Causes and treatment of vulvitis

In this article, we look at the symptoms and treatment of vulvitis. What is this pathology? In medicine, vulvitis is called the inflammatory process that occurs in the vulva. It is customary to attribute the pubis to the vulva along with the labia, clitoris, hymen and vestibule of the vagina. It also includes two large glands of the vagina with a horseshoe-shaped venous plexus, covering the urethra. This plexus extends into the thickness of the labia majora. The causes of development, as well as treatment options for vulvitis, will be described below.

What factors contribute to the occurrence of vulvitis?

The following natural factors that contribute to the onset of this disease are distinguished:

• The presence of constant humidity and warm conditions in which the external genitalia regularly reside.
• The tenderness and sensitivity of the integument along with a plentiful amount of nerve endings, plexuses and vessels, as well as the presence of folds.

Most often, vulvitis occurs in girls. Symptoms, causes and treatment are discussed below.

Main reasons

The causes of this disease are usually as follows:

• Infection with infectious agents in the form of streptococci, staphylococci, Escherichia coli, enterococci, fungus and so on. Non-specific vulvitis can also cause gonococci along with diphtheria bacilli, chlamydia, trichomonads, various viruses and tuberculous mycobacteria.
• May develop as a result of oral sex.
• Due to irrational or prolonged use of antibiotics, hormonal medications and immunosuppressants that suppress immunity. Such drugs cause the death of normal flora and provoke dysbiosis. In turn, a manifestation of dysbiosis may be genital candidiasis with candidal vulvitis. Causes and treatment are interconnected.
• The presence of diseases in the form of diabetes mellitus, leukemia or malignant tumors.

• The appearance of malignant tumors of the genital organs in a state of necrosis.
• The presence of other inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs in women. For example, pathologies such as vaginitis and endocervicitis, which are inflammation of the cervical canal of the uterus. Also, the cause can be pyosalpix, against which pus accumulates in the fallopian tubes, leaving the uterus.
• The presence of inflammation of the urethra.
• The presence of cystitis or urinary incontinence.
• The presence of genitourinary fistulas.
• The presence of helminthiases in the body.
• The presence of allergic reactions to certain substances that are contained in hygienic, cosmetic or perfumery products, for example, in soap, shampoo, napkins, scented toilet paper. In addition, synthetic underwear, washing powder, spermicides and disinfectants in pool water can cause allergies.
• The influence of chemical factors, for example, douching with concentrated solutions of antiseptics. In this case, chemicals can irritate the external genitalia.
• The influence of mechanical factors, such as horse riding, cycling, masturbation, and so on.
• Exposure to thermal factors in the form of hot baths and vaginal douching with hot solutions.
• Non-observance of the basic rules of personal hygiene, especially for obese women who are prone to diaper rash.
• Staying in humid conditions for a long time, such as prolonged bathing or wearing a wet bathing suit.

These are the main reasons. Treatment of vulvitis in girls should be supervised by a doctor. The development of pathology is favored by a condition accompanied by a low content of estrogen in the body, which can be observed in childhood, adolescence, or during postmenopause.

Symptoms of vulvitis

The symptoms that accompany this disease are as follows:

• The appearance of redness, itching and swelling.
• The development of soreness, which intensifies when walking, during urination, as well as as a result of heavy lifting or sexual intercourse.
• The appearance of burning in the area of ​​the external genitalia.
• The presence of roughness of the inner surface of the labia, which occurs due to nodules (enlarged sebaceous glands).
• The presence of fluid-filled vesicles, which immediately after opening can ulcerate and then become crusty. Such a symptom is observed against the background of herpetic vulvitis.
• The appearance of raids, and sometimes ulcers.
• The appearance of psoriasiform plaques, which is often noted in patients with candidal or fungal type of vulvitis.
• Fever, along with malaise.

It should be noted that the appearance of itching in the presence of diabetes is the first and characteristic symptom of vulvitis in women. Treatment will directly depend on this. In the presence of certain symptoms of pathology, in particular itching, it is impossible to comb the affected area, as this can provoke a worsening of the course of the disease and additional infection.

