Vulvitis is an inflammatory process in the external genitalia (in the vulva), in which the lesion is located on the vaginal mucosa. As a rule, it occurs after mechanical damage, transferred infections or fungal diseases.
What causes vulvitis, causes of its occurrence
Distinguish between primary and secondary vulvitis, depending on the origin of the inflammatory process.
Primary vulvitis appears at the site of mechanical injury or chemical burns to the vagina. Damaged areas are easily infected and inflamed. Most of all, older women and girls are susceptible to minor injuries due to an insufficient number of female sex hormones. This leads to drying out and thinning of the vaginal mucosa.
Mechanical injury, by the way, can also occur at the site of scratching caused by severe itching in people with diabetes mellitus or infected with helminths.
Secondary vulvitis develops against the background of an existing infection of the genital organs, such as colpitis, endometritis, cervicitis. In addition, a factor predisposing to the inflammatory process is a violation of ovarian function.
Acute vulvitis (symptoms)
There is an acute and chronic form of the disease. Acute vulvitis develops very quickly and manifests itself in the form of swelling and redness of the vagina. At the same time, red spots and an increase in lymph nodes are sometimes observed in the groin, and profuse purulent discharge appears on the mucosa. Patients complain of severe itching and burning, as well as pain in the lower abdomen. All this is accompanied by a feeling of weakness and a violation of overall well-being.
Chronic vulvitis (symptoms)
In a chronic form, the signs of the disease are less pronounced. Only the burning sensation during urination and walking remains, as well as itching and redness of the vaginal mucosa.
Vulvitis, its symptoms and various pathological changes in the mucosa
Depending on how the pathological changes in the mucous membrane of the genitals proceed, atrophic vulvitis, which manifests itself mainly in women during menopause, is secreted. In this case, the mucous membrane becomes thinner, and without appropriate hormone therapy, the disease will progress, causing erosion.
Ulcerative vulvitis occurs in women of reproductive age. It manifests itself in the form of a whitish plaque on the damaged genital mucosa. When it is washed off, ulcers form.
Adhesive vulvitis is characteristic of girls suffering from a chronic form of the disease, as a result of which fusion of the labia minora, otherwise called “synechia,” is observed. As a rule, this pathology is detected by chance, since there are no painful sensations.
How to prevent the appearance of vulvitis
In order not to eventually discover a painful inflammation of the vulvitis, you must follow a few mandatory rules.
- Wash daily and change underwear.
- Eliminate promiscuous sex.
- Conduct deworming in a timely manner.
- Watch your weight, as in overweight women, the tendency to vulvitis increases significantly.
- Strengthen immunity and eat rationally.
And most importantly, regularly visit the gynecologist! And then vulvitis, the symptoms of which were described in this article, will not turn into a scourge that prevents you from living a full life.