Patient's question:
My condition is similar to vaginitis. What causes vaginitis? Is it only brought on by sexual intercourse? Can tests identify the cause?Doctor's answer:
Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and submucosal connective tissue, a common disease in gynecological clinics. In normal healthy women, due to anatomical and biochemical characteristics, the vagina has a natural protective function against the penetration of pathogens. When the natural protective function of the vagina is compromised, pathogens are more easily infiltrated, leading to vaginal inflammation. Girls and postmenopausal women, due to a lack of estrogen, have thin vaginal epithelium, increased glycogen content in cells, and a vaginal pH as high as 7.0, making their vaginal resistance lower and more susceptible to infection compared to women in puberty and the reproductive age group.