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Vaginitis and Vaginosis

Brett Johnson, MD and Katherine E Bouchard, DO Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • “Vaginosis” and “vaginitis” are broad terms indicating any disease process of the vagina caused by or leading to infection, inflammation, or changes in the normal vaginal flora. The ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • General principles:

    • The key to diagnosis is clarification of the presenting symptoms.

    • It is important to distinguish vulvar versus vaginal symptoms.

    • Onset, timing, severity, duration, an...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Avoid douching and tight-fitting clothing.

  • Regular use of condoms may help to prevent BV (2).

  • Asymptomatic, pregnant women generally do not require treatment for BV.

  • Consider a...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Delay sexual relations until symptoms clear/discomfort resolves.

  • Use of condoms may reduce recurrence of BV.

  • Consider suppressive therapy for recurrent infection.

  • Mo...

REFERENCES

1
Paavonen J, Brunham RC; Bacterial Vaginosis and Dequamative Inflammatory Vaginitis. NEJM. 2018;379:2246-54.
2
Committee on Practice Bulletins—Gynecology. Vaginitis in Nonpregnant Patients: A...

SEE ALSO

Algorithm: Discharge, Vaginal 

CODES

ICD10

  • N76.0 Acute vaginitis

  • B37.3 Candidiasis of vulva and vagina

  • N95.2 Postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis

  • N77.1 Vaginitis, vulvitis and vulvovaginitis in dis classd elswhr

  • N76.1 Subacute and chronic ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Most women experience relief of symptoms with therapy chosen without gold standard tests, even when the treatment does not correspond with the underlying infection.

  • Vaginal pH is underu...

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