Online Vaginitis Treatment
Vaginal itching, unusual discharge, or a strong odor can be hard to figure out on your own, and a drugstore yeast cream will not help if the cause is something else. With Your Doctors Online (YDO), you can talk privately to a licensed doctor from home, who can review your symptoms and medical history, help find out what is causing them, and send a prescription to the pharmacy you choose when it is medically appropriate.
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Hey Dr. Nicole, I have noticed a grayish vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor. Is it bacterial vaginosis?
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Our online doctors can help you with your medical issues and give you prescriptions.
Prescription
- Metronidazole 500 mg tablet
- Take one tablet twice a day for 7 days
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What are the treatment options for vaginitis?
Vaginitis treatment depends on what is causing it. Here is what treatment may include:
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV): BV is treated with prescription antibiotics, such as metronidazole pills or gel, or clindamycin vaginal cream. Take all of the medicine, even if your symptoms go away early. If BV keeps coming back, a doctor may talk to you about treating a male sex partner at the same time.
- Yeast infection: Antifungal creams and suppositories are available over the counter, and a doctor can prescribe fluconazole, which is a pill you take once by mouth.
- Trichomoniasis: This sexually transmitted infection is treated with medication taken by mouth, and your sex partners should be treated at the same time so you do not get it again.
- Vaginal atrophy: Water-based lubricants and vaginal moisturizers can ease dryness, and prescription estrogen placed in the vagina can help when they are not enough.
- Irritation from products: Soaps, bubble baths, feminine sprays, and perfumes can irritate the area, so stopping the product is usually the treatment.
Some types of vaginitis cause similar symptoms, and trichomoniasis cannot be diagnosed on symptoms alone. If a test is needed, a doctor can give you a lab requisition so you can get tested at a lab near you.
What medications can we prescribe online for vaginitis?
These are some of the medicines our doctors can send an online prescription for, depending on the type of vaginitis you have:
Antibiotic
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Antibiotic vaginal cream
Learn More Antifungal
Learn More What are the different types of vaginitis?
Vaginitis is swelling or infection of the vulva and vagina. It is not one condition, and each type has different causes, symptoms, and treatments, so finding the cause is the first step. Common types include bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and trichomoniasis. Vaginal atrophy is linked to low estrogen after menopause, and some cases are caused by irritation from scented products or douching.
Yeast infection
An overgrowth of Candida fungus that causes itching and a thick, white discharge. It is not spread through sex.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
An imbalance of the normal bacteria in the vagina that can cause a thin, gray discharge and a fishy odor.
Trichomoniasis
A common sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite. Many people have no symptoms, and partners need treatment too.
Vaginal atrophy
Thin, dry vaginal tissue caused by low estrogen, most often after menopause. It can make sex painful.
What are the symptoms of vaginitis?
Vaginitis symptoms depend on the cause, and many people with BV do not have symptoms. When symptoms do show up, they can include:
- Itching, burning, or irritation of the vagina or vulva
- A change in the color, amount, or smell of your discharge
- Redness and swelling of the vulva
- Burning when you urinate
- Pain during sex
- Light spotting
The type of discharge can point to the cause. Thick, white discharge that looks like cottage cheese is typical of a yeast infection. Thin white or gray discharge with a strong, fishy odor that is worse after sex points to BV. Trichomoniasis can cause a yellowish or greenish discharge and soreness of the genitals.
Talk to a doctor right away if you have a fever or pain in your pelvis or belly, blisters or sores on your vulva, or think you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection. Severe pelvic pain with a high fever needs care in person.
How do you treat vaginitis at home?
Vaginitis treatment at home can ease itching and irritation while the cause is being treated, but BV and trichomoniasis are treated with prescription medicine. These steps can help:
- Keep the area clean and dry: Rinse with water instead of soap, then pat the area dry.
- Do not douche: Douching removes healthy bacteria that line the vagina and can make symptoms worse.
- Skip scented products: Avoid hygiene sprays, fragrances, and powders in the genital area.
- Let the area breathe: Wear loose clothes and cotton underwear instead of synthetic fabrics.
- Soak in a warm bath: A warm, not hot, bath can help your symptoms.
- Use a lubricant for dryness: A water-soluble vaginal lubricant can make sex more comfortable.
If you have had a vaginal yeast infection before and know the symptoms, an over-the-counter antifungal cream or suppository may be enough. Do not treat yourself if this is your first yeast infection, you are pregnant, you have pelvic pain or a fever, or you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection. Talk to a doctor if your symptoms do not completely go away in about a week.
FAQs about vaginitis
Can vulvovaginitis be treated?
Yes. Proper treatment of an infection is effective in most cases. The medicine depends on the cause, so a doctor will first look at your symptoms and history, and may recommend a vaginal swab test if the cause is not clear. Antibiotics are used for BV and trichomoniasis, antifungals for yeast infections, and vaginal estrogen for vaginal atrophy.
Does vaginitis go away on its own?
Sometimes. BV can go away without treatment, and irritation from a soap or spray often settles once you stop using it. Trichomoniasis is different, and without treatment the infection can last for months or even years. BV and trichomoniasis can increase your risk for getting HIV or another STI, so it is better to get them treated than to wait.
How to treat vulvovaginitis in pregnancy?
Talk to a doctor before treating any vaginal symptoms during pregnancy. For a yeast infection, only topical azole creams or suppositories used for 7 days are recommended, and the fluconazole pill is usually avoided. BV treatment is recommended for all pregnant women with symptoms, and trichomoniasis is treated with pills that are safe for pregnant women. Both infections are linked to an early birth, so getting them treated matters.
What is the first line of treatment for pediatric vulvovaginitis?
In young girls, vulvovaginitis is most common before puberty and is often linked to irritation or hygiene, so good genital care comes first. Teach your child to wipe from front to back after using the toilet, rinse the area with plain water, avoid bubble baths and scented soaps, and wear loose cotton underwear. Talk to a doctor if there is a discharge with a bad smell, redness that does not settle, or symptoms that keep coming back.
What happens if vulvovaginitis goes untreated?
Untreated BV can increase your chance of getting HIV and other STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Those infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can make it harder to get pregnant. During pregnancy, BV and trichomoniasis are linked to babies being born early. A yeast infection is not dangerous for most people, but a lot of scratching may cause the skin to crack and get infected.
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