Patient's question:
Recently, I've been experiencing lower abdominal pain, especially during my period. I'm very worried it might affect 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 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 them resemble hyphae but they are actually pseudohyphae. The clinical symptoms of fungal vulvitis include itching, burning sensation, and dysuria. Many women report pain during masturbation. The vulvar area is often red and swollen. The changes in the epidermis are varied: it may recur as shallow vesicular papules in clusters; it can also develop into eczematous lesions, localized to the vulva or extending to the perineum, perianal area, and groin skin folds, until...