Vaginitis

Vaginitis, or vulvovaginitis, occurs when you develop inflammation in your vagina due to an infection. Allergies or sensitivities to products like vaginal sprays, spermicides, and soap can cause vaginitis. However, it’s most often caused by:

• Bacterial vaginosis: You develop vaginitis when the good bacteria that normally live in your vagina become outnumbered by bad bacteria. Bacterial vaginosis is often caused by douching, taking antibiotics, an intrauterine device, and having multiple sex partners.
• Yeast infection: Vaginal yeast infections are usually caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. Yeast normally lives in your vagina, where they’re kept under control by good bacteria. When the balance is disrupted by antibiotics, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, or steroid medications, the yeast grows too rapidly, causing an infection.
• Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is a parasite that’s transmitted during sexual intercourse. While women develop symptoms when they’re infected with trichomoniasis, men rarely have any symptoms.

Atrophic vaginitis, also called vaginal atrophy, develops when estrogen levels decline. Menopause is the primary cause of atrophic vaginitis. However, it can develop due to other conditions such as premature ovarian failure, thyroid disorders, excessive exercise, and being severely underweight.

When you have low estrogen levels, the tissues lining your vagina become dry, thin, and less elastic. These changes lead to problems such as vaginal inflammation, painful intercourse, burning during urination, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and urinary incontinence.