Many of the married and sexually active women of the younger generation have experienced this disease, which we call vaginitis, at some point in their lives, which manifests itself with vaginal discharge, bad odor and itching. While the incidence of vaginitis is around 80% in our society, frequently recurring or persistent vaginal discharge concerns 20-30% of our women. You can get rid of this annoying situation with a detailed examination and well-managed treatment.
In fact, the root of the problem is that the vagina is an environment where microbes can easily catch microbes and are loved by microbes. Its closed, moist, wet structure creates a suitable environment for microorganisms.
The discharge most frequently confused with infection is the physiological, transparent and odorless discharge of the vagina. This is a discharge that we consider normal and is secreted especially for both sexual intercourse and fertilization.
The most common vaginal infection agents we see are:
- Candida (especially in virgin women)
- Trichomonas
- Ureplasma urealyticum
- Anerobic bacteria
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Gardnerella vaginalis
We can list them as follows. The appropriate agent should be selected for treatment and attention should be paid to the person's complaints. Because the clinic, complaints and findings of each of the above microorganisms are different.
What do we mean by persistent vaginal discharge:
- Vaginal discharge lasting more than 3 months
- Failure to respond to treatment
- Frequent recurrence (a few weeks after stopping treatment)
- Continuous vaginal complaints and disruption of life comfort
This situation is actually a detailed symptom of vaginitis. It occurs more frequently as a result of not being analyzed and treated in detail. Another mistake is that the number of vaginal infections that become chronic and permanent as a result of not paying attention to treatment and superficial treatment, which is underestimated by both the patient and the gynecologist, is considerable.
A good anamnesis is required before detailed investigations. You should explain to your doctor the importance of your complaints and specifically state that you cannot get rid of this discharge. Additionally, an existing intrauterine device (spiral) can cure your current discharge and bad odor. It prevents it from swelling or causes it to recur immediately after the treatment is stopped.
Your partner must also get support from a urologist. Because an infection in it will infect you again even if you are cured.
The most important point is that you may encounter recurring vaginal discharge as a result of damage to the vagina's own protective layer. Lactobacilli (Döderlein bacilli) form the protective covering of the vagina. This protective cover secretes acid into the vagina, reducing the pH of the vagina to a level where microbes cannot survive, and thus the vagina becomes strong against microbes. While vaginal pH is on average 3.8 in a healthy woman, normal skin pH is 5.5. For example, stomach acid pH is 2. If the ovarian bacilli that provide this acid cover die or their quantity decreases, the pH of the vagina goes towards 6 and a suitable environment for microbes is created.
The most common reasons for the disappearance of this protective vaginal cover are:
Therefore, the underlying cause should be analyzed in detail and if you have a persistent vaginal discharge problem, you should receive detailed and correct treatments that strengthen your vaginal flora and if necessary. You should have detailed culture tests.
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