Patient's question:
Usually, there's not much going on, but every time I have sex with my boyfriend, I feel uncomfortable in my private area. Not only is the color of my discharge abnormal, but the smell is also very unpleasant. This issue has been troubling me for a long time. Could you please tell me: What are the specific symptoms of candidal vulvitis?Doctor's answer:
Severe and persistent vulvar itching should first be considered as a fungal infection. It can be confirmed through direct microscopic examination and culture of local secretions. Under the microscope, the hyphae branching and spores of fungi can be easily observed. Candida albicans is oval-shaped, Gram-negative, but the staining is often uneven. It is approximately 3–5 μm (several times larger than Staphylococcus), often producing long buds that do not fall off (spores), making it appear like hyphae but actually not being true hyphae, hence called pseudomycelia. The clinical symptoms of fungal vulvitis include itching, burning sensation, and dysuria (second-order neuron urethritis), with many women reporting pain during intercourse. The area around the vulva is often red and swollen.