Vaginal Health in Women across Various age groups

Knowing your vaginal health and being positive towards resolving these issues without hesitation or shyness will definitely help you. Let’s know from Dr. Purva Sahakari, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist about what’s actually normal vaginal health for us!

Had to leave a party due to that irresistible discomfort at your private parts? Or you need to use your friend’s washroom too many times!

What went wrong? Can you figure it out? Women rarely tend to talk about these issues and that’s how these tend to persist in cause long-standing problems.

In an attempt to seek answers for the same, We spoke to Dr. Purva Sahakari, anObstetrician-Gynecologistand an Infertility Specialist to find out.

What’s normal vaginal health and is there anything like a normal vaginal discharge?

Girls usually do not experience any vaginal discharge until puberty that’s around 10-16 yrs of age. Due to hormonal changes, they tend to have a very little vaginal discharge similar to mucus in appearance. Very rarely, small girls below the age of 10 yrs, have episodes of such discharge too.

After the onset of menses, the pattern of vaginal discharge changes. Girls and women of reproductive age groups experience the change in the amount and consistency of normal vaginal discharge throughout their menstrual cycle. The vaginal discharge is either absent or less in quantities in the first half of the cycle. It increases in amount and changes to more of thin, clear, and white discharge after ovulation (rupture of the egg from the ovary) in the second half of the cycle.

This normal vaginal discharge usually does not cause any kind of symptoms or irritation or odor unless it turns abnormal or is infected.

The vaginal discharge reduces once the woman reaches the perimenopausal age group (around 45 yrs) or is about to achieve menopause (round 45 to 55 yrs). This is mainly due to the reduction in hormone levels. Women of this age group commonly complain of vaginal dryness, itching, etc.

Any change in the normal amount, consistency, or frequency of vaginal discharge can be abnormal for those particular women.

Increase in the amount of vaginal discharge, change in the colour of discharge like yellowish, thick curdy, greenish, etc, itching at the perineum (private parts between legs), foul-smelling discharge, etc. could be indications of abnormal vaginal discharge or abnormal vaginal health.

Also, wetness at the private parts, profuse, watery vaginal discharge, pain, swelling, or redness at the private parts could be the other presenting complaints.

What is the reason behind these vaginal symptoms?

• Inflammation of the vagina called as vaginitis
• There are two types of vaginitis - infectious and non-infectious
• The causes of Infectious vaginitis include bacterial, viral, fungal, etc.
• The symptoms of the women could vary depending upon the cause of the infectious vaginitis.
• The non-infectious causes of vaginitis include allergic reactions or irritation due to any clothing, chemicals - soaps, creams, etc.

So, how do these infections occur?

1. Poor perineal (private parts) hygiene - less frequent washing, not keeping it dry, etc.

2. The habit of not wearing an undergarment makes women more prone to vaginal infections.

3.Wearing tight clothing like tight jeans etc for a long period could lead to an increase in the incidence of vaginal infections.

4. Wearing unwashed clothing can cause recurrent vaginitis

5.Delay in seeking medical advice for any symptoms

6. Incomplete treatment of infections

7.Other existing medical conditions like diabetes mellitus, anemia, or any other condition causing decreased immunity.

8. Infection in a male partner (in case of sexually active women)

When do we see a doctor?

Increase in the amount of vaginal discharge, change in colour of the discharge, foulness/change in the odour of discharge, difficulty or pain during sexual intercourse, persistent backache, recurrent urine infections (burning / pain while passing urine), any swelling/redness/ itching at your private parts.

What can happen if this is ignored?

Delay in treatment or non-treatment of such infections can cause these infections to travel upwards to the uterus and fallopian tubes, this can cause complications like tubal blocks, uterine infections and can be a cause of infertility in these women.

Repeated episodes of symptomatic vaginitis can have social implications due to absenteeism from work, avoidance of social gatherings and this can affect the mindset and mental health of women due to a feeling of low esteem and inferiority due to avoidance from people.

It can affect one’s sexual life as well as married life.

What is the treatment?

Consulting a doctor and getting oneself examined is a must. The treatment depends upon the age group and the type of vaginitis.

One must avoid indulging in self-treatment as this might alleviate symptoms temporarily but can cause incomplete treatment or wrong treatment and cause complications later.

Completion of the entire course of treatment is essential to achieve a complete cure and avoid recurrences.

How can we avoid the occurrence of vaginitis to some extent?

Proper washing of private parts each time after using the washroom using the “back stroke” is useful in avoiding the occurrence of vaginal infections.

Back stroke means washing the vagina first and then washing the anus thus avoiding the contamination of the vagina from the organisms (germs) from the anus.

Always wear clean undergarments. Avoid wearing tight clothing for a long time especially in summers.

Keeping the private parts dry and clean, trimming of hair at the private parts frequently.

Avoiding using irritant Clothing, creams, and soaps.

The use of condoms can protect couples from sexually transmitted infections.

You can reach out toDr. Purva Sahakariwith your queries at drpurva1410@gmail.com