Vulvo Vaginal Disorders
Personalized Care for Vulvovaginal Disorders
What Are Vaginal and Vulvar Conditions?
Vaginal and vulvar conditions are a spectrum of health concerns that impact your vagina and vulva (external genitalia). They are also known as vulvovaginal disorders. These conditions can range from common infections to rare or complex cancers.
Common vaginal and vulval conditions include:
- Bacterial vaginosis: This condition is when your vagina has an imbalance of bacteria.
- Vaginitis: Symptoms of this condition include inflammation in your vagina, most often caused by infections. Yeast infections are an example of a type of vaginitis.
- Vulvitis: Inflammation of your vulva is common with this condition, which is most often caused by skin conditions such as dermatitis.
- Vulvovaginal atrophy: This causes dryness and inflammation in the tissues of your vagina and vulva related to low estrogen levels.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STI): Vaginal discharge or vaginitis can be signs of a sexually transmitted infection.
Symptoms of Vaginal and Vulvar Conditions
Your symptoms will depend on your condition. Sometimes, you may have no symptoms.
Common Symptoms
Possible signs of a vaginal or vulvar condition include:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge or odor
- Burning
- Itching
- Skin changes, sores or lumps on your vulva
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort
Emergency Symptoms
Seek care immediately if you have any of the following:
Diagnosing Vaginal and Vulvar Conditions
Our providers use the latest technology and procedures to diagnose all vulvovaginal conditions. We will discuss your medical history and symptoms and do a physical exam.
Depending on your symptoms, we may recommend one or more of the following tests:
- Biopsy of vulvar tissue to look for certain skin conditions and pre-cancerous or cancerous cells
- Blood test to check for certain sexually transmitted infections (STI)
- Vulvovaginal swab to detect infections
- Urine test to check for a UTI or STI
Vulvovaginal Disorder Treatments
The gynecologists at UC Davis Health use the most advanced treatments available for all vaginal and vulvar conditions. Our treatment options include:
We treat bacterial infections with oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) or vaginal creams or suppositories.
Preventing Vulvovaginal Disorders
You can lower your risk of developing some disorders with healthy lifestyle habits:
These products contain chemicals that can alter the balance of bacteria in your vagina.