A 20-year-old girl with vulvar itching symptoms lasting for 3 months encountered in the outpatient clinic was asked why it took her so long to seek medical attention. The girl shyly replied, “I found it hard to speak about it.”
In fact, **inflammation is merely a “cold” in the lower reproductive tract, which is quite common. Women of all ages may experience it, with about 60% of patients coming for consultation or examination in outpatient settings being affected by **inflammation. To help everyone quickly understand **inflammation, we will introduce the manifestations (“matching”) and treatments (“solving the problem”) of different types of **inflammation.
Abnormal discharge is the primary characteristic of **inflammation.
There are various types of **inflammation, and the clinical manifestations of different **inflammations can sometimes be nonspecific, such as changes in the amount, color, or odor of discharge, often accompanied by itching, burning, irritation, and in some cases, redness, **pain, spotty bleeding, and difficulty urinating.
Abnormal discharge is the major manifestation of **inflammation and an important basis for judging the type of **inflammation. However, it should be noted that a pale yellow discharge with a slight odor may be normal; if it is accompanied by mild irritating symptoms such as itching, pain, burning sensation, or obvious irritation, redness, local erosion, and cervical or **bleeding, it is advisable to seek professional medical guidance promptly. Furthermore, to ensure the accuracy of routine discharge tests, it is suggested that patients avoid sexual intercourse, do not use **pessaries or oral medications for 3 days prior to their appointment.
▌ Non-specific Bacterial **Inflammation (BV)
Characterized by thin, grayish **discharge (never yellow), with a foul odor, typically accompanied by only mild itching and pain.
Figure 1 (scroll up and down to view all)
▌ Candidal **Inflammation
Usually presents as a small amount of white, thick, curd-like **discharge, with no odor, while the sensations of itching and pain are quite prominent.
Figure 2 (scroll up and down to view all)
▌ Trichomonas **Inflammation
Typically produces purulent, foul-smelling discharge with a noticeable odor, possibly accompanied by burning, itching, frequent urination, and **pain.
Figure 3 (scroll up and down to view all)
▌ Atrophic **Inflammation
Common in postmenopausal women, primarily presenting with **congestion, **discomfort, dryness, and difficulty urinating.
Figure 4 (scroll up and down to view all)
Treatment of different types of **inflammation
The **vagina houses lactobacilli, which use glycogen from dead cells as substrate to convert glucose into lactic acid, thereby establishing an acidic **environment (pH 4.0-4.5). This acidity helps maintain normal **flora and inhibits the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Once the normal ecosystem is disrupted, **inflammation may occur. It is essential to provide timely treatment at this point.
▌ Non-specific Bacterial **Inflammation
If the routine discharge shows only mild bacterial imbalance, treatment with medication will often be decided based on the patient’s symptoms. If symptoms are present, the infected individual should receive prompt treatment to alleviate symptoms, whereas asymptomatic infections only require treatment in special circumstances (such as before abortion or hysterectomy) to prevent postoperative infections.
Up to 1/3 of non-pregnant women and half of pregnant women with non-specific bacterial **inflammation can resolve without treatment. For symptomatic non-pregnant women, metronidazole/clindamycin oral or **intravaginal administration shows better effectiveness, with a cure rate of 70%-80% at follow-up after 4 weeks. Among these, **administration proves to be more effective than oral routes. It is not recommended to use **pessaries for pregnant women.
▌ Candidal **Inflammation
The presence of fungal hyphae and/or spores in the routine discharge indicates…
