Summary
Definition
History and exam
Other diagnostic factors
- prior episodes
- pruritus
- vulvodynia
- vaginal dryness
- dyspareunia
- erythema
- pale epithelium
- shiny epithelium
- decreased elasticity
- friable epithelium
- fever
- vaginal bleeding
- abdominal pain
- strawberry cervix
Risk factors
- douching
- poor or excessive hygiene
- antibiotic use
- change in feminine hygiene products and/or soap
- HIV infection
- diabetes
- black women
- IUD
- oral contraceptive pill use
- latex condom/diaphragm
- reproductive age
- menopause
- multiple or new sex partners
- tobacco
- increased frequency of intercourse
- pregnancy
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- vaginal pH
- amine "whiff" test of vaginal secretions
- wet mount microscopy of vaginal secretions
- Gram stain of vaginal secretions
- HIV test
- nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)
- VDRL
- serum rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test
Investigations to consider
- culture of vaginal secretions
- PCR for trichomoniasis on vaginal secretions
- rapid enzyme tests of vaginal secretions
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors VIEW ALL
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
Chairman of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Reliant Medical Group
Division Director of Robotic Surgery
Saint Vincent Hospital
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester
MA
Disclosures
DSI declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers VIEW ALL
Chair
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
VA
Disclosures
DC declares that he has no competing interests.
Director
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles
CA
Disclosures
JS declares that he has no competing interests.
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