Home > Health Guides by Topic > Sexuality & Sexual Health > STDs and Other Infections > Vaginal Infections (Vaginitis) Vaginal Infections (Vaginitis):
A Guide for Teens
Have you heard about bacterial vaginosis? How about yeast infections? Do you know about normal vaginal discharge? While most women have heard about yeast infections, many women have not heard about or do not know much about bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal infections happen to women of all ages, to sexually active women and to women who aren't sexually active. Most women have a vaginal infection at least one time during their lives. Vaginal infections are actually the number one reason that adult women see their health care providers.
Normal vaginal cells from normal discharge under a microscope
What is normal discharge?
Most girls notice a yellow or white stain on their underwear after they go through puberty. This is a normal fluid that helps clean and moisten your vagina. You are completely healthy and normal if your discharge is cloudy white has no odor or has a slightly salty odor, increases in amount and becomes "stringy" (like egg whites) during the middle of your menstrual cycle when you are ovulating.
If you find that your normal discharge is annoying, you can wear panty liners/shields on your underwear. Also, to keep your vaginal discharge under control, make sure you wear cotton underwear (which absorbs moisture and lets air circulate). Take daily showers or baths and make sure that you wash outside your vaginal area every day with mild soap, and then rinse and dry yourself. Don't use deodorized panty liners or deodorant sprays in your vaginal area.
If your discharge changes, it may be a sign that you have a vaginal infection and you need to see your health care provider.
What is a vaginal infection?
A vaginal infection is known medically as "vaginitis." The 3 most common causes of vaginal infections are yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis. Vaginal discharge may also occur if you have an infection in your cervix with gonorrhea or chlamydia. There are other causes of vaginal infections that are less common. Each type of vaginitis is caused by a different type of germ or organism, so each type must be treated differently.
What are the signs/symptoms of a vaginal infection?
If you have a vaginal infection, you may have any of the following:
However, some women may not have any symptoms. Some women may not even notice any of these symptoms if they aren't too bad. A health care provider may notice signs of a vaginal infection, such as discharge or an odor, during a gynecologic examination and then may do a test of the vaginal fluid to see if an infection is present. It is important to have regular checkups with a health care provider so if you miss something about your health, he/she may discover it.
What do I do if I think I have a vaginal infection?
If you have any of the symptoms of a vaginal infection, you should see your health care provider right away. Each type of vaginal infection has different symptoms, so you may think you know what type of vaginal infection you have. However, you may confuse the symptoms since sometimes the outward symptoms (symptoms you are able to notice) of vaginal infections can appear the same. Sometimes you can have more than one type of vaginal infection at a time. It's also a good idea to go your health care provider because you might have something more serious, like a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Only health care providers can find out if you definitely have a vaginal infection. You should be completely honest with your health care provider about what symptoms you have, such as odor, burning, or strange vaginal discharge, even if it is embarrassing. This way, your health care provider can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment.
Can I douche if I have a vaginal infection?
You should never douche! Douching can cause infections by changing the normal balance of organisms in your vagina. Douching can also make an infection worse if you already have one, push the infection up into your reproductive area, or hide symptoms of a vaginal infection so it is harder to diagnose it. Other things that can cause vaginal infections are scented tampons, deodorant spray, and harsh soaps. You do not need any of these things to clean your vagina. Your vagina cleans itself best when you don't use any of these things.
How can a health care provider definitely tell if I have a vaginal infection?
Your health care provider will use a cotton swab to take a sample of your vaginal discharge to look at it under a microscope and to check with pH paper. This may mean just an external exam with Q-tip samples, or it may mean a vaginal exam with a speculum (a metal or plastic instrument inserted into your vagina and then opened up in order to get a better look at your vagina and cervix). Ask your health care provider which is best for you to find out if you have a vaginal infection. The tests are very simple and quick.
Does my health care provider check to see if I have a vaginal infection when he/she does my Pap smear?
If the outward symptoms, like discharge or odor, are obvious enough, your health care provider will do some tests to see if you do have a vaginal infection. You need to make sure to tell your health care provider if you are having symptoms. A Pap test is done to check for changes in the cells of your cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. Sometimes signs of vaginitis show up on the Pap test and you may get a call or letter describing the problem and the treatment.
What can I do to prevent vaginal infections?
The best way to prevent vaginal infections is to practice good feminine hygiene. Vaginal infections can happen more than once. You should always follow this advice:
Other Causes of Vaginal Infections
There are other causes of vaginal infections besides the 3 most common causes, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis. These other causes may include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), a tampon you left in by accident, a congenital vaginal or uterus problem (something you have since birth, very rare), or an allergy to or irritation from:
These products can cause irritation to the vagina. But when a health care provider does tests on your vaginal discharge, he/she can figure out if your infection is one of the 3 more common ones or is different. If it's different, your health care provider will have to treat it depending on what caused it. So you should always see your health care provider when you notice symptoms of a vaginal infection to make sure that you get it diagnosed and treated correctly!
Updated: 5/15/2005
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