Key takeaways:
Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina that often results from an imbalance of vaginal microbes.
The most common causes of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, or trichomoniasis. Other causes include vaginal dryness due to low estrogen and local irritation from hygiene products.
If you have abnormal vaginal discharge or discomfort, a healthcare professional can run some tests to figure out what’s causing your vaginitis symptoms.
What is vaginitis?
Vaginitis is a broad term for inflammation of the vagina. It’s usually due to an infection or imbalance of the yeast and bacteria that live in the vagina. Vaginitis can happen at any age, but it’s more common in your 20s and 30s.
A healthy vagina is home to bacteria and yeast that coexist with each other. Anything that upsets that balance can irritate the lining of the vagina, causing discharge and discomfort.
There are some common reasons why the balance of microbes can change. These can make vaginitis more likely:
A change in hormone levels, like with pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause
Antibiotics
Vaginal infection
Vaginal products, like sprays or douches
Scented soaps, lotions, or bubble baths
Contraception with spermicide
What causes vaginitis?
Most cases of vaginitis are caused by one of these types of infections (more on this below):
Bacterial vaginosis (most common)
Candidiasis (yeast infection)
Other less-common causes of vaginitis include:
Vaginal dryness due to low estrogen
Irritation due to topical products, allergic reaction, or forgotten tampons
A rare condition called desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV)
It’s possible to have more than one cause of vaginitis at the same time.
Healthcare professionals can usually determine the cause of vaginitis with testing. They’ll take a sample of vaginal fluid and examine it under a microscope in the clinic or send it for testing.
What’s the difference between vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and a yeast infection?
The term “vaginitis” is an umbrella term used to cover many causes. In other words, bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections are types of vaginitis.
Here’s a breakdown of the common causes of vaginitis.
| Bacterial vaginosis | Yeast infection | Trichomoniasis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | Bacterial imbalance | Yeast (Candida) infection | Parasite (Trichomonas) infection |
| Risk factors |
|
|
|
| Symptoms |
*It’s also possible to have no symptoms. |
|
*Some people don’t have symptoms. |
| Treatment |
|
|
|
Bacterial vaginosis
Also known as BV, bacterial vaginosis is a condition that’s due to an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina. BV causes up to half of vaginitis cases. It’s not known what specifically causes BV and how it spreads, although it’s commonly linked to douching and having multiple sexual partners.
How is bacterial vaginosis treated?
Bacterial vaginosis can be treated with an antibiotic: metronidazole or clindamycin. These medications come in either pill (oral) or gel (vaginal) form.
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BV often comes back, in which case another round of treatment is needed. To prevent a recurrent infection, it’s also important for all sexual partners to get treatment.
Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection)
Vaginal candidiasis is a yeast infection of the vagina caused by a certain type of yeast, called Candida. Most women have healthy Candida in their vagina. But an overgrowth of yeast can lead to infection.
How is vaginal candidiasis treated?
You can treat a yeast infection with oral or vaginal medication:
Vaginal cream: Antifungal creams, such as clotrimazole or miconazole, are available over-the-counter.
Oral medication: A one-time dose of the antifungal medication, fluconazole, requires a prescription.
If you have vaginal candidiasis, your sexual partners rarely need to be treated.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common and curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite called Trichomonas. If untreated, it can increase the spread and transmission of other STIs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV. Most people with trichomoniasis, especially men, don’t have symptoms.
How is trichomoniasis treated?
Trichomoniasis is treated with an antibiotic called oral metronidazole. Other options include secnidazole or tinidazole.
Any recent sex partners should also get treatment with antibiotics. Your current sex partners should be treated at the same time as you to prevent re-infection. It’s a good idea to hold off on having sex again until your sex partners are treated and all symptoms have gone away. Your healthcare team may recommend getting tested again a few months later to be sure the infection hasn’t returned.
What are the symptoms of vaginitis?
The symptoms of vaginitis will be different depending on the underlying cause. Some people may not even have symptoms.
Common symptoms of vaginitis are:
Abnormal vaginal discharge: A change in the amount, color, or consistency of your vaginal discharge could be a sign that your vaginal health needs some attention. If you also have itching, discomfort, and a change in your normal vaginal odor, there’s a good chance you have vaginitis.
Itching, burning, and/or discomfort: These are symptoms of irritation, which are sometimes accompanied by a rash or swelling of the vulva. These symptoms could be due to infection, allergic reaction, or skin sensitivity.
Unpleasant vaginal smell (vaginal odor): Every vagina has its own unique smell that varies throughout the month. You’re probably familiar with what smell is normal for you. A change in vaginal odor — particularly to something quite unpleasant — could be a sign of an infection.
Pain with sex or urination: Inflammation in and around the vagina could also cause discomfort with sex or urination.
Vaginitis symptoms and menstruation
It’s a good idea to track your symptoms against your menstrual cycle to see if you notice a pattern. You may notice that symptoms change at different times in the month. For example, you might get vaginal burning and itching every month at the same stage of your cycle. Or maybe your symptoms worsen (or even improve) just before or during menstrual bleeding. This is all good information to discuss with your healthcare team.
Knowing what your healthy vagina feels like and smells like, and how your vaginal discharge varies throughout the month, will help you spot when things aren’t right. A healthy vagina shouldn’t be itchy or uncomfortable.
