Causes of vaginitis

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and submucosal connective tissue, and is a common disease in gynecological clinics. The main clinical features of vaginitis are changes in the properties of leucorrhea and vulvar itching and burning pain. Pain during sexual intercourse is also common. So, what is the cause of vaginitis?

Normal healthy women, due to anatomical and biochemical characteristics, have a natural defense function against the invasion of pathogens in the vagina. When the natural defense function of the vagina is damaged, pathogens can easily invade, leading to vaginal inflammation. Young girls and postmenopausal women lack estrogen, have thin vaginal epithelium, reduced intracellular glycogen content, and vaginal pH as high as about 7, so the vaginal resistance is low and they are more susceptible to infection than adolescents and women of childbearing age. According to traditional Chinese medicine, long-term use of rose water can relieve and treat vaginitis.

1. Etiology and pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis: Traditional Chinese medicine often attributes the occurrence of this disease to the liver, spleen, and kidneys as well as wind, cold, dampness, and heat.

1. Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency The vulva and vagina are where the meridians are clustered and the tendons gather. The Chong and Ren meridians and the three Yin meridians of the foot (the Spleen Meridian of the Foot, the Kidney Meridian of the Foot, and the Liver Meridian of the Foot) all pass through here. The liver stores blood and governs the tendons; the kidney stores essence and governs the front and back Yin meridians. If the body is deficient, sexual intercourse and childbirth are frequent, the essence and blood are damaged, or the kidney yin is deficient at the age of 79, the heavenly essence is exhausted, the Chong and Ren meridians are weak, the Yin blood is insufficient, and the Yin cannot be nourished, or the Yin is deficient and the fire is strong, which injures the Yin and burns the collaterals.

2. Liver meridian stagnation and heat The liver meridian of the foot jueyin flows around the genitals. If the seven emotions are injured, the liver will be depressed and qi will stagnate. The stagnation will turn into heat for a long time, and the heat will burn the meridians. The liver fails to release qi, the qi mechanism is not good, the water and dampness are transported and transformed abnormally, and the water and dampness stagnate and fight with the stagnation and heat, causing dampness and heat to flow down and directly invade the genitals, causing genital pain and leukorrhea. "Jingqing Zhu Nvke·Leukorrhea" says: "Women's worry and thinking hurt the spleen, and the anger and depression hurt the liver. Therefore, the stagnation of fire in the liver meridian burns inside, suppressing the spleen and earth, and the spleen and earth cannot be transported and transformed, causing dampness and heat to accumulate between the belt meridians."

3. Dampness and heat are diseases caused by dampness and heat, which can be divided into endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous diseases are often related to spleen deficiency, liver depression or excessive consumption of greasy food. Exogenous diseases are often caused by the empty uterus after menstruation and childbirth, and dampness and heat evil enters the uterus directly, causing leucorrhea and genital pain.

2. The etiology and pathogenesis of Trichomonas vaginitis: This disease is mainly caused by the accumulation of dampness and heat, and the erosion of the genitals by insects.

Dampness and heat can be divided into internal and external. For example, if one lives in a wetland for a long time, dampness and heat may invade the body, or if dampness and heat enter the body during menstruation or after childbirth, this is exogenous dampness and heat. If the spleen is weak, or if the liver qi is stagnant, wood overcomes the spleen and earth, the spleen fails to function properly, and water and dampness are retained inside the body, stagnating in the lower part of the body and turning into heat, then this is endogenous dampness and heat. If dampness and heat accumulate and the ligaments are not solid, then leucorrhea increases and the color is yellow. If there is dampness and heat in the lower part of the body and the bladder fails to function, then stranguria may occur; if dampness and heat are soaked for a long time and become toxic, or if the heat and toxicity are infected, the blood may flow indiscriminately due to excessive heat, or if dampness and toxicity corrode the skin, then pus and blood may be seen in leucorrhea, or "genital erosion" or "genital sores" may be seen. If dampness and rot breed insects, or if one is not careful in keeping in good health, the insects may directly invade the genitals, and if the insects erode the genitals, it may cause genital itching and burning pain.

