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Signs
and
Symptoms:
- Bacterial
Vaginosis
- an
infection
from
one
or
more
types
of
bacteria.
With
this
you
may
have:
- Mild
vaginal
irritation
or
burning
- A
watery,
grayish-white,
or
yellow
vaginal
discharge
with
a
fishy
odor
- Pelvic
Inflammatory
Disease
(PID)
- an
infection
of
the
uterus,
fallopian
tubes,
and/or
ovaries.
With
PID,
you
have
vaginal
bleeding
with
2
or
more
of
these
problems:
- Abdominal
tenderness
and/or
bloating
- Pain
in
the
pelvis,
lower
abdomen,
or
back.
The
pain
can
be
severe
enough
to
make
you
walk
bent
over
and
to
take
small
steps.
- Pain
during
intercourse
- The
skin
on
your
abdomen
feels
sensitive.
- Vaginal
discharge
with
abnormal
color
or
odor
- Change
in
menstrual
flow
- Fever,
chills
- Vaginal
Yeast
Infection
- is
caused
by
an
overgrowth
of
the
fungus,
Candida
albicans,
normally
present
in
the
vagina.
- Itching,
irritation,
and
redness
around
the
vagina
- Thick,
white
vaginal
discharge
that
looks
like
cottage
cheese
and
may
smell
like
yeast
- Burning
and/or
pain
with
urinating
or
during
sex
- Vaginitis
from
Contact
with
Dermatitis
- Reaction
to
products
that
irritate
the
vaginal
area,
such
as
detergents,
scented
items,
douches,
latex
condoms,
and
tight-fitting
clothing.
Resulting
in
itching
and
redness
in
the
outer
genital
area
without
other
symptoms.
- Sexually
Transmitted
Diseases
- See
STDs
[Go
to
Self-Care
Prevention]
Still
not sure?
Ask yourself
with
these
questions.
1.
Has a
recent
sexual
assault
or major
injury
to the
abdomen,
pelvis,
or vagina
occured?
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
2.
Do you
have
vaginal
pain
that
spreads
upward
to the
pelvis
and you
are unable
to walk
due to
the pain?
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
3.
Does
vaginal
irritation
and/or
pain
occur
with
all the
symptoms
of a
kidney
infection?
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
4.
Do you
have
very
heavy
vaginal
bleeding
( you
saturate
more
than
1 full
size
pad or
super
absorbent
tampon
in an
hour's
time)
with
any of
the following
problems?
- Dizziness,
feeling
faint,
or
feeling
lightheaded
when
you
sit
up
- Pale
and
moist
skin
- Extreme
shortness
of
breath
of
a very
hard
time
breathing
- Severe
abdominal
pain
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
5.
Do you
have
any of
the following?
- Signs
and
symptoms
of
pelvic
inflamatory
disease
(PID)
- Signs
and
symptoms
of
bacterial
vaginosis
- Signs
and
symptoms
of
a sexually
transmitted
disease
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
6.
Do any
of the
following
apply?
- You
have
had
3 or
more
vaginal
infections
within
3 months
time.
- After
diagnosis
and
72
hours
of
treatment
for
a vaginal
infection,
your
symptoms
continue.
- Vaginal
pain
occurs
during
or
after
sexual
intercourse.
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
7.
Do you
have
bleeding
in the
vaginal
area
from
itching
due to
vaginal
irritation?
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
8.
Do you
have
vaginal
bleeding
with
any of
these
problems?
- Increased
vaginal
bleeding
or
you
continue
to
have
spotting
or
bleeding
between
your
periods
after
3 months
of
taking
birth
control
pills.
- Bleeding
heavier
than
your
normal
(you
are
saturating
alsmot
or
equal
to
1 full
pad
or
tampon
every
hour)
- Nausea,
vomiting,
or
abdominal
pain
- Increasing
pain
and
tenderness
in
your
vaginal
area
- Menstrual
periods
that
are
abnormal
heavy
or
long
(>10
days)
- Heavy
menstrual
periods
and
passing
many
small
or
large
blood
clots
and
you
are
pale
and
feel
very
tired.
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
9.
With
vaginal
pain,
do you
use an
IUD for
birth
control
and do
any of
the following
conditions
apply?
- The
IUD
was
inserted
during
the
last
4 to
6 weeks.
- The
strings
from
the
IUD
cannot
be
felt.
- The
IUD
can
be
felt
through
vagina.
(An
IUD
can
become
embedded
in
the
wall
of
the
uterus.
When
this
happens,
surgery
is
needed
to
remove
the
IUD.)
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
10.
Has a
vaginal
discharge
or irritation
been
present
for longer
than
1 week
despite
using
self-care?
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no to
all
questions,
use
self-care
prevention.
Self-Care
Prevention
For
vaginitis
from
contact
dermatitis:
- Avoid
products
that
cause
the
problem
(scented
items,
douches,
feminine
hygiene
sprays,
etc.).
Don't
scrub
the
affected
area
with
a
washcloth.
- Don't
wear
tight
and
constricting
garments
(girdles,
tight
blue
jeans,
etc.)
- Use
medicated
wipes,
such
as
Tucks,
instead
of
dry
toilet
paper.
Follow
package
directions.
- Add
an
oatmeal
bath
product
(Aveeno)
or
baking
soda
to
bath
water.
- Apply
an
over-the-counter
1%
hydrocortisone
cream
to
the
affected
area.
Use
this
infrequently,
though.
Hydrocortisone
can
lead
to
a
thinning
of
the
vaginal
tissue.
- Put
a
cool
compress
on
the
affected
area.
- Take
a
sitz
bath
every
4
to
6
hours
or
as
needed.
A
sitz
bath
basin
is
a
device
that
fits
on
the
toilet
seat
and
is
used
to
cleanse
the
genital
area.
You
can
buy
a
sitz
bath
basin
at
a
medical
supply
store
and
at
some
drug
stores.
- Wash
your
undewear
in
a
gentle
detergent.
Rinse
it
twice.
Use
only
plain
water
for
the
second
rinse.
Don't
use
fabric
softener.
For
a
vaginal
yeast
infection:
- If
you
have
a
history
of
vaginal
yeast
infections
and
these
current
symptoms
are
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