Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Vaginitis
Vaginitis, also called vulvovaginitis, is an inflammation or infection of the vagina. It can also affect the vulva, which is the external part of a woman's genitals. Vaginitis can cause itching, pain, discharge, and odor.
Vaginitis is common, especially in women in their reproductive years. It usually happens when there is a change in the balance of bacteria or yeast that are normally found in your vagina. There are different types of vaginitis, and they have different causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15-44. It happens when there is an imbalance between the "good" and "harmful" bacteria that are normally found in a woman's vagina. Many things can change the balance of bacteria, including:
- Taking antibiotics
- Douching
- Using an intrauterine device (IUD)
- Having unprotected sex with a new partner
- Having many sexual partners
Yeast infections (candidiasis) happen when too much candida grows in the vagina. Candida is the scientific name for yeast. It is a fungus that lives almost everywhere, including in your body. You may have too much growing in the vagina because of:
- Antibiotics
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes, especially if it is not well-controlled
- Corticosteroid medicines
Trichomoniasis can also cause vaginitis. Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is caused by a parasite.
You can also have vaginitis if you are allergic or sensitive to certain products that you use. Examples include vaginal sprays, douches, spermicides, soaps, detergents, or fabric softeners. They can cause burning, itching, and discharge.
Hormonal changes can also cause vaginal irritation. Examples are when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or when you have gone through menopause.
Sometimes you can have more than one cause of vaginitis at the same time.
The symptoms of vaginitis depend on which type you have.
With BV, you may not have symptoms. You could have a thin white or gray vaginal discharge. There may be an odor, such as a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex.
Yeast infections produce a thick, white discharge from the vagina that can look like cottage cheese. The discharge can be watery and often has no smell. Yeast infections usually cause the vagina and vulva to become itchy and red.
You may not have symptoms when you have trichomoniasis. If you do have them, they include itching, burning, and soreness of the vagina and vulva. You may have burning during urination. You could also have gray-green discharge, which may smell bad.
To find out the cause of your symptoms, your health care provider may:
- Ask you about your medical history
- Do a pelvic exam
- Look for vaginal discharge, noting its color, qualities, and any odor
- Study a sample of your vaginal fluid under a microscope
In some cases, you may need more tests.
The treatment depends on which type of vaginitis you have.
BV is treatable with antibiotics. You may get pills to swallow, or cream or gel that you put in your vagina. During treatment, you should use a condom during sex or not have sex at all.
Yeast infections are usually treated with a cream or with medicine that you put inside your vagina. You can buy over-the-counter treatments for yeast infections, but you need to be sure that you do have a yeast infection and not another type of vaginitis. See your health care provider if this is the first time you have had symptoms. Even if you have had yeast infections before, it is a good idea to call your health care provider before using an over-the-counter treatment.
The treatment for trichomoniasis is usually a single-dose antibiotic. Both you and your partner(s) should be treated, to prevent spreading the infection to others and to keep from getting it again.
If your vaginitis is due to an allergy or sensitivity to a product, you need to figure out which product is causing the problem. It could be a product that you started using recently. Once you figure it out, you should stop using the product.
If the cause of your vaginitis is a hormonal change, your health care provider may give you estrogen cream to help with your symptoms.
It is important to treat BV and trichomoniasis, because having either of them can increase your risk for getting HIV or another STI. If you are pregnant, BV or trichomoniasis can increase your risk for preterm labor and preterm birth.
To help prevent vaginitis:
- Do not douche or use vaginal sprays.
- Use a latex condom when having sex. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
- Avoid clothes that hold in heat and moisture.
- Wear cotton underwear.
It sits within Women and Female Reproductive System.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Vaginitis
443 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Vaginal Estradiol vs Moisturizer to Improve Postmenopausal Vaginal Aging Symptoms and the Microbiome in Women Living With HIVAlbert Einstein College of Medicine
- Single Arm Trial of Menstrual Cups Among Economically Vulnerable Women to Reduce Bacterial Vaginosis and STIsRush University Medical Center
- Large Algorithm Setting and Validation StudyNanopath, Inc
- F-GYN for Vaginal Dryness and Vulvovaginal AtrophyBiovico Sp. z o.o.
- Efficacy and Safety of a Vaginal Ovule Medical Device for Bacterial Vaginosis and Candidal Vaginitis (ROVUL25).ROELMI HPC
- Photobiomodulation for Vaginal Dysfunctions: Home-Based vs Outpatient TreatmentPatricia Lordelo
Research already completed
- Oral Lactobacillus Crispatus Lc-G22 as Adjunctive Therapy for Vulvovaginal CandidiasisBioGrowing Co., Ltd
- ASSIST-VLA: Assessment of Symptom-Specific Improvement in Diagnosed Vaginal Atrophy Following Laser TherapyStratpharma AG
- Postbiotic as Adjunct Treatment for Vaginal CandidiasisMin-Tze LIONG
- Azithromycin Compared With Doxycycline for Treating Anorectal Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection Concomitant to a Vaginal InfectionUniversity Hospital, Bordeaux
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- VaginitisAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Symptoms
- What Are the Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Diagnosis and Tests
- Bacterial Vaginosis TestNational Library of Medicine
- How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Vaginitis?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Treatments and Therapies
- How Is Vaginitis Treated?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- What Are the Treatments for Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Can Vaginitis Be Prevented?Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Candidiasis, VulvovaginalNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: VaginitisNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Vaginosis, BacterialNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Vaginitis, Vulvovaginitis. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Vaginitis, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.