Although the disease is in the genitals, it is often related to the liver, spleen and other internal organs. It is mostly caused by dampness.

3. Etiology and pathogenesis of candidal vaginitis: The disease is mostly caused by accumulation of dampness and turbidity, and infection by evil toxins.

1. Dampness and turbidity accumulate, causing dampness and obstruction in the body, anger and depression damaging the liver. Dampness and turbidity accumulate, flow into the lower part of the body, and invade the genitals. Dampness and rottenness cause worms to develop the disease. It may be caused by living in a wetland for a long time and being affected by dampness, or by not being careful in health preservation and neglecting hygiene, and the worms' evil toxins directly invade the genitals and cause this disease.

2. Yin deficiency with dampness, excessive labor and childbirth, long-term illness or pregnancy, Yin blood deficiency, liver and kidney deficiency, inability to nourish the orifices, pathogenic factors take advantage of the opportunity to enter, and cause this disease. Therefore, clinically, patients with diabetes and pregnant women are prone to this disease.

4. Etiology and pathogenesis of senile vaginitis: The main mechanism of this disease is liver and kidney yin deficiency, and damp heat.

1. Liver and kidney yin deficiency. In old age or after ovarian removal, the essence and blood are insufficient, the liver and kidney are deficient, the Chong and Ren meridians are weak, the belt meridian is out of control, and the body fluid leaks down, resulting in a lot of vaginal discharge. Yin deficiency and excessive fire burn the veins and force blood out, resulting in vaginal discharge with blood, burning and pain in the vagina. Yin blood is insufficient, the yin orifices should be nourished first, and the wind and dryness will cause vaginal itching.

2. Dampness and heat descending. In old age, the essence and blood are deficient, and the yin orifices are not nourished. Dampness takes advantage of the opportunity to enter, or spleen deficiency and dampness blockage, which are combined with the internal fire, and dampness and heat descending, causing leucorrhea, genital itching, stranguria and other diseases. Or due to careless health preservation, dampness and heat evil directly invade the genitals. If dampness and heat simmer for a long time, it will turn into pus and aggravate the condition.

Western medicine believes that the vaginal environment is often unstable due to the host's metabolic products, the bacteria's own products and exogenous factors (sexual intercourse, douching and other interference). The vaginal flora is very complex. In addition to protozoa and fungi, it also includes many aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. These microorganisms can be divided into commensal and pathological. They all grow in a common environment, and there may be antagonism between the microorganisms.

Another factor that affects the growth of vaginal flora is hydrogen ion concentration. At pH 3.8-4.2, it is conducive to the reproduction of commensal bacteria, especially lactobacillus, which is the main species in a healthy vagina. The density in vaginal fluid can reach 105-108ml. When the vagina is infected by microorganisms, if lactobacillus is dominant, it can still maintain pH 3.8-4.2, which will not cause disease. In addition, lactobacillus can also produce H202, which is toxic to other microorganisms and inhibits their reproduction. Others such as lactococci, enterobacter, proteus, gavage coccus, and Veillonella are common in the lower end of the vagina and usually do not cause symptoms. The vaginal flora restrict each other, so that pathological bacteria cannot have any effect. If this balance is destroyed and the mutual restriction disappears, the hydrogen ion concentration decreases, lactobacillus loses its advantage, and pathological bacteria can reproduce, resulting in symptoms.

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by the decrease of lactobacilli in the vagina and the proliferation of other bacteria, mainly mixed infections caused by Gardnerella, various anaerobic bacteria and mycoplasma. Trichomonas vaginitis is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, which is a sexually transmitted infectious disease. The transmission route is through direct transmission (transmission through sexual intercourse, 75% of the semen of the spouse with Trichomonas vaginitis can be found in Trichomonas) and indirect transmission (through various bathing utensils, swimming pools, public toilets or contaminated clothes and equipment). In the census, the detection rate of Trichomonas was 3.56%, among which some women had no inflammation and were called carriers.

