Vaginal inflammation or colpitis is diagnosed in 50% of the female population aged 12 to 45 years, and this is far from a harmless disease, as many may think. Leading to serious complications, this ailment can cause significant harm to a woman’s health. Therefore, it is important for each representative of the weaker sex to know the causes, manifestations and characteristics of this disease.

What is colpitis in women

Colpitis or vaginitis is inflammation of the vaginal mucosa caused by pathogens. It is common among women of reproductive age, but can also be found in elderly patients and girls who have not reached puberty.
Often, inflammation of the vagina is accompanied by the following pathologies:

  • endocervicitis (inflammation of the cervical canal)
  • urethritis (inflammation of the urinary tract);
  • vulvitis (inflammation of the external genital organs).

If vaginitis was detected early, then the pathological process, as a rule, is limited only to the vagina, without affecting neighboring parts of the reproductive system.

Causes of infection

The normal microflora of the vagina is mostly represented by lactobacilli. They secrete lactic acid, which is detrimental to many other microorganisms, and thereby "control" the normal composition of the flora. Due to various negative factors, the number of beneficial bacteria can be reduced. As a result, active reproduction of other representatives of the vaginal flora begins - conditionally pathogenic microbes, which include:

  • some types of cocci;
  • E. coli;
  • yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida, etc.

And also the causes of colpitis can be various pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases.
Factors that contribute to the disruption of healthy vaginal microflora and the occurrence of inflammation include:

  • sexually transmitted diseases;
  • inflammatory diseases that reduce immunity;
  • hormonal disruptions and disruptions in the endocrine system (decreased estrogen levels, diabetes mellitus);
  • various injuries and microdamages of the vagina (during abortion, douching, etc.)
  • long-term stress;
  • hypothermia;
  • congenital or acquired abnormalities in the structure of the genital organs (open entrance to the vagina, etc.);
  • long-term use of antibiotics;
  • hypersensitivity reactions to hygiene products and barrier contraceptives;
  • poor hygiene.

The cause of vaginitis in immature girls can be a common sore throat, as a result of which the infection can penetrate the reproductive system with the bloodstream. In elderly patients, the ailment often appears due to age-related inhibition of the synthesis of female sex hormones. When their level drops, the vaginal mucosa becomes thinner, as a result of which microdamages are formed on it, contributing to the development of infection.

Types of disease

There are several classifications of colpitis. According to the type of pathogen, the following varieties of vaginitis are distinguished:

  • specific - caused by pathogenic microbes that are not found in a healthy flora and are causative agents of sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, Trichomonas, etc.);
  • nonspecific - caused by opportunistic microorganisms, which in a certain amount are also found in healthy microflora (some types of cocci, yeast-like fungi, etc.)

There is a narrower classification of vaginitis, which takes into account the species of the pathogen. For example, candida (caused by a fungus of the genus Candida) or Trichomonas (caused by Trichomonas). Quite often, the so-called mixed vaginitis is currently being diagnosed, which can be caused immediately by 2 or more types of microorganisms.
At the location of the initial pathological process, colpitis is distinguished:

  • primary - develops primarily in the vagina;
  • secondary - resulting from the transition of the pathological process from the upper or lower parts of the genital organs.

The severity of symptoms and duration of the course distinguish the following types of vaginitis:

  • acute (the disease has developed recently, the signs are pronounced);
  • subacute (symptoms erased);
  • chronic (the disease developed more than 2 months ago, signs are practically not detected).

The latter species is more difficult to treat than others and is almost always accompanied by inflammation of the adjacent parts of the genitourinary system.

Symptoms of ailment

Depending on the causes and type of inflammation, the manifestations of the disease may vary. However, the following general symptoms of colpitis are determined:

  • discharge (uncharacteristic consistency and color, with a pungent odor or without it);
  • burning, itching, irritation, soreness in the lower abdomen and in the vagina (these feelings sometimes increase during sexual intimacy and during urination);
  • swelling, redness of the genitals.

Long chronic colpitis is almost always asymptomatic. Recently, the absence of pronounced symptoms is often observed in acute vaginitis, therefore, for the timely detection of an ailment, a woman should visit a gynecologist 1-2 times a year, even if she feels healthy.

Colpitis during pregnancy

Instability of the hormonal background and the natural suppression of the body's immune forces during a baby’s waiting period can cause vaginitis, which is dangerous not only for a woman, but also for an unborn baby. Depending on the gestational age, advanced vaginitis can have a number of negative consequences:

  • first trimester: spontaneous abortion, fetal death;
  • second trimester: premature birth, antenatal fetal death, placental pathology, due to which intrauterine growth retardation and fetal hypoxia are possible;
  • third trimester: premature birth, infection of the baby during childbirth.

