Symptoms

The main symptom of colpitis is vaginal discharge. However, since even healthy women can have vaginal discharge, the pathological discharge must be separated from the normal discharge within the regular cycle. The outflow that occurs in the case of colitis is usually changed in color.

It can be yellowish, greenish, white or even transparent. The consistency is often crumbly, especially in fungal infections. Fungal infections usually do not cause an odour, whereas a bacterial vaginal inflammation can cause a fishy, unpleasant smell.

In case of an infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, the discharge is often foamy, yellowish and causes a strong burning sensation in the vagina. Infection with herpes viruses in the genital area, on the other hand, is usually conspicuous by small, painful vesicles, which often group around the entrance to the vagina. In addition to the changes in the discharge, other symptoms may also be present in colitis.

Many women complain of pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) or a burning sensation in the vagina. Also very common is an agonizing itching. This occurs particularly with fungal infections. However, infection with human papilloma viruses (HPV) does not usually cause any symptoms as long as no genital warts occur. However, these can cause discomfort in the genital area.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of colpitis is made during a gynecological examination. In the case of visible skin changes, for example genital warts or herpes blisters, the diagnosis is often made only by the clinical picture. Otherwise, a vaginal smear is taken, which can be examined under a microscope.

This makes the pathogens visible. Depending on the pathogen, different smears and laboratory tests can be requested. In the laboratory, the sensitivity of the pathogens to various antibiotic agents can also be determined, so that the physician can find out which antibiotics can be used effectively against the pathogens.

A Chlamydia infection can also be determined by examining the urine. Fungal infections are often already visible with the naked eye on the vaginal mucosa. Depending on the findings, the treating doctor can then initiate the appropriate therapy.