Causes

In principle, colitis can easily develop if there is a disturbance of the natural vaginal flora. If this normally acidic environment is attacked, pathogens can multiply more easily and lead to infection. The vaginal flora can be influenced by various factors.

These include medication (especially antibiotics), as these disturb the natural and beneficial bacterial flora of the vagina, and tampons, which dry out the vaginal mucosa and make it more vulnerable. Excessive intimate hygiene in the form of very frequent washing and the use of alkaline soaps in the intimate area can also promote colitis. The same applies to vaginal rinsing.

Last but not least, patients who have diabetes mellitus also suffer more frequently from vaginal inflammation. The reason is that these patients often excrete more sugar in their urine and that bacteria and fungi in the genital area feed on this sugar. This is a good basis for their reproduction and consequently for the development of colitis or vaginal inflammation.

Especially during the menopause there is an abrupt drop in the hormone. Oestrogen not only regulates the female cycle, but also promotes the growth and renewal of the vaginal mucosa. If the oestrogen level drops, the mucous membrane is less supplied with blood, it contracts, becomes dry and can easily tear when touched. Itching and burning are the first consequences of changes in the mucous membrane (atrophy). Due to the thin, cracked mucosa, bacteria and fungi can easily migrate into the mucosa, spread and cause inflammation.

Pathogen of the colpitis

Ultimately, it is the various pathogens that cause colpitis. The spectrum of pathogens is very mixed. Often, it is different pathogens at the same time that cause the picture of the infection.

However, the most frequent (about 40% of cases) is an infection with the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis. With 20% of the cases, fungal infections of the vagina follow, for example with the yeast fungus Candida albicans.10% of colpitides are caused by colonization with the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, another 10% by Chlamydia, which also belongs to the bacteria. The remaining vaginal inflammation is caused by mixed infections or other pathogens such as human papillomavirus (HPV).

Human papillomaviruses are transmitted through sexual intercourse and can lead to the formation of genital warts (condylomata acuminata). The subtypes HPV 16 and 18 are also associated with the development of cervical cancer. Herpes viruses (HSV) can also cause vaginal inflammation and general inflammation of the genital area.