Specific colpitis is the most dangerous for the fetus. They can cause severe birth defects, so even before conception it is important to identify and eliminate sexually transmitted diseases.
It is sometimes difficult to treat vaginitis in pregnant women, because some effective drugs for its treatment are contraindicated in this case. Therefore, expectant mothers should be especially careful about their health, excluding factors that contribute to the development of this disease.

Diagnostic measures

The initial stage of diagnosis of vaginitis is the questioning and examination of the patient by a gynecologist. In the case of a disease, visual examination with mirrors usually shows swelling and redness of the mucous membrane, bleeding of the walls of the vagina, the presence of purulent films, and sometimes small ulcers.

Of the hardware diagnostic methods, colposcopy is used. This method involves examining the cervix and the walls of the vagina using a special colposcope device, which allows you to see the tissues under a significant increase and determine the nature and extent of their damage.
Colpitis is also diagnosed using laboratory methods. As the studied material, smears are taken from the cervical canal, from the vagina and urethra. Laboratory methods for diagnosing vaginitis include:

  1. Smear microscopy. In acute and subacute colpitis, an increase in white blood cells will be observed in the sample. In some cases, this method allows you to determine the specific pathogen.
  2. Bacteriological seeding. The method involves the transfer of samples to a nutrient medium for the purpose of growing, subsequent detection and study of the pathogen.
  3. PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The most reliable method for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases, which allows to determine the presence of pathogen DNA in the test sample.
  4. ELISA (enzyme immunoassay). The method allows to identify bacterial fragments in the taken smear.

At the discretion of the doctor, an additional blood test for syphilis, hepatitis C and HIV can be prescribed.

Treatment methods

The choice of treatment regimen for vaginal inflammation depends on the type of pathogen. With vaginitis, the following groups of systemic drugs are used:

  1. Antibacterial. Used for bacterial vaginitis. The drug is selected taking into account the species of the pathogen. Typically, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in therapy (penicillins, macrolides, cephalosporins, etc.).
  2. Antifungal. Appointed with fungal colpitis. Fluconazole medications are often prescribed in this case.
  3. Antiprotozoal. They are used for inflammation caused by protozoa (trichomonas). The most commonly prescribed drugs are metronidazole.

With mixed vaginitis, 2 groups of drugs can be used simultaneously.
Important! The colpitis treatment regimen is selected exclusively by a gynecologist individually. Self-treatment can cause complications that are difficult to treat.

In combination with systemic drugs, local antiseptic, antibacterial and / or antifungal drugs are also prescribed. Vaginal tablets and suppositories with inflammation of the vagina act directly on the focus of the pathological process. The most commonly prescribed intravaginal agents are:

  • Betadine, suppositories (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory);
  • "Klion D", vaginal tablets (combined antimicrobial and antifungal);
  • "Terzhinan", vaginal tablets (combined antiprotozoal, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory).

In addition, in some cases, douching with antiseptic solutions is prescribed.

As an addition to the main therapy, with the permission of the attending physician, folk remedies can also be used: washing with decoctions of medicinal plants, drinking herbal teas, using tampons with bee products, etc.

Dieting

Proper nutrition plays a significant role in the treatment and prevention of colpitis. During the treatment of the disease with antibiotics, the use of alcohol is prohibited, since many drugs of this group enter into drug interaction with ethanol. In addition, alcohol, used in conjunction with any systemic drugs, significantly increases the load on the liver.
For successful treatment, it is important to exclude from the menu or significantly limit the use of products that contribute to the violation of the vaginal flora. These include:

  • flour, pastry;
  • sweets;
  • sharp;
  • smoked meats;
  • carbonated drinks.

Fermented milk products and plant foods have a positive effect on the vaginal flora. These nutritional recommendations can be followed to prevent pathology.

Complications after infection

Inflammation of the vaginal mucosa can have terrible consequences. Complications of vaginitis are:

  • cystitis, urethritis;
  • endocervicitis;
  • erosion (ulceration) of the cervix;
  • endometritis (inflammation of the internal mucous layer of the uterus);
  • infertility (with colpitis caused by pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases).

To prevent these ailments, it is important to detect vaginitis in time and take a course of effective therapy.

Recovery Recommendations

Antibiotic therapy for colpitis often causes a violation of the intestinal microflora, so after the end of treatment, many experts recommend drinking a course of pro or prebiotics.

The same applies to the microflora of the vagina. Killing pathogens, the antibacterial drug also has a detrimental effect on lactic acid bacteria. To restore the genital flora after antibiotic therapy, vaginal suppositories or capsules containing lactobacilli are used. In some cases, at the end of treatment, antifungal agents are prescribed to prevent candidiasis.
And it is also important to restore natural immunity, in connection with which, at the end of therapy, experts recommend drinking vitamin preparations. Vitamin C is especially important in this case.

Preventing colpitis is easier than treating it. Therefore, for prevention purposes, experts recommend girls and women to avoid casual sexual intercourse, use barrier contraceptives, observe the rules of intimate hygiene and periodically visit a gynecologist.

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