How to Prevent and Treat the Most Common Vaginal Infections

An infection isn’t welcome in any part of your body. But when it affects your vagina, it can be particularly troubling. You might be dealing with unusual discharge or odor. 

You probably want to do what you can to clear up the infection as quickly as possible — and to prevent it from coming back. 

That’s where we come in. Our all-female team at Elite Gynecology specializes in treating bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal infections. At our offices in Manhattan, Forest Hills, or Rego Park, New York, we can help you clear your infection and minimize the risk of it returning.

Treatment and prevention depend on the type of vaginal infection with which you’re dealing. With that in mind, let’s look at the most common issues in this category. 

#1: Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common kind of vaginal infection. You might notice watery discharge or a fishy odor after sex. 

Here’s the good news: We have a treatment that very effectively clears this infection. With an antibiotic such as metronidazole or clindamycin, we can target the bacteria responsible for BV. You might take the antibiotic as a pill or apply it as a vaginal gel. 

Preventing bacterial vaginosis comes down to supporting your vagina’s healthy bacterial balance. Wear breathable clothes and underwear. Practice safe sex. When you have a bowel movement, wipe from front to back to avoid moving bad bacteria toward your vagina.

Also, don’t douche or use harsh soaps inside your vagina. If you want help finding personal care products that protect your bacterial balance, ask our team. 

#2: Yeast infection

With a yeast infection, you might have itching, burning, or thick discharge. While BV is caused by a bacterium, yeast infections are caused by a fungus. 

Fortunately, antifungal medication can usually clear up this infection relatively easily. We might recommend that you use a suppository with miconazole for a few days or take a dose of fluconazole orally, for example. 

To prevent yeast infections from returning, you want to protect your vagina’s natural bacterial and fungal balance. Don’t use scented products in the area and avoid taking antibiotics you don’t need. Change out of wet clothes as soon as you can. Also, don’t douche.

#3: Trichomoniasis 

Also simply called trich, trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause itching, yellow or green discharge, and pain when you pee. You can usually clear this STI with a round of antibiotics such as metronidazole or tinidazole.

To prevent recurrence, all of your sexual partners must get treated, too (that means they take a round of antibiotics). If they don’t, you can pass this infection back and forth. Safe sex practices, including using protection and limiting your partners, help you avoid getting trich again. 

If you think you might have a vaginal infection, we’re here to help you get treatment to clear it and prevent it from coming back. Call Elite Gynecology or book an appointment online today.