Vulvitis Treatment in Indian Women: An In-Depth Explanation

Vulvovaginitis refers to the inflammation in the vagina and vulva. It is also commonly called as vulvitis or vaginitis. It can be caused due to many reasons. One of the several vulvovaginitis causes is Herpes Viral Infection. It results from the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and causes blisters around the affected region.

The types of Herpes Simplex Virus include:

• HSV-1: This primarily causes oral herpes, which affects the mouth and surrounding region.
• HSV-2: This primarily causes genital herpes, which affects the genital skin and is usually sexually transmitted.

Vaginitis caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus is called Herpesviral Vulvovaginitis. HSV is a common virus and can affect women during their reproductive years. While there is no cure for Herpes, treatment for infection in the female private area can be done and symptoms can be managed. Thus, reducing the likelihood of herpesviral vulvovaginitis recurrence.

Herpesviral vulvitis symptoms include:

• Irritation and itching of vulva/ vagina
• vagina/ vulva inflammation
• Pain in vulva/ vagina
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Discomfort while urinating
• Light bleeding/ spotting
• Pain during sexual intercourse

It is understandable to be worried when you experience pain near vagina or a rash around the vagina. If you are unsure about an unusual pain/ rash, consulting a gynecologist will help you gain a better understanding of your condition. A correct diagnostic evaluation is the key to receiving appropriate treatment for vaginal inflammation. In addition to this, a regular full-body health checkup once a year can help understand the state of your health and the areas that require improvement. You can have an instant consultation with a doctor on MFine, or you can avail a comprehensive health check-up package or a specific condition-based health package depending on your lifestyle factors, dietary factors, age, and existing medical conditions.

As the name suggests, Herpesviral Vulvovaginitis is caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. (HSV) Acute vaginitis can also be caused by several other reasons. It is important to get your vaginitis rash checked by the doctor to rule out the following possibilities:

• Bacterial Infection: Certain kinds of bacteria can overgrow and cause vulva itching, leading to vulvovaginitis. A bacterial infection can cause vaginal discharge to have a fishy odour.
• Yeast Infection: One of the most common vaginitis causes is an overgrowth of the candida fungus; thus, resulting in yeast infection. It can cause genital/ vulva itching, and can also result in thick, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge.
• Parasites: Other causes of itching/ a rash near vagina are parasites. Some of them include lice, pinworms, and scabies. Another common one-celled parasite (Trichomonas vaginalis) can cause a type of vaginitis called Trichomoniasis. Most often, sexual contact with an infected person can cause Trichomoniasis. It can result in yellow-green discharge with a fishy odour.
• Environmental factors: Factors like wearing tight clothes, poor genital hygiene, and contact with allergens can also increase the risk of developing vulvovaginitis.
• Harsh chemicals: In some cases, harsh chemicals present in detergents, soaps, feminine sprays, and vaginal contraceptives can cause an allergic reaction; thus, resulting in vulvovaginitis.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: As mentioned previously, genital herpes on vagina causes herpesviral vulvovaginitis. Other STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HPV infection, trichomoniasis can also lead to developing vulvovaginitis. Abnormal discharge is one of the most common indicators of vaginitis. Hence, be cautious and look out for unusual discharge as this may be a sign of an underlying infection.

Vaginitis in prepubescent girls in India
Vaginitis in young girls of prepubescent age is quite common; medical experts believe it could be due to low estrogen levels in the prepubescent age. Once puberty starts, the vagina becomes more acidic; thus, causing vaginitis to stop. Similarly, post-menopausal women are also more prone to developing vaginitis due to low estrogen levels.

Vaginitis in children in India can be easily treated by teaching them proper genital hygiene and by ensuring they wear loose-fitted clothing to prevent a recurrence. In any case, it is recommended to discuss with a pediatrician to get an accurate evaluation.

Firstly, the gynecologist will perform a pelvic examination to understand the nature of the vaginal/ vulva inflammation. They may also ask you questions about the intensity of your pain, discomfort, irritation, and other related symptoms.

During the vulvovaginitis diagnosis, the doctor may also take a sample of the vaginal discharge to identify the organism that causes vulvitis. In rare cases, if conventional treatment options were unsuccessful, the doctor will recommend performing a biopsy to understand vulvovaginitis causes better.

Treatment of cause:
Appropriate vulvitis treatment in India depends on the type of vulvovaginitis infection or the underlying cause.

