Symptoms of a vaginal infection

A vaginal infection may develop when there is a change in the normal balance of organisms in your vagina. These changes may be caused by an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria in your vagina. The symptoms are often similar.

Vaginal yeast infections

The symptoms of vaginal yeast infection include:

• Vaginal itching that is often severe.
• Vaginal discharge that is usually white, looks like cottage cheese, and is odorless.
• Red, irritated skin around the opening to the vagina (labia).
• Pain while urinating when urine touches irritated skin.
• Pain during sex.

Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are more likely to occur during the week before a menstrual period. Itching and redness of the vulva can also be caused by a reaction to vaginal products such as soap, bath oils, spermicidal jelly, or douches.

Vaginal yeast infections may go away on their own; persistent infections are treated with medications.

Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) causes a thin, grayish white vaginal discharge with a "fishy" smell. Your symptoms may be worse after sex and following your menstrual period. Some women with BV do not have symptoms. BV may cause problems with pregnancy, such as preterm labor.

Bacterial vaginosis often clears up on its own without treatment. You may be treated with antibiotics if you have persistent symptoms or if you are pregnant.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) include:

• A thick, discolored, or foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Symptoms may get worse over a period of several days to 2 weeks.
• Pain, burning, or itching while urinating.
• Fever.
• Pain during sex.
• Pain or a feeling of heaviness in the pelvis or lower abdomen.
• Itching, tingling, burning, or pain in the genitals.
• Sores, lumps, blisters, rashes, or warts on or around the genitals.
• Vaginal spotting or bleeding after sexual intercourse.

Call your health professional for an appointment if you think you may have an STD:

• Do not have sexual contact or activity while waiting for your appointment. This will reduce the possible spread of infection to your partner. Your partner or partners may need to be treated as well.
• Do not douche. Douching changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Douching may flush an infection up into your uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated November 15, 2005
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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