Contents
General description of the disease
This is a disease of the lower part of the reproductive system, which combines 2 diseases: vulvitis (the inflammatory process affects the external genital organs) and vaginitis (inflammation is observed in the vagina).
Most often, vulvovaginitis affects girls aged 2 to 9 years and women who are in menopause. In addition, many pregnant women suffer from the disease. As for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age, vulvovaginitis occurs in very, very rare cases.
Causes of vulvovaginitis
In general, vulvovaginitis is caused by pinworms, fungi (mainly yeast-like) and pathogenic microbes found in the intestinal and pyogenic flora. Also, chemical, mechanical and thermal factors play an important role in the development of the disease.
Concerning little children, then their vulvovaginitis can develop due to insufficient care of the genitals, children’s diathesis and due to the use of the same bed linen and towels with the mother, older sister (in this case, the infection is transmitted from mother to child). In girls, most often, vulvovaginitis occurs due to pinworms – at night they crawl into the vagina from the anus.
Pregnant women vulvovaginitis occurs due to swelling of the mucous membrane of the vulva and vagina (they are overflowing with blood and glycogen is collected in them). Such an environment is ideal for the reproduction and vital activity of fungi belonging to the genus Candida. It is vulvovaginal candidiasis that most often occurs in pregnant women in the first months of gestation.
Causes that can cause vulvovaginitis in women reproductive age: wearing small, tight underwear made of synthetic fabric, trauma to the vaginal walls during sex (if the woman does not have enough lubrication), infection from a sex partner (infection with gonorrhea, Trichomonas and any other sexually transmitted diseases), excessive or extremely insufficient hygiene of the genitals (pathogenic organisms multiply not only in a humid and dirty environment, but also in the disturbed microflora of the vagina due to frequent douching), reduced immunity due to the transfer of influenza, SARS, dysentery, pneumonia, the disease also causes general candidiasis and dysbiosis of the body …
About older womenwho have entered menopause, we can say that vulvovaginitis develops in them due to insufficient production of hormones (estrogens) and age-related changes in the flora of the vagina (with age, the number of Doderlein sticks may decrease, which causes the pH of the vagina to rise – this provokes the growth of bacteria ).
Other causes that can cause vulvovaginitis: long-term use of antibiotics, hormonal agents, oral contraceptives, which can cause hormonal disruption and a decrease in the body’s immune forces. Also, vulvovaginitis can cause diabetes and thyroid problems.
Symptoms and course of vulvovaginitis
Vulvovaginitis can occur in gonorrheal, acute and chronic forms.
In the acute course of vulvovaginitis patients experience severe itching, burning, heaviness in the vagina (these signs are even more felt during urination and with long walking). The lymph nodes in the groin area can increase in size and the temperature rises (it can stay at 37-38 degrees for a long time). With all this, the vagina and external genital organs are edematous, rough, covered with a purulent-mucous coating, with palpation of the organs, severe pain is felt. A large amount of discharge comes out of the vagina.
Chronic course of vulvovaginitis implies the presence of all of the above symptoms, but only in a more smoothed form. Most of all, a woman is worried about itching and a large amount of leucorrhoea. In the chronic course of vulvovaginitis, the mucous membrane of the external genital organs is constantly swollen and enlarged, and the surface of the labia minora is rough.
Gonorrheal type of vulvovaginitis course has its own characteristics: patients note a large separation of pus from the vagina, severe damage to the labia majora from the inside, and their surface is covered with a bloom of pus, edematous and very painful to touch.
Useful products for vulvovaginitis
When treating vulvovaginitis, it is recommended to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet. This is done in order not to cause additional problems with the general well-being and in order to minimize itching as much as possible.
Often, vulvovaginitis causes various disorders in the microflora of the vagina and external genital organs. This is due to the insufficient acidification of the genital environment and the absence of Doderlein sticks in girls. To oxidize the environment, you need to consume large quantities of fermented milk products: kefir, cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, milk, yogurt, fermented baked milk (preferably with a low percentage of fat and always without any additives, dyes and flavor enhancers).
To improve metabolic processes in the body and to increase immunity, it is necessary to fortify. In particular, it is necessary to consume more vitamins A, B, C, E.
Vitamin A is essential for the speedy recovery of damaged tissues and mucous membranes. It can be obtained by eating seafood, liver, dairy products (butter, sour cream, feta cheese, processed cheese), wild garlic, viburnum fruits, broccoli.