• For vulvitis caused due to genital herpes, antiviral medications and home remedies for vaginitis are suggested to soothe the symptoms and relieve vulvovaginitis. While there is no cure for genital herpes itself, suitable treatments do make it manageable to live with the condition and ensure symptoms do not recur.
• If vulvovaginitis is caused due to other infections, the gynecologist will suggest appropriate medicines/ vulvitis treatment plans to relieve it.
• If the condition is caused by allergens, the doctor will recommend performing an allergy test. Once the source of the condition is found, the doctor will advise you a suitable plan to avoid allergic reactions in the future.

As mentioned before, vulvitis treatment in Indian women depends on the type of vulvovaginitis infection or the underlying cause. While it is possible to cure some types of vaginitis with home treatments, be sure to consult a gynecologist before starting any procedure. The following are the different kinds of home treatments for vaginitis:
1. Apply a warm compress
Applying a warm compress on the affected region can relieve inflammation and pain. You can soak a cloth in warm water and leave it on the skin for 10 minutes. Do remember to dry your genital area as trapping of moisture can increase the chance of vaginitis recurrence. Having a warm, sitz bath can also help in pain relief.

2. Wear loose clothing
Wearing loose bottoms avoids sweat build-up and does not trap moisture. This also prevents unnecessary friction of fabric on the genital skin. In addition, remember to change into clean underwear every day.

3. Use cream/ ointment (as prescribed by a doctor)
Applying cream, or ointments can reduce the friction of the vaginitis rash against your clothing. Some vaginal creams are antifungal medicines that are used to treat vaginitis caused by yeast infections. However, only use these remedies after consulting a gynecologist.

4. Use pain medications (as prescribed by a doctor)
Pain medications can be useful in reducing pain and inflammation caused by genital herpes on vagina. However, consume vaginitis antibiotics as directed by a doctor only.
While no medicine can cure genital herpes completely, some doctors may suggest antiviral medications to prevent the virus from multiplying; thus, reducing the severity of vaginitis symptoms.

A rash around the vagina can be effectively managed and treated. The correct diagnosis is the key to receiving appropriate vulvitis treatment. Based on your medical condition, you will either be:

• Advised to take suitable home treatment for vaginitis, or
• Advised to consume medicines for acute vulvitis, apply antibiotic ointments as prescribed by a doctor, or
• Provided with a specialized vulvitis treatment plan, if it is severe/ recurring

A gynecologist can best diagnose Herpesviral Vulvovaginitis and suggest the way forward based on the severity of your condition alongside your body type, dietary factors, and other lifestyle factors. If you face severe pain and discomfort, you must see a gynecologist right away.

At MFine, we enable the patients to live a healthier life with modern medical services. We ensure that the best vulvitis treatment programs are made available to our patients for every stage of the condition. Get in touch with our team of highly-qualified doctors and healthcare professionals for any medical advice or assistance. We, at MFine, provide you with a holistic healthcare treatment program as per your bodily needs and requirements. You can also check our MFine app for a list of the best gynecology doctors in your city with whom you can chat or video call to get answers for your medical queries!

1. Can vulvovaginitis go away on its own?
In some cases, vaginitis rash due to bacterial infection can go away on its own. However, this can vary based on the severity of your vaginitis symptoms. If you experience severe itching, pain, discomfort, and burning sensation, it will need to be treated by a gynecologist.

2. How long can vulvovaginitis last?
Proper vulvitis treatment can effectively cure the infection within two weeks depending on the underlying cause. However, untreated vulvitis/ other vaginal infections can last for years, with or without symptoms.

3. How to prevent vaginitis due to herpes?
Some of the Vaginitis prevention steps includes:
-Always keep your genital area dry.
-Wear loose clothing as it avoids sweat build-up and causes less friction against your skin. Change your undergarments regularly.
-Washing your hands with soap and lukewarm water after touching the affected area. This can prevent the risk of passing/ developing herpes, in the cases of herpesviral vulvovaginitis.

4. How to book an appointment with a gynecologist?
To schedule an instant medical appointment, download the MFine app, search for a gynecologist online, and enter your contact details. After doing so, you can consult with top gynecologists online from the comfort of your home. You can discuss your health concerns comfortably as MFine takes your privacy very seriously. With a safe and secure platform, we ensure that the discussions between you and your doctor strictly remain confidential.