Vaginitis

What is vaginitis?

Vaginitis, also called vulvovaginitis, is an inflammation or infection of the vagina. It can also affect the vulva, which is the external part of a woman's genitals. Vaginitis can cause itching, pain, discharge, and odor.

Vaginitis is common, especially in women in their reproductive years. It usually happens when there is a change in the balance of bacteria or yeast that are normally found in your vagina. There are different types of vaginitis, and they have different causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15-44. It happens when there is an imbalance between the "good" and "harmful" bacteria that are normally found in a woman's vagina. Many things can change the balance of bacteria, including:

• Taking antibiotics
• Douching
• Using an intrauterine device (IUD)
• Having unprotected sex with a new partner
• Having many sexual partners

Yeast infections (candidiasis) happen when too much candida grows in the vagina. Candida is the scientific name for yeast. It is a fungus that lives almost everywhere, including in your body. You may have too much growing in the vagina because of:

• Antibiotics
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes, especially if it is not well-controlled
• Corticosteroid medicines

Trichomoniasis can also cause vaginitis. Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is caused by a parasite.

You can also have vaginitis if you are allergic or sensitive to certain products that you use. Examples include vaginal sprays, douches, spermicides, soaps, detergents, or fabric softeners. They can cause burning, itching, and discharge.

Hormonal changes can also cause vaginal irritation. Examples are when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or when you have gone through menopause.

Sometimes you can have more than one cause of vaginitis at the same time.

The symptoms of vaginitis depend on which type you have.

With BV, you may not have symptoms. You could have a thin white or gray vaginal discharge. There may be an odor, such as a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex.

Yeast infections produce a thick, white discharge from the vagina that can look like cottage cheese. The discharge can be watery and often has no smell. Yeast infections usually cause the vagina and vulva to become itchy and red.

You may not have symptoms when you have trichomoniasis. If you do have them, they include itching, burning, and soreness of the vagina and vulva. You may have burning during urination. You could also have gray-green discharge, which may smell bad.

To find out the cause of your symptoms, your health care provider may:

• Ask you about your medical history
• Do a pelvic exam
• Look for vaginal discharge, noting its color, qualities, and any odor
• Study a sample of your vaginal fluid under a microscope

In some cases, you may need more tests.

The treatment depends on which type of vaginitis you have.

BV is treatable with antibiotics. You may get pills to swallow, or cream or gel that you put in your vagina. During treatment, you should use a condom during sex or not have sex at all.

Yeast infections are usually treated with a cream or with medicine that you put inside your vagina. You can buy over-the-counter treatments for yeast infections, but you need to be sure that you do have a yeast infection and not another type of vaginitis. See your health care provider if this is the first time you have had symptoms. Even if you have had yeast infections before, it is a good idea to call your health care provider before using an over-the-counter treatment.

The treatment for trichomoniasis is usually a single-dose antibiotic. Both you and your partner(s) should be treated, to prevent spreading the infection to others and to keep from getting it again.

If your vaginitis is due to an allergy or sensitivity to a product, you need to figure out which product is causing the problem. It could be a product that you started using recently. Once you figure it out, you should stop using the product.

If the cause of your vaginitis is a hormonal change, your health care provider may give you estrogen cream to help with your symptoms.

It is important to treat BV and trichomoniasis, because having either of them can increase your risk for getting HIV or another STI. If you are pregnant, BV or trichomoniasis can increase your risk for preterm labor and preterm birth.

To help prevent vaginitis:

• Do not douche or use vaginal sprays.
• Use a latex condom when having sex. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
• Avoid clothes that hold in heat and moisture.
• Wear cotton underwear.

Vegetarian Diet

A vegetarian diet focuses on plants for food. These include fruits, vegetables, dried beans and peas, grains, seeds and nuts. There is no single type of vegetarian diet. Instead, vegetarian eating patterns usually fall into the following groups:

• The vegan diet, which excludes all meat and animal products
• The lacto vegetarian diet, which includes plant foods plus dairy products
• The lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, which includes both dairy products and eggs

People who follow vegetarian diets can get all the nutrients they need. However, they must be careful to eat a wide variety of foods to meet their nutritional needs. Nutrients vegetarians may need to focus on include protein, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin B12.

United States Department of Agriculture

West Nile Virus

What is West Nile Virus?

West Nile virus (WNV) is an infectious disease. It is most often spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people have no symptoms, while some may develop mild symptoms. But WNV can sometimes cause serious symptoms if the virus enters your brain.

WNV usually spreads to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. However, in rare cases, it can spread from person-to-person. This can happen through an organ transplant or blood transfusion. If you are preganant you can spread WNV to your fetus during pregnancy or delivery. And after delivery, it can spread to the baby during breastfeeding.

Anyone could be bitten by an infected mosquito and get WNV. But certain people are at higher risk for more serious illness they get a WNV infection. They include people who:

• Are over age 60
• Have certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
• Had an organ transplant

Symptoms can be mild to severe. But most people have no symptoms or mild symptoms.

Mild symptoms of WNV can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Skin rash

These symptoms usually go away on their own within a few days to several weeks. But some people will have weakness or fatigue that lasts for weeks or months.

Although rare, If West Nile virus enters your brain, it can be life-threatening. It may cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

Serious symptoms of WNV can include:

• High fever
• Headache
• Neck stiffness
• Numbness
• Coma
• Muscle weakness
• Vision loss

To find out if you have WNV, your health care provider:

• Will do a physical exam
• Will take your medical history, including asking about your symptoms
• May order blood tests

There are no specific vaccines or treatments for human WNV disease. But rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medicines may relieve some symptoms. You may need to be hospitalized if you have serious symptoms.

There are no vaccines or medicines to prevent WNV. The best way to avoid WNV is to help prevent mosquito bites:

• Wear insect repellent with DEET or another U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent. Make sure to follow the instructions for using the repellent.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if you're outside.
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flowerpots, buckets, or barrels.
• Stay indoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Use screens on windows to keep mosquitoes out.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Anatomy

Anatomy is the science that studies the structure of the body. On this page, you'll find links to descriptions and pictures of the human body's parts and organ systems from head to toe.

Benign Tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant ones are. Benign tumors grow only in one place. They cannot spread or invade other parts of your body. Even so, they can be dangerous if they press on vital organs, such as your brain.

Tumors are made up of extra cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as your body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when your body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form a tumor.

Treatment often involves surgery. Benign tumors usually don't grow back.

NIH: National Cancer Institute