How to Diagnose Vaginitis

Vaginitis is an irritation of the vagina caused by one or more related causes. Since vaginitis can be caused by different pathogens, a medical exam is required to diagnose it properly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Primary care physician or gynecologist

Visit Your Doctor to Diagnose Vaginitis

1. Look for typical symptoms of vaginitis, which include vaginal discharge, itching, frequent urination and irritation. Many cases of vaginitis are asymptomatic, meaning that there are no visible symptoms, and that these symptoms could be caused by something other than vaginitis.
2. Prepare for an appointment with your doctor. You should schedule your appointment for a time when you are not having your menstrual cycle. You should also avoid douche and vaginal sprays during the 24 hours before the exam. If you decide to have sex within 24 hours of the appointment, you should use a condom.
3. Know that you will be expected to provide a complete medical history to your doctor. Be sure to let the doctor know if you are on any medications, including contraceptives.
4. Undergo a quick physical exam. The doctor will visually check the inflamed areas to look for deformation or growths. They will also test any discharge to see if results point to vaginitis.
5. Go through the full course of treatment recommended by your doctor. Depending on the type of vaginitis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, topical creams and/or other medications. Be sure to follow the complete course of treatments even if symptoms clear up.
6. Return to the doctor if you have the same symptoms down the road. While you may feel that the diagnosis will be the same, the type of vaginitis may require a different treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• While some discharge is normal in most women, any discharge that is abnormal in appearance or odor warrants a trip to the doctor. While the most common diagnosis is vaginitis, discharge could also be related to certain sexually transmitted diseases and other medical problems.
• Your annual pap test is not usually used to diagnose vaginitis, so if you are having symptoms, let your doctor know during the exam.
• While over the counter treatments are available, you should always be checked out by a doctor to determine the underlying cause. Many women misdiagnose themselves repeatedly, only heading to the doctor after several treatments have failed.
• If not treated properly, some types of vaginitis can lead to infertility or complications during pregnancy.

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