Vulvitis is an inflammatory process in the external genital organs (in the vulva), in which the focus is located on the vaginal mucosa. As a rule, it occurs after mechanical damage, past infections or fungal diseases.
What causes vulvitis, its causes
Distinguish between primary and secondary vulvitis, depending on the origin of the inflammatory process.
Primary vulvitis appears at the site of mechanical injuries or chemical burns of the vagina. Damaged areas are easily infected and inflamed. Elderly women and girls are most susceptible to minor injuries due to an insufficient amount of female sex hormones. This leads to drying and thinning of the vaginal mucosa.
Mechanical injury, by the way, can also appear at the site of scratching caused by severe itching in people with diabetes or infected with helminths.
Secondary vulvitis develops against the background of an already existing infection of the genital organs, such as colpitis, endometritis, cervicitis. In addition, a factor predisposing to inflammatoryprocess, is also a violation of ovarian function.
Acute vulvitis (symptoms)
There is an acute and a chronic form of the disease. Acute vulvitis develops very quickly and manifests itself in the form of swelling and redness of the vagina. At the same time, the appearance of red spots and an increase in lymph nodes are sometimes observed in the groin, and abundant purulent discharge appears on the mucous membrane. Patients complain of severe itching and burning, as well as pain in the lower abdomen. All this is accompanied by a feeling of weakness and a violation of general well-being.
Chronic vulvitis (symptoms)
In the chronic form, the signs of the disease are less pronounced. Only a burning sensation when urinating and walking, as well as itching and redness of the vaginal mucosa, remains persistent.
Vulvitis, its symptoms and various pathological changes in the mucosa
Depending on how the pathological changes in the genital mucosa proceed, atrophic vulvitis is isolated, which manifests itself mainly in women during menopause. At the same time, the mucous membrane becomes thinner, and without appropriate hormonal therapy, the disease will progress, causing erosion.
Ulcerative vulvitis occurs in women of reproductive age. It manifests itself in the form of a whitish coating on the damaged genital mucosa. When washed off, ulcers form.
Adhesive vulvitis is typical for girls suffering from a chronic form of the disease, resulting in fusion of the labia minora, otherwise called"synechia". As a rule, this pathology is detected by chance, since there are no painful sensations.
How to prevent vulvitis
In order not to discover painful inflammation of the vulvitis over time, you need to follow a few mandatory rules.
- Wash and change your underwear daily.
- No promiscuity.
- Perform deworming in a timely manner.
- Watch your weight, as overweight women tend to vulvitis increases significantly.
- Strengthen your immune system and eat he althy.
And most importantly, get regular check-ups with a gynecologist! And then the vulvitis, the symptoms of which were described in this article, will not turn into a scourge that prevents you from living a full life.