How do you treat vaginitis?
The best treatment for vaginitis depends on the cause. It’s always a good idea to avoid any ingredients or personal care products that could be irritating to sensitive skin. Try switching to fragrance-free soap and hygiene products, and stick to water when washing your vulva. (More on this below.)
Treatment for BV, yeast infection, and trichomoniasis can come in different forms, as mentioned above. Be sure to follow the instructions given by your healthcare team. Especially with antibiotics, taking the full course of treatment will ensure your infection goes away — and make it less likely to come back.
Vaginitis due to vaginal atrophy usually responds well to topical estrogen cream. Over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can also help relieve symptoms.
Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis is poorly understood. Some studies have shown improvement in symptoms with application of vaginal clindamycin or steroids. More research is needed to understand the best way to treat it.
Quiz: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) or yeast infection
Can you prevent vaginitis?
Just under 10% of people will have vaginitis symptoms that come back after treatment or that don’t improve with treatment.
The best way to prevent recurrent vaginitis is to take good care of your vaginal and vulvar health. Here are a few tips:
Stay clean. When showering or bathing, don’t use harsh soaps on, around, or inside your vulva. Simply cleaning with warm water is enough around and between the folds of skin around the vagina. Change pads and tampons regularly.
Avoid irritants. Scented products can irritate delicate tissue. Examples include pads, soaps, feminine sprays, and powders.
Don’t douche. There’s no need to clean inside the vagina itself or around the vaginal and urethral openings. Irritating these sensitive areas can make them more prone to infection.
Practice safe sex. Use condoms to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Vaginitis and pregnancy
Pregnant women are susceptible to certain types of vaginitis. Depending on the infection, it can cause health challenges for the pregnancy.
How can BV affect pregnancy?
Pregnancy increases the risk of getting BV, due to hormonal changes that occur. And BV increases the risk of premature or early birth and low birth weight. Being born early or too small can cause health problems for your baby. Treatment for BV with metronidazole or clindamycin is safe during pregnancy.
How can vaginal candidiasis affect pregnancy?
Increased estrogen during pregnancy can throw off the healthy balance of microbes in the vagina. This makes yeast infections more likely in pregnancy. But, unlike other vaginal infections, there’s no concrete evidence that vaginal yeast infections increase the risk of pregnancy complications or preterm birth.
Yeast infections can be safely treated with an OTC or prescription antifungal cream or vaginal suppositories. Just be sure to check with a healthcare professional first.
An oral antifungal medication (like fluconazole) isn’t generally recommended for women who are pregnant. Some research suggests it could cause birth defects in babies exposed to high doses.
How can trichomoniasis affect pregnancy?
It’s not clear if trichomoniasis increases the risk of premature delivery or low birth weight. There’s limited evidence showing whether or not treatment with oral metronidazole prevents these risks during pregnancy. Larger studies are needed to study the association. Your healthcare team can guide you through testing and treatment for trichomonas infection.
Frequently asked questions
Whether or not vaginitis will go away on its own depends on the cause. Vaginitis due to BV or mild yeast infection can sometimes go away on its own without treatment. But treatment is often the best way to get relief from symptoms quickly and keep vaginitis from persisting. Trichomoniasis always needs treatment, even if you don’t have symptoms.
No, diagnosis requires testing. Symptoms alone can’t determine what’s going on because there are often shared symptoms between different types of vaginitis and infections affecting the vagina. It’s best to see a medical professional if you think you have vaginitis, especially if you’re pregnant.
Whether or not vaginitis will go away on its own depends on the cause. Vaginitis due to BV or mild yeast infection can sometimes go away on its own without treatment. But treatment is often the best way to get relief from symptoms quickly and keep vaginitis from persisting. Trichomoniasis always needs treatment, even if you don’t have symptoms.
No, diagnosis requires testing. Symptoms alone can’t determine what’s going on because there are often shared symptoms between different types of vaginitis and infections affecting the vagina. It’s best to see a medical professional if you think you have vaginitis, especially if you’re pregnant.
The bottom line
Vaginitis is a broad term for inflammation of the vagina. There are several possible causes, including yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, and vaginal dryness. If you have unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor, it’s best to get medical attention. Your healthcare team can help determine the cause and recommend the right course of treatment.
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References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2025). Vaginitis.
Brabant, G. (2016). Bacterial vaginosis and spontaneous preterm birth. Journal de Gynécologie Obstétrique et Biologie de la Reproduction.
Church, D., et al. (2025). Evaluating the epidemiology of vaginitis in a contemporary cohort: A population-based study. Frontiers in Public Health.
Gigi, R. M. S., et al. (2023). Vulvovaginal yeast infections during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Women’s Health.
Gülmezoglu, A. M, et al. (2011). Interventions for trichomoniasis in pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Hildebrand, J. P., et al. (2025). Vaginitis. StatPearls.
Martin, C. D., et al. (2020). Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis: A closer look. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners.
Mills, B.B. (2017). Vaginitis: Beyond the basics. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America.
Mølgaard-Nielsen, D., et al. (2016). Association between use of oral fluconazole during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. JAMA.
Paladine, H., et al. (2018). Vaginitis: Diagnosis and treatment. American Family Physician.
Vodstrcil, L. A., et al. (2025). Male-partner treatment to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. The New England Journal of Medicine.
