Nana (pseudonym) is a third-year student at a university in Guangzhou. Recently, she contacted Xiao Jiu to confide her doubts:
" I've been feeling really uncomfortable lately. I have a lot of discharge, and it smells terrible. Sometimes I can smell it even when I'm sitting still, and I'm afraid to get close to people. I went to the hospital, and the doctor said it's vaginitis. I'm just a young girl who's only had two relationships, how could I get this kind of disease? "
Many girls have the same question. In fact, women of any age can get vaginitis. In recent years, the incidence of vaginitis in my country has been getting younger and younger.
So, let me tell you all about these things.
Vaginitis also comes in different types, and the symptoms need to be differentiated.
Vaginitis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women, and also one of the most troublesome. It is usually accompanied by abnormal symptoms such as itching, irritation, burning pain, and abnormal discharge. Clinically, there are many types of vaginitis, and the symptoms and harms of different types are different. Next, I will talk about the following three types.
Bacterial vaginosis
It is a mixed infection caused by an imbalance of normal flora. The main symptoms are increased vaginal discharge, which is grayish-white, thin, and frothy ; congestion of the mucous membranes, with occasional bleeding points; itching, burning pain, and even a foul odor. Its main harm is inducing genital infections , such as perirenal abscess, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pain.
Trichomoniasis
This infection is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. The main symptoms are increased vaginal discharge, which is yellow or milky white, sometimes purulent, often frothy, and has a foul odor . In severe cases, bloody vaginal discharge, frequent urination, painful urination, and hematuria may occur. The main complications are cystitis, trichomonal urethritis, pyelonephritis, and even infertility .
• Vulvovaginal candidiasis
Also known as candidal vaginitis, it is an infection caused by Candida albicans. The main symptoms are itching, burning, and excessive vaginal discharge that resembles cottage cheese . It is often accompanied by painful urination, frequent urination, and other symptoms. The main dangers are that it is prone to recurrence and is not easy to cure completely. It can lead to premature birth, fetal infection, and birth defects .
Why is my vaginitis so hard to cure?
In daily life, some women are deeply troubled by vaginitis, which seems incurable no matter what treatment they receive. Clinically, patients who repeatedly fail to respond to treatment are very likely suffering from mixed vaginitis .
There are three main types of vaginitis: bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, and trichomoniasis. Generally, patients receive treatment based on the specific type of vaginitis they are diagnosed with. However, with changes in lifestyle, the causative bacteria and infection patterns have also changed, evolving from a single type to multiple types, leading to an increasing number of mixed vaginitis cases .
Because it's difficult to determine which types of vaginitis are involved in mixed vaginitis, treatment options are limited , affecting the effectiveness of the treatment. It's worth noting that mixed vaginitis is characterized by a high incidence, a high rate of missed diagnosis, and a high recurrence rate.
Another reason is that most women adopt a "stop when you feel better" attitude when treating vaginitis . During treatment, many patients stop taking medication as soon as they feel some relief from their symptoms , mistakenly believing they are cured, resulting in poor medication adherence. However, this approach is highly inadvisable; medication should never be stopped.
One to two days after taking the medication, patients can indeed feel a significant improvement in their symptoms. However, some bacteria that have not been completely eliminated may hide under the mucous membrane and reappear when the patient's resistance is low, causing repeated inflammation and even developing into intractable vaginitis . At this point, it will be more difficult to cure the infection completely.
Obviously, stopping medication without authorization is not advisable. This not only makes vaginitis more difficult to cure, but also makes it easier for the pathogen to spread to the internal reproductive organs, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease and even serious consequences such as infertility.
Do I need to shower before and after doing "things"?
As we all know, sexual intercourse is the most intimate contact between men and women, and it is also prone to causing infection. During this time, bacteria can spread freely between the partners, leading to cross-infection. For both men and women, the genitals are the most susceptible to infection, which is why both men and women must shower before and after intercourse to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.
Women are the most proactive in maintaining their own health, while many men fail to do so. In fact, men should shower before and after sex more than women.
1. Reasons why women wash before and after sex
To avoid inflammation, women must pay special attention to cleaning, especially the anus, as the skin around the anus has folds that make it easy for feces to remain, which can easily lead to bacterial infection and urinary tract infections. Only by doing so can the risk of inflammation be minimized.
2. Reasons why men wash themselves before and after sex.
Men who don't bathe often accumulate dirt and grime, especially around the anus. During sexual activity, this dirt can be transferred to women, potentially causing inflammation or even cervical cancer. Therefore, men must pay attention to hygiene and thoroughly clean their genitals. Furthermore, dirt can damage a man's skin and organs, leading to disease.
In conclusion, maintaining good health is essential, especially by practicing good personal hygiene before and after sexual activity to minimize the risk of bacteria entering the reproductive tract and causing inflammation, which is beneficial for both men and women.
References:
[1]. "Vaginitis is not just a woman's private matter; does your partner need treatment?" Huayi.com. 2018-03-28
[2]. "Why is Vaginitis So Difficult to Cure?" Health Times. 2018-09-04
[3]. Mei Lili. Investigation and analysis of gynecological diseases in married women and related factors affecting the incidence of disease [J]. Electronic Journal of Clinical Medicine Literature, 2016, 3(52): 10449-10450.
[4]. "Two things men and women must do before and after sex! Otherwise..." Shenzhen Health Commission. 2018-04-23
