Women to your health

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03. Vaginal infection

         (Pruritus Vulvae)

Itching and inflammation in the genital and groin area, a condition that many women suffer from. But because of shame or fear, only a very small percentage refer to treatment.

Some women suffer from severe psychological distress due to the persistence of this condition. Sometimes it can even develop into depression.

Now let's see why this condition occurs. There are many reasons for this. Allergies, germ infections, skin diseases as well as pre-cancerous conditions cause this. But the most common are allergic and infectious conditions

  Candidiasis, which is a fungal infection, is one of the most common bacterial infections. Bacterial vaginosis caused by changes in the composition of bacteria in the vagina is also common. This can be cured by antibiotics prescribed after examination by a doctor.

Among the less common infections are sexually transmitted diseases like tinea and herpes. These diseases can be diagnosed only after examination by an experienced doctor. The relevant antibiotics can cure the infection itself.

Allergies are a major cause of itching and inflammation in the genital area. Nylon underwear, soapy shampoos often cause these allergies. And because of them, itching or inflammation caused by other causes may intensify. Also, some women may experience this condition even after removing hair from the vaginal area.

For these reasons, the use of cotton underwear is advised as a basic step to avoid this problem. It is also important to avoid using soap in the genital area. Often, when itchy, the area is washed with too much soap, thinking that it is not clean enough. Then the problem gets worse.

Therefore, in the genital area, avoiding the use of soap and using cotton underwear, these allergies are avoided to a large extent.

Another cause of inflammation and itching in the vaginal area is dermatological conditions. One such condition associated with vaginal fissures is Lichen Sclerosis. There is thickening and itching of the genital skin. This is caused by harmful antibodies produced by the immune system. (Autoimmune disease) There are types of ointments as treatment for this. They should be used on medical advice. This disease should be treated correctly because if it is prolonged, it may even cause cancerous conditions.

Another precancerous condition associated with the female external genitalia is increased cell division of the skin of the private area. It is called Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). Here too, the symptom is inflammation and itching of the genital area.

If the doctor feels that there is a condition like this, a biopsy is needed to confirm it.

As well as cosmetic treatments, minor surgeries are sometimes required for this.

In summary, there are many causes of inflammation and infection around the vaginal opening, and if it persists for more than two weeks or occurs frequently, it is essential to consult a gynecologist for medical advice.

PGS Devapriya

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Teaching Hospital Kalubowila