Immediately before seeking medical help, you should take a warm, but not hot bath in a sitting position with a decoction of comfrey, string, chamomile or calendula. It is very important to never forget that the external genitalia should always be drained only from front to back, and not vice versa. This is best done with a towel, slightly wet. You can’t rub this zone. Thus, the external genitalia must always be kept pure and dry. In case of symptoms, you should immediately consult a gynecologist. Any delay in the treatment of vulvitis in women can cause the infection to spread first to the vagina, and then to the internal genital organs, that is, directly to the uterus with its appendages.

What other signs of the disease can be observed?

For this disease, in addition to the symptoms already listed above, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• The development of hyperemia of the genital organs.
• The appearance of purulent, watery and sucrose discharge.
• The presence of swollen lymph nodes.
• The occurrence of purulent vesicles is not excluded.

Most often, vulvitis is characterized by abundant secretions. The labia may become bright red. Among other things, they swell quite strongly. The whole process can lead to discomfort while walking. In particular, patients noted the onset of pain during urination. In the area of ​​the external genitalia, an intolerable itching with burning is often felt.

In women with vulvitis, as a rule, severe fatigue is observed, an increase in temperature is not excluded. In addition, patients may experience some weakness. Not always, but it happens that small vesicles form on the surface of the genital organs, which are the result of the inflammatory process. Pus accumulates inside such formations. Symptoms, causes and treatment of vulvitis are of interest to many.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the etiology of the disease, specialists distinguish between the primary and secondary form of vulvitis. In the first case, the main cause of the disease is non-compliance with hygiene, as well as injury. The secondary form can develop as a result of infection with an infection that occurs in other organs. Such organs can serve as the kidneys, uterus, tonsils and so on.

In girls

The primary manifestation of the pathology is characteristic mainly for girls who have not yet reached childbearing age, and also it is observed in women during menopause. This predisposition is due to the features of the processes that occur in the genitals. The fact is that the mucous membrane of the vulva in girls is extremely thin and easily amenable to any injuries. In addition, local immunity at this age is not yet properly formed and therefore not strong enough. Microflora at this time is rich in coccal forms.

During menopause

In women who have reached menopause, irreversible changes occur in the body. At this time, menstruation ceases, the level of estrogen is significantly reduced, and the surface of the mucosa greatly atrophies. You can even say that it dries out as a result of a decrease in vaginal discharge. Because of this, its surface is easily damaged and easily infected. Thus, the primary form of vulvitis may occur.

In childbearing age

Women of childbearing age are more resistant to all kinds of infections, which, without strong immunity, lead to primary vulvitis. Such women have a more stable and healthy hormonal background. In addition, at this time, fermented milk microflora in the vagina significantly dominates.

Secondary vulvitis, in turn, is the result of inflammatory manifestations of nonspecific and specific reactions. It can be pathologies in the form of endocervicitis, colpitis, cervicitis and so on. Before starting treatment of vulvitis, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of this pathology is based on complaints from patients, information about the onset of the disease, previous and concomitant ailments. As part of the diagnosis, attention is drawn to the tolerance of drugs. If there is good lighting, the doctor examines the external genitalia of the patient. Sometimes during inspection, a manual magnifier is used.

Also, as part of the examination, a two-handed vaginal and anteritoneal wall finger examination is performed, a smear is taken for subsequent cytological examination. The gynecologist pays special attention to the condition of the peripheral lymph nodes. If necessary, using the colposcope, the surface of the vulva is examined. An analysis of feces for the presence of helminths is mandatory.

It must be borne in mind that other dangerous diseases can also be hidden under the mask of vulvitis. Therefore, often doctors first exclude all possible concomitant pathologies. The presence of scratching in the area of ​​the external genitalia may indicate the development of pediculosis or scabies, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, scleroatrophic lichen or seborrheic dermatitis. We must not forget about the possibility of the presence of epithelial dysplasia or vulvar cancer. In cases in which the prescribed treatment for vulvitis does not give results within 6 weeks, or the diagnosis is unclear after the initial examination, the doctor is required to perform a biopsy.

Thus, even though vulvitis belongs to the group of visual diseases, diagnosing it can become extremely difficult and require efforts not only from the gynecologist, but also involve related specialists such as a dermatologist, venereologist and therapist. If one of the sexually transmitted diseases is detected, it may be necessary to conduct various diagnostic tests that are aimed at identifying other infections from this category. Next, find out how to treat vulvitis.

