8 Warning Signs About Infected Vag
Infected vag? How to know if your vag is infected? As with the well-being of any other organ in the body, vag health is essential to a woman’s overall well-being.
A healthy vag circulates a healthy amount of secretions that eliminate dead cells and unwanted bacteria, keeping the vag safe and free of infection. It also lubricates the vag and prevents itching and dryness.
An unhealthy vag can affect fertility and se*xual desire. Long-term vag distress can affect your relationship with your partner, lower your confidence and cause stress.
An unhealthy vag is more prone to vag yeast infections such as genital candidiasis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 percent of women are likely to have a vag yeast infection at least once in their life. (1)
How to Know If Your Vag is Infected- 8 Warning Signs
1. Itching and burning
Constant itching and burning indicate the appearance of a number of vag infections. When the harmful bacteria outnumber the good bacteria in the vag, the imbalance is manifested by the physical symptoms of itching and burning.
A certain amount of yeast is necessary to ward off harmful bacteria in the vag area. However, an overproduction of yeast can lead to a yeast infection, causing symptoms that include itching and burning.
A sore and itchy sensation without any foul odor emanating from the vag is a sign of a yeast infection, according to a 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Itching can also be a reaction to chemicals or ingredients in soaps, creams, contraceptive foams, and prepackaged lotion mixtures. These mixtures can change the bacterial balance and acidity of the vag, which protects it from infections. You should know the proper way of cleaning your vag.
2. Foul-smelling discharge from Vag
It’s unlikely that your vag will smell like rose bedding, but if you notice a recurring strong odor, which transfers even to your underwear, it could be a sign of an infected vag.
An excess of harmful bacteria causes bacterial vaginosis. A foul-smelling vag discharge is often the first and most common symptom of an infected vag. (2)
A “fishy smell” is one of the main symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, according to a 2011 study published in the International Journal of Women’s Health.
This secretion may occur especially after intercourse.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis are at risk of delivering their babies prematurely.
It also increases the risk of contracting se*xually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and may sometimes lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Therefore, seek medical attention immediately if you notice vag odor.
3. Excessive discoloration and secretions
Vag discharge is the body’s natural mechanism for keeping the vag moist and expelling harmful bacteria. Normal vag discharge – clear or white and does not emit an unpleasant odor.
Brown or red discharge that occurs right after your period is usually not a cause for concern. However, if you have brown or red discharge on the normal days between your periods, seek medical attention as it could be an indication of cervical cancer. If it occurs during early pregnancy, it may signify a miscarriage.
Green or yellow, foul-smelling, frothy discharge is not normal and may be a sign of trichomoniasis, a se*xually transmitted disease.
A white, gray, or yellow watery discharge may be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis. While the amount of discharge varies from woman to woman, frequent and excessive discharge may also indicate bacterial vaginosis.
Seek medical attention right away if you notice a change in the color of your vag discharge.
4. Bleeding between menstrual periods – a warning sign of vag infection
If you experience bleeding between menstrual periods, this is cause for concern. A period that lasts abnormally long may be a sign of a problem.
If you have reached menopause (amenorrhea of 12 months) but still have spotting and bleeding, see a gynecologist immediately.
Postmenopausal bleeding is an important symptom and should be diagnosed immediately to prevent it from turning into a malignant disease, according to a 2013 study published in the International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics, and Gynecology.
Some women may also notice blood clots passing through the vag after menopause — another warning sign of an unhealthy vag and related diseases, such as endometrial polyps (growths in the inner lining of the uterus), endometrial or cervical cancer.
5. Bleeding during or after intercourse
While it is common for women who have recently had se*xual intercourse to experience bleeding, medical attention should be sought if it is a recurring problem in young women.
Bleeding during or after intercourse in a woman of any age can indicate a vag infection, vag tearing (caused by childbirth), se*xually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, or vag dryness. The friction produced during intercourse can irritate dry skin and cause spots to appear.
If you have gone through menopause and experienced bleeding during or after intercourse, this is a big cause for concern as it may indicate cervical cancer.
Therefore, any bleeding that is not normal during or after intercourse needs medical care as it can have severe and long-term consequences.
6. Infected vag-Vag atrophy
The vag becomes dry, tender, and inflamed when your body produces less estrogen than it needs to. This is called vag atrophy. The most common symptom of vag atrophy is feeling pain during intercourse.
It is more likely to occur after menopause because this is the time when the body’s production of estrogen decreases. It can also occur during breastfeeding.
Vag thinning due to vag atrophy may lead to urinary tract infections. Seek medical attention if you experience pain during intercourse at any age.
7. Infected Vag- Bumps or blisters
If you notice a bump on the outer vag, it may be a symptom of an infected vag which can lead to vag cancer. Vag cancer is still one of the least discussed types of cancer among women today.
Although not as common as other types of cancer in women, a study published in 2000 in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine reported a significant increase in the number of young women with vulvar cancer since 1980.
A cancerous bump may start out as a mole but change color and texture to a hard bump or lesion.
The bump can occur anywhere in the outer vag, although it is mostly located near the cli*toris. It is usually black or dark brown but can be pink, red, or white.
Sores and blisters may be symptoms of an STD, such as genital herpes.
Seek immediate medical attention if you notice a bump on the outer vag.
8. How to know if your vag is infected – painful urination
While painful urination is most commonly associated with a urinary tract infection, it can also be a major symptom of a vag infection such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
Vag infections can be caused by the use of products such as creams and soaps that contain certain harmful chemicals. It may also be caused by using a chemical douche or leaving a tampon in for too long.
Vag infections often cause the vag to become inflamed and infected when urine passes through it.
Painful urination can also be a symptom of se*xually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia and genital herpes.
Aside from being painful, urination may also be inflammatory and a person may experience constant vag itching. If you feel pain while urinating, seek medical attention.
Resources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181210/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK281/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10986677
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK291/