The last weekend Dulceida became trending topic after informing his entire community that he had a vaginal infection. With several media outlets announcing this event with flashy headlines that encouraged the clickbaitwe have contacted Irene Cold -sexologist, expert in the menstrual cycle and collaborator of Intimina- to explain the causes of vaginal infections in order to destigmatize them.
There are many causes that can cause a vaginal infection. We don’t know why but many girls turn this topic into something taboo that they don’t talk about out of fear or rush, however they are more common than we think. These affect 30% of women in the US and up to 14% in Europe according to a study by Samem. But his explanation is much simpler, because “vaginal infections come from bacteria that are part of our own vaginal environment (microbiota) but that, at a given time, grow excessively.”
How to detect a vaginal infection
It is possible that the first few times we do not know how to detect if we have a vaginal infection or not, since everything is new for us and we do not know what is happening to us. According to Irene “we can perceive itching, an unusual flow in terms of color, abundance or consistency and, in the case of having parasites such as trichomonads, a characteristic fishy, sour smell.” That is why she emphasizes that it is important to know our cyclical changes in vaginal discharge in order to detect it, however, she also advises that in case of any concern, the best thing to do is “not wait and see a doctor”.
In addition, we can notice itching, redness of the lips of the vulva or cramps in the vagina (this happens when there are candida).
Types of vaginal infections
Like everything in this life, there are several vaginal infections. “We can have false infections that are actually imbalances in the vaginal flora but that still need to be treated appropriately,” says Irene.
- Chlamydia infection or Chlamydia. Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (aka chlamydia). It makes its diagnosis difficult since in most cases it is asymptomatic, however its most common causes are accompanied by secretions of a more whitish tone with a different odor than usual, bleeding and pain. IMPORTANT: We must go to the doctor because if we let this infection progress, it could damage our reproductive organs and cause infertility.
- bacterial vaginosis. Weak flow and white or grayish discharge with a fish-like odor. You can also notice intense itching in the external area of the vagina and burning when urinating.
- Vaginal candidiasis. Candida albicans -naturally present in the body- reproduces massively due to changes in the acidity of the vagina. This is one of the most common and uncomfortable vaginal infections. Among its symptoms we find swelling, itching or burning in the vulva area. In addition, the vaginal discharge is accompanied by a whitish-yellow hue and is thicker than usual, cheese-like. cottage.
- Trichomoniasis vaginitis. The most characteristic symptom is a yellowish or greenish discharge with a musty smell, as well as burning and itching in the vagina.
“In addition, there may be colonization of bacteria from the small or large intestine (through the anus). Of course, the main route of infection is vaginal penetration without a condom, which puts your vaginal mucosa in contact with his (if he carries a sexually transmitted infection).
What to do in case of an infection?
Once we notice any of these symptoms and we know that something is “wrong”, the first thing we have to do is “go to a youth sexuality center, a midwife, nurse or general practitioner, report the symptoms we notice, see if it is convenient to perform a vaginal exudate”. It is possible that the gynecologist will order a cytology and a culture, to discover the type of pathogen involved.
However, Irene strongly advises us in a practice that is very common, “I would like to remind you what not to do: self-medicate, use vaginal suppositories of any kind without knowing what type of infection it is. Vaginal suppositories are often used without having studied symptoms and causes, and the problem becomes chronic, causing more dysbiosis or imbalance of the bacteria that are naturally present in the vagina”.
To avoid the appearance of vaginal infections, experts recommend taking care of intimate hygiene, wearing appropriate clothing, following a healthy diet and the use of vaginal probiotics. Brands such as Intimina, Chilly… offer ranges of products dedicated exclusively to taking care of women’s intimate health.
Intimina – Lily Cup Compact, size A: Small Menstrual Cup that Bends and Stays Flat
Chilly Pharma – Intimate Anti-Discomfort Gel – 450 ml.
ISDIN Germisdin Intim Calm Intimate hygiene gel – 500ml
Vagisil Daily Intimate Hygiene pH Balance. Maintains a Healthy pH 250ml
Note: Some of the links posted here are affiliate links. Despite this, none of the items mentioned have been proposed by either the brands or the stores, their introduction being a unique decision of the editorial team.
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