Vaginal Problems

Mild vaginal irritation or burning

A watery, grayish-white, or yellow vaginal discharge with a fishy odor

Abdominal tenderness and/or bloating

Pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, or back. The pain can be severe enough to make you walk bent over and to take small steps.

Pain during intercourse

The skin on your abdomen feels sensitive.

Vaginal discharge with abnormal color or odor

Change in menstrual flow

Fever, chills

Itching, irritation, and redness around the vagina

Thick, white vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese and may smell like yeast

Burning and/or pain with urinating or during sex

Do you have very heavy vaginal bleeding (you saturate more than 1 full size pad or super absorbent tampon in an hour’s time) with any of the following problems?

• Dizziness, feeling faint, or feeling lightheaded when you sit up

• Pale and moist skin

• Extreme shortness of breath or a very hard time breathing

• Severe abdominal pain

Do you have any of the following?

• Signs and symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

• Signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis

• Signs and symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease

Do any of the following apply?

• You have had 3 or more vaginal infections within 3 months time.

• After diagnosis and 72 hours of treatment for a vaginal infection, your symptoms continue.

• Vaginal pain occurs during or after sexual intercourse.

Do you have vaginal bleeding with any of these problems?

• Increased vaginal bleeding or you continue to have spotting or bleeding between your periods after 3 months of taking hormone pills. (Your dose may need to be adjusted.)

• Bleeding heavier than your normal period (you are saturating almost or equal to 1 full pad or tampon every hour)

• Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain

• Increasing pain and tenderness in your vaginal area

• Menstrual periods that are abnormally heavy or long (>10 days)

• Heavy menstrual periods and passing many small or large blood clots and you are pale and feel very tired

Has a vaginal discharge or irritation been present for longer than 1 week despite using Self-Care?

Avoid products that cause the problem (scented items, douches, feminine hygiene sprays, etc.). Don’t scrub the affected area with a washcloth.

Don’t wear tight and constricting garments (girdles, tight blue jeans, etc.).

Use medicated wipes, such as Tucks, instead of dry toilet paper. Follow package directions.

Add an oatmeal bath product (Aveeno) or baking soda to bath water.

Apply an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area. Use this infrequently, though. Hydrocortisone can lead to a thinning of the vaginal tissue.

Put a cool compress on the affected area.

Take a sitz bath every 4 to 6 hours or as needed. A sitz bath basin is a device that fits on the toilet seat and is used to cleanse the genital area. You can buy a sitz bath basin at a medical supply store and at some drug stores.

Wash your underwear in a gentle detergent. Rinse it twice. Use only plain water for the second rinse. Don’t use fabric softener.

If you have a history of vaginal yeast infections and these current symptoms are the same and you used an over-the-counter remedy successfully in the past, use the same or similar product. Use vaginal creams or suppositories, such as Monistat and Gyne-Lotrimin. If you get a vaginal yeast infection when you take an antibiotic, use one of these over-the-counter products during and/or after the period of antibiotic treatment.

Limit your intake of sugar and foods that contain sugar. Sugar promotes the growth of yeast.

Eat yogurt and/or take an over-the-counter product that contains live cultures of lactobacillus acidophilus.

Take showers, not baths. Avoid bubble baths.

Keep the vagina as clean and dry as possible.

Wear cotton or cotton-lined underwear.

Don’t wear tight and constricting garments (girdles, tight blue jeans, etc.).

Wear knee-highs instead of panty hose, if possible. When you wear panty hose, wear ones with cotton crotches.