Vitamin B is needed by the body to restore oxidative processes in the body. It helps to normalize metabolism and helps in the absorption of nutrients. In order for it to enter the body, you should include in your diet buckwheat and oatmeal, nuts (of all types), whole grain pasta, sprouted wheat, corn cobs, lentils, mushrooms, herbs, eggs, fish, meat, sea buckthorn, pomegranate, garlic , bell peppers, raisins, rose hips, watermelon, peaches, cream.
Vitamin C should be taken with caution, as some foods can cause severe allergies. Therefore, before introducing it into consumption, you need to know your reactions to a particular product. All citrus fruits, all types of cabbage, strawberries, currants, kiwi, honeysuckle, mountain ash, spinach, horseradish root, viburnum, hot and sweet peppers are rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
Vitamin E is a naturally occurring antioxidant. It participates in the synthesis of proteins, the regeneration of any tissues, and increases intercellular metabolism. In order for it to enter the body, you need to eat nuts, dried fruits, seafood, sorrel and spinach, barley, wheat and oatmeal.
In addition, the patient needs to drink a lot of water, freshly squeezed juices, decoctions of sea buckthorn, rose hips, viburnum, homemade compotes.
Traditional medicine for vulvovaginitis
With vulvovaginitis of the acute form, the patient needs rest and adherence to bed rest. Walking only provokes an exacerbation of symptoms.
Also, regardless of the form of the disease, girls (women) need to frequently change their underwear and take hygiene measures at least 4 times a day. Before putting on the linen, it must be ironed.
Vulvovaginitis can only be cured with the help of complex therapy, which includes taking decoctions, douching and using medicated tampons. But do not neglect medical help (before using this or that recipe of traditional medicine, you should visit a gynecologist and undergo a diagnosis).
For baths and douching, it is recommended to use decoctions made from pharmacy chamomile, celandine, St. John’s wort, oak bark and plantain leaves. To prepare a healing broth, you will need 2 tablespoons of dry, chopped raw materials. It must be poured with 0,5 liters of hot water, boiled for 5-10 minutes and left to infuse for an hour. After that, the broth must be filtered.
Medical tampons are recommended to be used 2 times a day for 14 days. For treatment, you need to use honey and sea buckthorn oil. Honey can only be used if there is no allergy to it. With regard to sea buckthorn oil, it has no contraindications. These 2 ingredients will help heal wounds, soften rough skin and reduce inflammation. Sea buckthorn oil can be used to lubricate cracks, wounds, ulcers located on the mucous membrane of the vagina and vulva.
You can drink decoctions from stinging nettle, yarrow, chamomile, calendula, celandine, St. John’s wort, calamus root, coltsfoot herb, Potentilla, licorice, elecampane, barberry, birch buds, horsetail, wormwood (especially with helminthiasis). These plants can be combined in medicinal fees. These herbs will help cleanse the body of germs and relieve inflammation from the inside.
Complications and prevention of vulvovaginitis
With the wrong treatment or in the absence of it, sooner or later, even greater problems will arise, which will aggravate the diseases of the genitourinary system of the girl / woman. And this can lead to loss of fertility or loss of the fetus during an already onset pregnancy.
These complications include:
- fusion of the labia minora (otherwise synechia can occur within a month: first, the upper layer of the skin is exfoliated from the labia minora, then these scales are covered with mucus – fibrin and grow together);
- overgrowth of the vaginal opening (possibly with prolonged, advanced and chronic vulvovaginitis);
- the inflammatory process that has reached the bladder (cystitis) – develops when infection and bacteria enter the cervical canal;
- the inflammatory process occurring in the uterus and its appendages occurs when the inflammatory process has penetrated far into the depths of the female reproductive system.
In order not to bring yourself and your daughters to such serious consequences, you need to monitor your personal hygiene, change your underwear on time, have a constant, trusted sex partner (and while he is not like that, it is better to use condoms), wear not tight underwear and only from natural fabrics … If discomfort or one of the signs appears, you need to urgently seek advice from an obstetrician-gynecologist. In addition, you need to visit a gynecologist at least once a year, but preferably every half a year.
Dangerous and harmful products for vulvovaginitis
With vulvovaginitis, the use of alcohol, fatty, salty, spicy, smoked and sweet foods, foods with any additives is strictly prohibited. Fast food, convenience foods, fast food are prohibited.
All these products disrupt metabolic processes, contribute to the reproduction of bacteria and the growth of fungi.
In case of allergic reactions, products that provoke allergy attacks should be excluded.
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!