Candida vaginitis is mainly caused by Candida albicans. In a normal healthy vagina, a small amount of this fungus can often parasitize, but it generally does not cause disease. When the body's immune function is low or the flora is imbalanced, it will multiply and cause disease. Therefore, it is more common in pregnant women, those with diabetes, those who use immunosuppressants, and those who use antibiotics for a long time. In addition, it is also easy to be infected in a humid and hot environment. According to statistics, about 10% of non-pregnant women and one-third of pregnant women are infected with this disease, but few people seek medical treatment due to obvious symptoms. As for the incidence of vaginitis caused by non-albicans Candida (such as smooth Torulopsis, etc.), it increased from 9.9% in 1988 to 17.2% in 1995. Women who have been infected with HIV are twice as likely to be infected with non-albicans Candida than those who are not infected; women with recurrent Candida vaginitis are 2.47 times more likely to be infected with non-albicans Candida than with albicans.

Vaginitis during the "menarche" period: When adolescent girls have their first menstruation, due to their shyness and vague understanding of menstruation, they often do not understand or pay attention to menstrual hygiene. In a panic, they abuse unclean sanitary paper, causing the perineum to be contaminated by unclean toilet paper, menstrual belts, and tampons. Bacteria take the opportunity to breed and invade, causing vaginitis. The main symptoms of this "menarche" vaginitis are a feeling of falling and burning in the perineum, increased vaginal secretions, and even purulent and thick secretions. Due to the overflow of vaginal secretions, the urethra is stimulated, and symptoms such as urinary urgency and urinary pain may occur.

Allergic vaginitis: Some young women pursue fashion and often wear heavy makeup. After bathing, they often sprinkle some powder and perfume on their vulva, especially in summer. It should be noted that the chemical components contained in powder and perfume are very irritating to the vulva and vaginal mucosa, which are more likely to cause allergic reactions and vaginitis and vulvitis. Clinically, some girls use foaming agents and bath oils when bathing. These chemicals are also likely to cause allergic vaginitis. This type of vaginitis is characterized by vaginal itching, redness and swelling of the vagina and vulvar mucosa, and increased vaginal discharge.

Purulent vaginitis: caused by purulent bacterial infection. Most patients suffer from diabetes and tuberculosis before the onset of the disease. In particular, vaginal lacerations caused by riding a motorcycle or bicycle too hard, and the infection is caused by not seeking medical treatment in time. The main symptoms of this type of vaginitis are: increased leucorrhea, yellow pus-like with a fishy odor, vaginal burning or pain. Gynecological examinations show redness, swelling, and even small ulcers on the vaginal mucosa.

Since the onset of vaginitis is mainly related to personal hygiene and mutual infection, you should pay attention to cleanliness, prevent the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, eliminate the source of infection, strengthen your physical fitness, and prevent recurrence.

Lifestyle conditioning: 1. Pay attention to personal hygiene, keep the vulva clean and dry; wash and change underwear frequently, do not share bath towels and bathtubs with others, do not wear nylon or similar underwear, and the bath towels and underwear used during the illness should be boiled and disinfected. 2. Strengthen health publicity, and conduct regular census and general treatment for female workers and female students in factories, institutions, and residents, especially in collective dormitories, to eliminate the source of infection. 3. During treatment, sexual intercourse is prohibited, or condoms are used to prevent cross infection. Vaginal medication and sitz baths should be avoided during menstruation. Those with recurrent episodes should check their husband's urine and prostate fluid, and if necessary, check them repeatedly. If positive, they should be treated together.

Diet adjustment: The diet should be light, and avoid spicy food to avoid dampness and heat or damage to Yin blood. Pay attention to dietary nutrition and strengthen the body to drive away evil spirits.

Mental conditioning: Patients with vaginitis should stabilize their emotions, cultivate their temperament, and receive psychological treatment according to the patient's personality and the causes of the disease, strengthen exercise, enhance physical fitness, and improve their own immune function. Actively eliminate the inducing factors and promptly treat various inflammations of the reproductive organs.

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