Vaginitis is defined as inflammation of the vagina, caused by a disruption in the normal bacteria in the vagina. Experts estimate that 40% of all types of vaginitis are caused by candida, a yeast like fungus. When it multiplies in the vaginal tract, the disorder is called vulvovaginitis. Women often refer to it as a "yeast infection." About 75% of women get candida vaginitis at some time in their lives. Vaginal candida does not generally occur without estrogen, so premenarchal girls and postmenopausal women not on estrogen replacement almost never develop vaginal yeast.
Signs and Symptoms
- Itching and burning in the vagina and vulva
- Vaginal discharge (small amounts are normal, however)
- Red, swollen, painful vaginal mucous membranes and external genitalia
- Satellite lesions (tender, red, pus filled bumps, which can spread to the thighs and anus)
What Causes It?
Candida is a yeast-like fungus that grows in the vagina. When there is too much, the fungus causes infection. The following increase your chance of getting a yeast infection:
- Pregnancy -- from increased heat, moisture, and hormonal shifts
- Corticosteroid use
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Birth control pills
- High sugar intake
- Wearing panty hose, tight clothing, or noncotton underwear
- Menstruation -- women report recurrent episodes of vaginitis immediately before and after their periods
What to Expect at Your Provider's Office
Your health care provider will give you a pelvic examination and swab your vagina to check for candida. You may also have a Pap smear. Some women have chronic yeast infections. If this happens, your health care provider may want to do additional tests.
Physicians usually recommend topical treatments before oral medications. For chronic infections, your health care provider may increase the dosage and length of treatment. If you have vaginitis, you should avoid excessive exertion and sweating, keep the vaginal area as dry as possible, and avoid sex until symptoms clear. Take showers instead of baths, use unscented soap, and always wipe from front to back after bowel movements. Wearing cotton underwear and avoiding pantyhose and tight fitting pants can help prevent infection.
Topical and oral therapies are equally effective.
Topical therapies (these may initially cause burning from inflammation):
- Polyenes (nystatin) -- one tablet twice a day for 2 weeks placed high in the vagina with an applicator. This treatment is 70 - 80% effective and causes no side effects on other parts of the body.
- Azole derivatives such as imidazole (such as miconazole, butoconazole) and triazole (such as fluconazole, terconazole) -- vaginal cream 1 - 5 days, also may be used externally. This treatment is 85 - 90% effective and causes no side effects on other parts of the body.
- Fluconazole (difulcan) -- 75 - 92% effective. 150 mg once. This is often considered the treatment of choice. It should not be used during pregnancy.
- Ketoconazole -- 83% effective. 400 mg/day for 5 days, or for 2 weeks with recurring infection. Oral nystatin helps reduce intestinal problems.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies may help treat acute and chronic vaginitis. Make sure to inform your health care provider about any herbs and supplements you are taking. Discuss the following douches and suppositories with your doctor to make sure they are not too irritating.
Use only one of the following douches at one time. Do not douche during menstrual periods. For first time or acute infection try the vinegar douche or boric acid capsules. For chronic vaginitis, use the herbal combination douche. For recurrent vaginitis, use the Betadine douche. Stop douching if you are in pain or your symptoms get worse.
- White vinegar: 1 - 2 tablespoons to 1 pint of water. Douche daily for 7 days.
- Boric acid: One capsule (600 mg) inserted daily for 7 days. May cause irritation or problems from absorption into the bloodstream. For recurrent infections, one capsule used introvaginally twice weekly for 4 - 6 months. Boric acid is toxic if ingested, so it should be stored carefully. Speak to your doctor to make sure this home remedy is appropriate for you.
- Herbal combination: Mix equal parts of oregano leaf (Oreganum vulgare), goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis), and coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). Steep 1 heaping tablespoon of herbal mixture in 1 pint of water. Cool and douche daily for 10 - 14 days.
- Povidone iodine (Betadine): Douche with one part iodine to 100 parts water twice daily for 10 - 14 days. Prolonged use can suppress thyroid function.
- Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) vaginal suppository, insert one suppository vaginally daily, for symptoms of vaginitis. Ask your health care provider before using tea tree oil, as it can be irritating if not used properly.
Nutrition and Supplements
These nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:
- Try to eliminate potential food allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, preservatives, and food additives. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities.
- Eat foods high in B-vitamins and calcium, such as almonds, beans, whole grains (if no allergy is present), dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), and sea vegetables.
- Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
- Eat more high fiber foods, including beans, oats, root vegetables (such as potatoes and yams), and psyllium seed.
- Avoid refined foods (such as white breads, pastas, and sugar).
- Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold water fish, tofu (soy) or beans for protein.
- Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or coconut oil.
- Reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids, found in such commercially baked goods as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine
- Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
- Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.
You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:
- A multivitamin daily, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tablespoon of oil 1 - 2 times daily, to help decrease inflammation and help with immunity. Cold water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources. Fish oil supplements can increase the effects of certain blood-thinning medications.
- Vitamin C, 500 - 1,000 mg 1 - 2 times daily, as an antioxidant, for immune support and to protect the vaginal lining.
- Zinc lozenge, 1 lozenge 1 - 2 times daily, when needed for immune support during vaginitis outbreak. Do not exceed 45 mg of zinc daily.
- Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day, for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health. Refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results.
- Grapefruit seed extract (Citrus paradisi), 100 mg capsule or 5 - 10 drops (in favorite beverage) 3 times daily, for antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity, and for immunity.
Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to diagnose your problem before starting treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted. Some herbs can interfere with medications so talk to your health care provider before beginning an herbal therapy.
