Vaginal Infections

Yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida albicans, one of many fungi that reside harmlessly in the vagina, mouth, throat and skin. The slightly acidic chemical content of the vagina controls the balance between the bacteria and yeast that reside in the normal vagina. If the fragile balance between acidity and alkalinity is altered, the amount of yeast grows to the extent that a Candida infection (known as candidiasis) occurs. A similarly uneasy truce exists between “friendly” bacteria (lactobacilli) and “unfriendly” bacteria (anaerobes). In bacterial vaginosis, the anaerobes multiply at a rapid pace until they’ve all but displaced many of the lactobacilli. As in candidiasis, the vaginal ecosystem changes from acidic to alkaline. “Nobody is absolutely sure what causes the bacterial overgrowth,” says Dr. Meg Fisher, a pediatrician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, in Philadelphia. Interestingly, although bacterial vaginosis is not transmitted via intercourse, sexually active women have a higher rate of infection—and higher still if they’ve been intimate with multiple partners.

How Vaginal Infections are Treated

Drug therapy: Yeast infections are managed with antifungal agents suchas butoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole and tioconazole, which come in the form of creams, ointments and suppositories. Fluconazole can be given orally. The shortest course consists of a single dose, which is 80 percent effective.

For bacterial vaginosis, the antibiotics clindamycin and metronidazole are the mainstays of therapy.

Vaginal Infection Symptoms