Vaginal infections :

With the latest figures published (Dept of Health - October 2005) showing a marked increase in the number of women suffering vaginal infections of one kind another, it might be opportune to give a general guide to what is considered normal, and what abnormalities to look for. Of course there are many types of infections and varying degrees of the seriousness of such an infection but the important thing to do if in any doubt whatsoever, is to see your doctor.

The vagina is self-cleansing: mucus is secreted made up of cells from the vagina and cervix. At certain times in our lives, for instance, in our teens, during pregnancy, at certain times during the menstrual cycle, during sexual arousal and pregnancy, this normal discharge increases.  A normal vaginal discharge is clear and slightly sticky. It may be whitish-yellow, or white and creamy, and at certain times of the month around ovulation it becomes clear and stretchy like raw egg white. If you examine your normal discharge and become familiar with it, you should be able to notice variations throughout your menstrual cycle and easily be able to detect changes which could indicate infection.  Daily washing of your genital area is sufficient to keep it clean under most normal conditions.  You should also wash before and after sex, although there is no need to wash or douche inside the vagina itself.

Thrush

Vaginal thrush occurs when a yeast that normally lives in the vagina and back passage without causing any problems, runs out of control. The mystery is why some of us fall victim to an attack, while others harbour the organism without experiencing any problems. In fact one in five women carry the yeast, yet only half of these experience problems.  However, an unlucky two in a hundred are plagued by repeated attacks of thrush, which causes a white, cheesy discharge  which smells yeasty, burning on passing water, itchiness and sometimes a rash.  The most common culprit is a type of yeast called candida albicans, but other types of the candida yeast can also be to blame and are harder to eradicate.
Also see cystitis.

Most experts believe that the yeast's are kept in check by friendly bacteria until some trigger upsets the balance, or kills off the bacteria. However some research has suggested that the interaction of female sex hormones with hormones in the yeast are what creates the problem.  A whole host of triggers have been suggested, but even these have caused some controversy and they range from the Pill, pregnancy, antibiotics, spermicides and steroid drugs to vaginal deodorants.  Recent thinking however, is that repeated attacks may be the result of a subtle underlying fault in the immune system which lays sufferers open to re-infection.

If you have thrush you may well get a more reliable diagnosis and effective treatment by visiting your local genito-urinary clinic. Such clinics have better facilities for testing and can often do tests on the spot to confirm diagnosis. Once thrush is diagnosed you will usually be prescribed a single dose of a powerful anti-fungal agent.  If the thrush doesn't clear up or you get repeated attacks you may be put on a long-term treatment to eradicate the yeast.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is now the fastest growing sexually transmitted disease.  It is often a silent disease that can go on for years wreaking cruel damage on the entire reproductive system without symptoms.  The germ that causes chlamydia is a little bacteria that actually lives inside the cells more like a virus than a type of bacteria. Unprotected sex with an infected partner leads to infection, however a man may not be aware he is harbouring the germ, though a fair number develop a urinary tract infection. In women the germ can infect the lining of the vagina, the mouth, eyes, urinary tract and rectum, but usually it attacks the cervix, allowing the germ to take hold.  The real danger comes when or if the infection spreads beyond the cervix, causing endometriosis (inflammation of the lining of the womb) and salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes).

At an early stage there may be general symptoms of a vaginal infection such as an increase in vaginal discharge which can become slightly more yellow or green than usual, soreness, bleeding after making love and stinging or burning when passing water. But the early symptoms can all too easily be missed or mistaken for cystitis.  Later, and more serious, symptoms include general abdominal pain, irregular bleeding between periods, and pain when making love. But again, these can be extremely mild and there could be no pain at all.  If left unchecked this can lead to scarring and blockage of  the fallopian tubes.  It is for this reason that chlamydia is one of the major causes of ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg gets stuck inside the narrowed tube instead of embedding itself in the uterus.  This leads to a painful and sometimes dangerous miscarriage.

Gonorrhoea & Syphilis

Of these two traditional venereal diseases, gonorrhoea is the most common but is especially difficult to treat because it is often symptomless in women. If left untreated it's a major cause of blocked tubes leading on to sterility. It often goes hand in hand with chlamydia, and if you have one you should always be tested for the other since treating the gonorrhoea alone may just mask the chlamydia with the subsequent risk of pelvic inflammatory disease developing.  Where symptoms do appear, they develop within five to seven days of sexual contact.  You will have an offensive yellow discharge, pain when you pass urine and frequency of urination. Syphilis is rarer and even harder to detect. It has an incubation period of between two weeks and a month, and sometimes even longer. It is more common in men than women. If left untreated it can eventually lead on to diseases of the heart and nervous system. Symptoms start with a small painless sore that, left untreated, heals within six to ten weeks.  You may get swollen glands in the groin, or other lymph glands.  Treatment is with large doses of antibiotics, and if carried out at an early stage, it is usually 100% successful.

Preventing vaginal infections

Make sure you keep your genital area clean. A cup full of vinegar in the bath water occasionally will help maintain the acid balance of your vagina.

• Always wipe from front to back to prevent contamination of the vagina with bacteria from the anus.
• Avoid using flannels or sponges to wash the genital area as these can harbour germs.
• Make sure your partner keeps his penis and beneath the foreskin clean.
• Pay attention to diet, in particular cut down sugary foods.
• If you are run down or under stress follow some stress management therapies like yoga, meditation or T'ai chi.
• Wear cotton underwear and avoid tight jeans and knickers.
• Avoid vaginal deodorant sprays, talc, scented soap and bubble or antiseptic bath solutions.