- Green tea (Camellia sinensis) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant, anticancer and immune effects. Use caffeine-free products. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
- Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) standardized extract, 20 mg 3 times a day, for anticancer, immune and antibacterial or antifungal activity. Cat's claw can interact with many medications. Use caution if you have leukemia or an autoimmune disease as Cat's claw may worsen these conditions. Speak with your doctor.
- Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seed standardized extract, 80 - 160 mg 2 - 3 times daily, for detoxification support. Since milk thistle works on the liver, it can interact with a variety of medications.
- Garlic (Allium sativum), standardized extract, 400 mg 2 - 3 times daily, for antifungal and immune activity. Garlic can have a blood thinning effect so talk to your doctor if you are taking blood thinning medications.
Some of the most common remedies for vaginitis are listed below. Usually, the dose is 3 - 5 pellets of a 12X to 30C remedy every 1 - 4 hours until your symptoms get better.
- Calcarea carbonica for intense itching with thick white or yellowish discharge that is worse before you start your period
- Borax for burning pains with egg white colored discharge
- Sepia for burning pains with milky white discharge and pressure in vaginal area, especially if you feel depressed and irritable
- Graphites for backache with thin white discharge that is worse in the morning and when walking
- Arsenicum album for when you have burning, discharge
- Tea tree oil to help treat symptoms
- Homeopathic combinations are available as creams to apply vaginally
Acupuncture may be helpful in improving immune function.
To prevent recurrence of infection, take showers instead of baths, use unscented soap, and always wipe from front to back after bowel movements. Wearing cotton underwear and avoiding pantyhose and tight fitting pants can help prevent infection. Recurrent signs and symptoms of vaginitis may be an indication of HSV-2. See your health care provider if you are suffering from recurrent infections.
HIV acquisition is increased among women with vaginitis, so prompt and effective treatment is critical. Yeast infections occur twice as often during pregnancy due to hormone fluctuations. The vagina may also be affected by skin conditions, or dermatoses. Diagnosis and treatment of these conditions is difficult because of the poor visibility in the vagina, and a lack of appropriate medications that are safe for use in the vagina.
ACOG. ACOG Practice Bulletin. Clinical management guidelines for obstetricians-gynecologists, Number 72, May 2006: Vaginitis. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107(5):1195-1206.
Black. Obstetric and Gynecologic Dermatology. 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: Mosby, An Imprint of Elsevier; 2008.
Cabrera C, Artacho R, Gimenez R. Beneficial effects of green tea -- a review. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006;25(2):79-99.
Cvetnic Z, Vladimir-Knezevic S. Antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed and pulp ethanolic extract. Acta Pharm. 2004;54(3):243-50.
Delia A; Morgante G; Rago G; Musacchio MC; Petraglia F; De Leo V. Effectiveness of oral administration of Lactobaccillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19 in association with vaginal suppositories of Lactobacillus acidofilus in the treatment of vaginosis and in the prevention of recurrent vaginitis. Minerva Ginecol. 2006;58(3):227-31.
Edwards L. Dermatologic Causes of Vaginitis: A Clinical Review. Dermatologic Clinics. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders. 2010; 28(4).
Heggers JP, Cottingham J, Gussman J, et al. The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: II. Mechanism of action and in vitro toxicity. J Altern Complement Med. 2002;8(3):333-40.
Heitzman ME, Neto CC, Winiarz E, Vaisberg AJ, Hammond GB. Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Uncaria (Rubiaceae). Phytochemistry. 2005;66(1):5-29.
Holloway D. Nursing considerations in patients with vaginitis. Br J Nurs. 2010; 19(16):1040-6.
Lentz. Comprehensive Gynecology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby, An Imprint of Elsevier. 2012.
LaValle JB, Krinsky DL, Hawkins EB, et al. Natural Therapeutics Pocket Guide. Hudson, OH:LexiComp; 2000: 452-454.
Nanda N; Michel RG; Kurdgelashvili G; Wendel KA. Trichomoniasis and its treatment. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2006;4(1):125-35.
Quan M. Vaginitis: diagnosis and management. Postgrad Med. 2010; 122(7):117-27.
Reid G, Burton J, Hammond JA, Bruce AW. Nucleic acid-based diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and improved management using probiotic lactobacilli. J Med Food. 2004;7(2):223-8.
Ross SE, Carter B, Lambert S. Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus-2 infection among women seeking medical care for signs and symptoms of vaginitis. Herpes. 2009;15(3):46-50.
Scnitzler P, Schon K, Reichling J. Antiviral activity of Australian tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil against herpes simplex virus in cell culture. Pharmazie. 2001;56(4):343-7.
Simopoulos AP. Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. J Am Coll Nutr. 2002;21(6):495-505.
Sufka KJ, Roach JT, Chambliss WG Jr, et al. Anxiolytic properties of botanical extracts in the chick social separation-stress procedure. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001;153(2):219-24.
Tempera G; Abbadessa G; Bonfiglio G; Cammarata E; Cianci A; Corsello S; Raimondi A; Ettore G; Nicolosi D; Furneri PM. Topical kanamycin: an effective therapeutic option in aerobic vaginitis. J Chemother. 2006;18(4):409-14.
Van Kessel K; Assefi N; Marrazzo J; Eckert L. Common complementary and alternative therapies for yeast vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2003;58(5):351-8.
Yoon JH, Baek SJ. Molecular targets of dietary polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties. Yonsei Med J. 2005;46(5):585-96.
- Last Reviewed on 06/09/2012
- Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2013 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
This page was last updated: May 7, 2013