My Journey with Cushing’s disease
At 30 years old, I was fit, healthy and naturally a size 8–10. I knew my body well, which is why, when it started to
When I was 16 years old I began having strange symptoms. At the time I did not have access to the internet in the way I do now, cell phones were not a thing for people my age, and my very conservative upbringing dictated female issues remain private. I was terrified and in pain.
When I finally told my mom and went to the doctor it was revealed that I was suffering from a urinary tract infection and yeast infection. By that time I had been having symptoms for weeks. On top of that, the anxiety and shame I felt brought additional stress.
They say knowledge is power. For this article I would like to empower you with the knowledge I have gathered about common vaginal conditions, and hope it inspires you to use your voice to seek help for yourself or others.
A happy, healthy vagina will communicate. The skin will be soft and moist. Discharge will follow the pattern of the menstrual cycle. The delicate scent will proclaim that all is well.
Vaginas that are unhappy and struggling with a problem will often whisper their discomfort at first, and will make their misery known with more intensity as time marches on. Skin may be itchy and/or irritated, Discharge might be thicker or change in color, scent may be stronger, fishy, or strange, and pain may be present as well.
The problem is that while vaginas have virtually no problem telling us how they feel, what exactly is bothering them may be a mystery. So how do we know what is causing vaginal or vulva pain and other symptoms we may be experiencing? Let’s explore some of the possibilities together.
The most common conditions all share common symptoms in many ways. Sometimes it can be difficult to know if we are not tested. It is important to consult a medical professional about diagnosis and treatment.
Vaginitis is simply an inflammation of the vagina. It is usually brought on by a bacterial imbalance or infection. Some other things like skin disorders and a reduction of estrogen in the body can also be factors.
The symptoms of vaginitis can include:
Treatment for vaginitis really depends on the kind of vaginitis you have and what caused it. Let’s go through the different kinds, their causes, and common treatment practices.
Noninfectious vaginitis is not caused by infection. Rather it is caused by irritation from substances coming into contact with the vagina such as:
Other factors such as a lack of estrogen after menopause (vaginal atrophy) can also be a factor.
Treatment options for noninfectious vaginitis include identifying the offending substance and avoiding it if possible. Using unscented products, wearing clothing that is more breathable and not as tight, utilizing alternative birth control methods, switching menstrual products and avoiding tampons.
For vaginal atrophy, there are medications that can be prescribed to boost estrogen levels. This can be in the form of topical creams, tablets, or rings. These treatments can reduce symptoms such as vaginal dryness that is commonly associated with menopause.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a type of vaginitis that is caused by an infection. According to the Mayo Clinic:
“This most common type of vaginitis results from a change of the bacteria found in your vagina, upsetting the balance. What causes the imbalance is unknown. It’s possible to have bacterial vaginosis without symptoms.
“This type of vaginitis seems to be linked to but not caused by sex — especially if you have multiple sex partners or a new sex partner — but it also occurs in women who aren’t sexually active.”
The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis can include the aforementioned vaginitis symptoms and also commonly include:
BV discharge symptoms usually make diagnosis easier and are easily treatable.
The Mayo Clinic outlines treatments for BV this way: “For this type of vaginitis, your health care provider might prescribe metronidazole tablets (Flagyl) that you take by mouth or metronidazole gel (MetroGel) that you apply to the affected area. Other treatments include clindamycin (Cleocin) cream that you apply to your vagina, clindamycin tablets you take by mouth or capsules you put in your vagina. Tinidazole (Tindamax) or secnidazole (Solosec) are taken by mouth. Bacterial vaginosis can recur after treatment.”
BV is incredibly common and most people with vaginas will experience it sometime during their lives. There are some over the counter remedies that may help with BV such as boric acid suppositories.
Yeast infections can be quite annoying.
Vaginal yeast infection symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include:
Treating a vaginal yeast infection often doesn’t require a prescribed medication. Over the counter treatment kits are often readily available and usually include a cream inserted into the vagina and a cream to treat the irritation and itching applied to the vulva and labia.
Another common condition found in the vagina is prolapse. Prolapse of the vagina happens when the muscles, ligaments, and tissue supporting the vagina weakens. This can make the top of the vagina fall down and sag into the vaginal canal. In some cases even falling out of the vaginal opening.
The symptoms of vaginal prolapse can include:
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the pelvic organs are all supported by each other. When one organ prolapses, it can affect the functioning of other nearby organs. Thus, some women also experience:
As with other vaginal conditions, treatment depends on the severity of symptoms.
Mild prolapse may not require any treatment.
Cysts can be scary as they can feel like lumps in the private areas. They are fluid or air filled lumps that are usually caused by injury to the area, childbirth, or even blocked glands. Some sexually transmitted infections can cause cysts, those cysts can be contagious.
Labial cyst, vulva cyst, and vaginal cyst discoveries warrant a trip to the doctor. They are usually harmless, but they can be painful and become infected. Treatment can include, draining, sitz bath, and antibiotics.
Your doctor may also test to make sure that vaginal cancer or vulva cancer is not present. These cancers are rare but vulva cancer symptoms can include lumps in the vaginal area.
Some vagina owners may notice small bumps on their skin that resemble pimples. Though any kind of lump or bump on the skin can be alarming, vaginal pimples are common and are not indicative of cancer or any other harmful condition.
According to one study, Vulval Acne: A Case Series Describing Clinical Features and Management, “The treatment approach for the management of vulval acne mirrors the conventional management of acne on the face and trunk. The treatment option depends on the severity of the condition. Mild vulval acne can respond to general conservative treatment with advice on appropriate care of the vulval skin and use of topical antibiotics. If this fails, we recommend stepping up the treatment to oral antibiotics, preferably oral lymecycline or erythromycin. These antibiotics directly modify the inflammation of acne by inhibiting chemotaxis while also having a bacteriostatic effect.”
A doctor can prescribe medicines to help with vaginal pimples.
When we are armed with knowledge, we reduce anxiety and can gain courage to do something about our circumstances. I hope this article gives some insight into what conditions could be common to the vagina, and if you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms that you speak up sooner rather than later. It could make a huge difference to the quality of your life.
Foo, S., Lewis, F., Velangi, S., Walsh, S., & Calonje, J. E. (2021). Vulval acne: a case series describing clinical features and management. Clinical and experimental dermatology, 46(2), 319–323. https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.14424
John Hopkins Medicine. Vaginal Prolapse. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/vaginal-prolapse
Mayo Clinic. Bacterial Vaginosis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352279#:~:text=Bacterial%20vaginosis%20is%20a%20type,affect%20women%20of%20any%20age.
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