, including gray, green, or yellow discharge.
* Vaginal redness, swelling, itching, or pain.
* Vaginal odor.
* Burning with urination.
* Pain or bleeding with sex.

If you are pregnant and have vaginal symptoms, talk with your doctor about your symptoms before considering any home treatment measures. Some home treatment measures may not be appropriate, depending on the cause of your vaginal infection. Conditions such as bacterial vaginosis can affect your pregnancy, so it is important to talk with your doctor and be treated appropriately.

Vaginal infections may increase the risk for pelvic infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Vaginal or vulvar problems

Other vaginal or vulvar problems may occur from the use of birth control methods, the use of medicines, or aging, or as a result of changes after pregnancy. These problems include:

* Vaginal prolapse, which may cause urination and bowel changes.
* Retained tampon, birth control device, or foreign object. See how to remove an object from the vagina.
* Vulvar or vaginal injury, such as landing on a metal bar such as on a bike or playground equipment or from an object in the vagina.
* Vulvar pain (vulvodynia).
* Noninfectious vaginitis. Examples of this include:
o An allergic reaction or irritation from chemicals, such as those found in vaginal sprays, douches, or spermicides.
o Hormone changes related to menopause, such as atrophic vaginitis.
o Use of antibiotics and other medicines, which may change the balance of organisms in your vagina.

A young girl with unusual vaginal symptoms should be evaluated by her doctor to determine the cause. Vaginitis in a young girl may be caused by:

* A ball of toilet paper in her vagina.
* Pinworms that have spread from the anus to the vagina.
* The spread of bacteria from an upper respiratory infection of the ears (otitis media) or throat (tonsillitis) to the vagina by her hands.

A young girl with vaginal symptoms must also be evaluated for possible sexual abuse.
Rashes, sores, blisters, or lumps in the vaginal or vulvar area

Many conditions can cause a rash, sore, blister, or lump in your vaginal area (vulva). One of the most common causes of a rash is genital skin irritation that may occur when soap is not rinsed off the skin or when tight-fitting or wet clothes rub against the skin. A sore, blister, or lump in your vaginal area may require a visit to your doctor.

Treatment of a vaginal problem depends on the cause of the problem, the severity of your symptoms, and your overall health condition.

Ear Infection

Ear infections occur when a cold, throat infection, or allergy attack causes fluid to become trapped in the middle ear. Mostly affecting children, symptoms include earaches and thick, yellow fluid coming from the ears.

 

What is MRSA?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's immune to some commonly used antibiotics.

The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract.

Recognize the signs and symptoms of the "super bug".

Though most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be life-threatening. Many public health experts are alarmed by the spread of tough strains of MRSA. Because it's hard to treat, MRSA is sometimes called a "super bug."
What causes MRSA?

Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live on our bodies. Plenty of healthy people carry staph without being infected by it. In fact, 25-30% of us have staph bacteria in our noses.

But staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut. Once there, it can cause an infection. Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. Usually, these are minor and don't need special treatment. Less often, staph can cause serious problems like infected wounds or pneumonia.

Staph can usually be treated with antibiotics. But over the decades, some strains of staph -- like MRSA -- have become resistant to antibiotics that once destroyed it. MRSA was first discovered in 1961. It's now immune to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and many other antibiotics.

While some antibiotics still work, MRSA is constantly adapting. Researchers developing new antibiotics are having a tough time keeping up.
Who gets MRSA?

MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population, although most of them aren't infected.

Infections are most common among people who have weak immune systems and are living in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care centers. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes. Rates of infection in hospitals, especially intensive care units, are rising throughout the world. In U.S. hospitals, MRSA causes up to 40%-50% of staph infections.
Community-Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)

But MRSA is also showing up in healthy people who have not been living in a hospital setting. This type of MRSA is called community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA. The CDC reports that in 2003, 12% of people with MRSA infections had CA-MRSA.

Studies have shown that rates of CA-MRSA infection are growing fast. One study of children in south Texas found that cases of CA-MRSA had a 14-fold increase between 1999 and 2001.

CA-MRSA skin infections have been identified among certain populations that share close quarters or experience more skin-to-skin contact. Examples are team athletes, military recruits, and prisoners. However, more and more CA-MRSA infections are being seen in the general community as well, especially in certain geographic regions.

It's also infecting much younger people. In a study of Minnesotans published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, the average age of people with MRSA in a hospital or healthcare facility was 68. But the average age of a person with CA-MRSA was only 23.

