Vulvovaginitis is an inflammation or infection of the vulva and vagina that manifects depending on its cause. In general, symptoms can include irritation of the genital area, itching, inflammation around the labia and perineal areas, discomfort while urinating and increased, strong-smelling vaginal discharge.
While vaginosis is an infection of the vagina, vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that may be due to vaginosis or other factors such as an allergy, irritant, or a decrease in the female hormone estrogen. Vaginosis is different from vulvovaginitis in that there is no inflammatory reaction, however there is overlap in symptoms between the two conditions.
The specific causes and risk factors associated with bacterial vaginitis are poorly understood; however, associations with sexual activity, use of hygiene products that alter the vaginal ecosystem, and genetic predisposition have been described. Other factors include age, vaginal pH, hysterectomy, menstrual cycle phase, and HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.
Bacterial vaginosis, Candida albicans genital infection and trichomoniasis are considered the main etiologies of vulvovaginitis. Vaginal infection is one of the most common gynecological affections and vaginal discharge (Pic. 1) is one of the most common reasons for which women seek medical attention.
Initial treatment should include hygienic measures and avoid contact with irritating chemicals. After that, offered antimicrobial according to the probability of the age of the patient, clinical features, and the isolation and sensitivity of the microorganisms cultivated.
Vulvovaginitis may be associated with several diseases including:
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an abnormal vaginal condition that is characterized by vaginal discharge and results from an overgrowth of atypical bacteria in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis is not considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD), being usually described, however, as a sexually enhanced disease, in which the frequency of intercourse plays a critical role. Furthermore, bacterial vaginosis has been associated with increased susceptibility to HIV-AIDS and other STD. While vaginosis in nonpregnant and otherwise healthy women does not directly affect fertility, it may cause complications with detrimental effect on fertility, such as an increased susceptibility to sexually-transmitted infections.
Candida infection
Candida (yeast) genital infection is the leading cause of fungal vulvovaginitis. Pregnancy, broad-spectrum antibiotic use, diabetes mellitus, and immunodeficiency have been described as important risk factors for Candida genital infection; however, asymptomatic microorganism colonization can occur in 25 to 50% of the cases. This microorganism affects male fertility potential and could alter oocyte fertilization.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginitis (Pic. 2) is often transmitted by sexual intercourse. It is the most common sexually transmitted pathogen, accounting for 180 million infections annually. The classical symptoms associated with the T. vaginalis infection include a yellowish-green frothy discharge, pruritis, dysuria, and the “strawberry” cervix which is characterized by punctuate hemorrhagic lesions.
If undiagnosed or untreated, these infections might interfere with the women’s reproductive health, being commonly associated with many obstetric conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), prematurity, and infertility and also increasing the risk of HIV transmission.
