Vaginitis, Colpitis: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

In many cases, vaginitis or colpitis (vaginitis) is asymptomatic. General preliminary remarks.

The vagina (sheath) consists of a highly built-up nonkeratinized squamous epithelium (mucosa) that has few nerves and no glands. This is different in the vulvar area, which is abundantly supplied with nerves. This concerns both the area with keratinized squamous epithelium (labia majora/labia minora, outer side of labia minora) and the so-called vestibulum vaginae (vaginal vestibule), which extends from the inner side of labia minora to the hymenal seam. In this area there is a smooth, not sharply defined, transition from the robust multilayered squamous epithelium to a relatively thin (much thinner than in the vagina), unkeratinized squamous epithelium. The vestibule is delicate, sensitive and equipped with very many nerves and glands (pleasure area). What does this mean in terms of discomfort and symptoms? When patients complain of pain, burning and of a dry vagina, these are complaints almost exclusively from the area of the vestibulum vaginae and signal a co-involvement of the external genitals by a disease of the vagina (vagina), the cervix (cervix) or the uterus (uterus), as far as it is a matter of secreted secretion flowing to the outside. The following symptoms and complaints may occur together with vaginitis/colpitis:

Leading symptom in the common infectious diseases (thrush, amine, trichomonad colpitis).

• Fluor vaginalis (discharge).
  • Thrush colpitis: white, potty, odorous discharge.
  • Amine colpitis: often grayish-white and thin with fishy odor, feeling of wetness.
  • Trichomonad colpitis: foamy, yellow-green, fetid, malodorous.

Associated symptoms

• Redness
  • Thrush colpitis: common; affecting vulva (external, primary sex organs) and vagina
  • Amine colpitis: rare; vulva, virtually never affecting the vagina.
  • Trichomonad colpitis: affecting vulva and vagina.
• Pruritus (itching)
  • Thrush colpitis: common
  • Amine colpitis: rare
  • Trichomonad colpitis: common
• Burning
  • Thrush colpitis: no
  • Amine colpitis: no
  • Trichomonad colpitis: no
• Dyspareunia (discomfort during intercourse).
  • Thrush colpitis: sometimes to frequently.
  • Amine colpitis: never
  • Trichomonad colpitis: common
• Dysuria (pain on urination).
  • Thrush colpitis: sometimes
  • Amine colpitis: never
  • Trichomonad colpitis: common

Note: In vaginal mycosis (thrush colpitis) to often occurs edema (swelling / water retention). Further notes

• Vulvovaginal candidiasis typically occurs premenstrually. In approximately 90% of cases, pruritus (itching) in the vaginal vestibule (vestibule vaginae) is the typical symptom.Differential diagnosis must consider vulvovaginitis (inflammation denotes that affects the vulva and vagina together) due to A streptococci, atopic vulvitis, or vestibulodynia/vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.
• Candidiasis depending on the phase of life
  • Premenopause (ten to fifteen years before menopause): infection of the vulva (set of external primary sexual organs) and introitus (vaginal entrance) and vaginitis (vaginitis).
  • Postmenopause (period that begins when menstruation has been absent for at least a year.): Candida infection of the genital area usually as vulvar candidiasis.