 

Vaginal Problems - Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

* What are your main symptoms?
* How long have you had your symptoms?
* Have you had this problem in the past? If so, do you know what caused the problem at that time? How was it treated?
* What does your vaginal discharge look and smell like?
* What was the date of your last menstrual period? If you have been through menopause, how long ago was your last menstrual period?
* Are you currently using any type of birth control method?
* What medicines (especially antibiotics) are you taking or have you taken recently, if any?
* Do you have any symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
* What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help?
* What nonprescription medicines have you tried? Did they help?
* Do you have a new sex partner? Do you have more than one sex partner? Does your partner have any symptoms? Have you had sex without using a condom? Do you think you have recently been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?
* Have you been diagnosed and treated for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the past? If so what was your diagnosis, and what treatment was done?
* Do you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, such as pain or burning on urination and a frequent urge to urinate?
* Do you have any health risks?

 

Vaginal Problems - Home Treatment

A vaginal infection may clear up without treatment in 2 or 3 days.

* If you could be pregnant, do a home pregnancy test. Any pregnant woman with abnormal vaginal symptoms should talk with her doctor about her symptoms before considering using any home treatment measures or nonprescription medicines. For more information, see the topic Pregnancy-Related Problems.
* Avoid sex so that irritated vaginal tissues can heal.
* Do not scratch the vaginal area. Relieve itching with a cold water compress or cool baths. Warm baths may also relieve pain and itching.
* Make sure that the cause of your symptoms is not a forgotten tampon or other foreign object. For more information, see how to remove an object in the vagina.
* Wear loose-fitting, cotton clothing. Stay away from nylon and synthetics, because they hold heat and moisture close to the skin, which makes it easier for an infection to start. You may want to remove pajama bottoms or underwear when you sleep.
* Do not douche unless your doctor tells you to.
* If you have gone through menopause, try using a vaginal lubricant, such as Astroglide or Replens, to reduce irritation caused by having sex.

Vaginal yeast infections

If you have symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection and have been diagnosed and treated by your doctor for this condition in the past, you may want to try using a nonprescription medicine, such as tioconazole (for example, Vagistat), clotrimazole (for example, Gyne-Lotrimin), or miconazole (for example, Monistat) to treat your symptoms.

If your symptoms do not improve with home treatment in 2 or 3 days, contact your doctor. Vaginal symptoms that may be related to another type of vaginal infection or a cervical infection need to be evaluated.

Women who take the blood-thinning medicine warfarin (Coumadin) and use a nonprescription vaginal yeast-fighting medicine, such as Monistat, may have increased bruising and abnormal bleeding. Consult with your doctor before using a yeast-fighting medicine if you take warfarin.

Should I self-treat a vaginal yeast infection with a nonprescription medication?

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:

* Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) develop.
* Unexpected vaginal bleeding develops.
* A fever develops.
* You have moderate to severe pain.
* Your symptoms become more severe or frequent.

 

Vaginal Problems - Prevention

The following tips may help you prevent a vaginal infection.

* If you think your frequent vaginal infections may be related to using a diaphragm, spermicidal foam or jelly, or condoms, discuss other birth control options with your doctor.
* Wipe from front to back after using the toilet, to avoid spreading bacteria from the anus to the vagina.
* Wash the vaginal area once a day with plain water or a mild, nonperfumed soap. Do not use bubble bath. Rinse well and dry thoroughly.
* Change tampons at least 3 times a day during your period, or alternate tampons with pads. Remember to remove the last tampon used during your period.
* Wear cotton underwear and avoid clothes that fit tightly, such as tight-fitting jeans. Cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothing help prevent the vaginal area from staying warm and moist, which can promote the growth of yeast cells. Tight-fitting clothes may cause skin irritation leading to a rash.
* Remove wet bathing suits and exercise clothing promptly.
* Avoid douching.
* Avoid the use of feminine deodorant sprays and other perfumed products. They may cause genital skin irritation or an allergic reaction (contact dermatitis).
* Having multiple sex partners and not using condoms can increase your risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which may increase your risk of a vaginal infection.
* Urinate after sex, and rinse your vaginal area with cool water.
* Limit intense exercise, such as bike riding or horseback riding, that can irritate the vulva.
* If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar in good control.

Take antibiotics when needed, but avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. Taking antibiotics exposes you to the risks of allergic reactions and antibiotic side effects (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and yeast infections). Also, antibiotics may kill good bacteria.