Patient's question:
I got married last year. Recently, I've been experiencing lower abdominal pain, especially during my period. I'm very worried about it affecting my fertility, and I'm also extremely sensitive to cold and cold drafts. What are the 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 resemble hyphae but actually not being true hyphae, hence called pseudohyphae. The clinical symptoms of fungal vulvitis include itching, burning sensation, and dysuria. Many women complain of pain during intercourse. The vulvar area is often red and swollen.