Therapy

If a woman has found vulvitis, then therapy should be prescribed to her after a thorough examination. First of all, the patient is required to observe bed rest. In addition, you need to completely abandon sexual activity for a while. It is strictly forbidden to comb itchy areas against the background of this disease. This can lead to additional infection, worsening symptoms and an increase in the total duration of treatment for vulvitis in women. Depending on the degree of pathology, the gynecologist prescribes an individual course of therapy, which may include the following procedures and activities:

• Vulvar treatment using local medicinal formulations. For these purposes, apply "Chlorhexidine" with "Decamethoxin."
• The use of antimycotic drugs in the treatment of vulvitis.
• The use of vaginal suppositories, tampons and tablets. Given the fact that pathogens differ from each other, in each case, the technique is selected individually. The applied tool should depressively affect one or another microorganism. These agents are not used in the treatment of vulvitis in girls.
• The use of antiviral ointments. Among the recommended remedies for the treatment of vulvitis are called drugs such as Instillagel, Vokadin and Betadine.
• Immunomodulating therapy.
• Performing local physiological procedures. As part of the treatment of vulvitis, patients are often prescribed electrophoresis.
• The use of specific antibiotics, taking into account the main causes of the pathology.
• The implementation of the drying treatment. In this case, preparations based on zinc oxide, folliculin and talc have managed to prove themselves well.
• Treatment of symptoms of vulvitis in girls involves taking vitamin supplements. Among the most recommended by doctors are often called drugs such as "Aevit", "Riboflavin", "Thiamine."

In the case of severe itching, as a result of which patients have insomnia, it is advisable to prescribe sleeping pills. It should be emphasized that if you ignore the treatment of vulvitis, the process may worsen, and therapy will subsequently take longer. Untreated disease can go into a chronic stage, which in the process will be accompanied by frequent periods of exacerbations.

Home treatment for vulvitis

Treatment is carried out not only with medications, but also with folk remedies. For this, recipes recommended by a doctor are used.

Treating vulvitis at home can be very effective:

1. Oak bark extract. 2 tablespoons of raw material are poured into 2 liters of water, allowed to boil, insist 10 minutes. After cooling, the broth is filtered. It is added to the bath, used for douching. A sitz bath is taken for 20 minutes.
2. With candidal vulvitis, soda baths are taken (a tablespoon of soda in 1 liter of water). The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes. A solution of soda make douching, use it to wash (1 teaspoon of the product in 1 liter of liquid). Heals for 7-10 days.
3. Rhizomes of the cinquefoil erect. In 250 ml of boiled water, pour a tablespoon of raw materials, insist 10 minutes. The cooled broth is filtered and diluted with boiled water, bringing the volume to a liter. Douched twice a day.
4. Helps fight inflammation of the vulva chamomile officinalis. In 1 liter of boiled water, put a tablespoon of grass, allow to cool. Filtered infusion is used for douching or irrigation.
5. Infusion of round-leaved wintergreen. Take 2 teaspoons of the plant, pour a glass of boiling water, filter after two hours. Infusion is douched and washed.
6. Peel the four onion heads, dip in 0.5 l of water, let it boil, insist 15 minutes. Cool, filter. Used for irrigation.

Prophylaxis

In order to prevent the occurrence of this unpleasant disease, it is recommended to use the following preventive measures:

• Always follow the basic rules of personal hygiene.
• It is important to timely treat diseases that occur in the genitourinary system.
• The use of barrier contraception methods against the background of random sexual intercourse.
• Obligatory visit to the gynecologist immediately after unprotected sexual contact with a partner in doubt.
• A visit to a doctor and therapy under his control against the background of the first manifestations of negative symptoms.
• In the event of a change in sexual partner, it is imperative to check for the presence of sexual infections.
• In no case should supercooling be allowed.
• Regular preventive examinations are required.
• You should regularly maintain immunity with the help of vitamin and modulating drugs.
• Equally important is a diet that limits refined carbohydrates. You should also try to increase the protein content in your daily diet.
• Helminthiasis should be treated promptly.
• Need to get rid of obesity.
• Mandatory treatment in case of diabetes is required.

By following these tips and tricks, you can avoid such an unpleasant disease as vulvitis. Given that the disease can manifest itself in girls in childhood, all mothers should teach their daughters the basic rules of hygiene, and this should be done as soon as possible. Such a measure will serve as a guarantee of the health of the genitals and will be the prevention of all kinds of female diseases.