Women’s Health Concerns
Vaginitis is the medical term used to describe inflammation of
the vagina. Inflammation of the vagina can result in a number of
different symptoms including: irritation, soreness, discharge and
itching. There are a number of different types of organism that can
cause vaginitis, the most common being the yeast, Candida (causing
Thrush).
Vaginosis is the medical term used to describe an imbalance in
vaginal flora, an overgrowth of unwanted bacteria leads to the
imbalance of the normal healthy bacteria. Symptoms can include
abnormal discharge, embarrassing odour and discomfort. This
condition is known as Bacterial Vaginosis or BV, it is not
vaginitis as it does not cause inflammation.
BV is the most common type of vaginal infection in women of
childbearing age. Experts estimate that at least 1 in 3 women, and
perhaps most women, will develop BV at some point in their
life.