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Lecture : 3 min
24 février 2025
SANTÉ COMMUNAUTAIRE ET MONDIALE
Article
5 Common Misconceptions about Vaginitis
Misconception #1: Vaginitis is always caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Fact: While the symptoms of vaginitis can be caused by STIs, such as trichomoniasis or chlamydia, not all vaginal infections are sexually transmitted. Other vaginal infections that can cause similar symptoms are bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (yeast infection).1
Misconception #2: Vaginitis is related to poor hygiene.
Fact: Vaginitis can occur in individuals with good hygiene practices, and the majority of women will have a vaginal infection, characterized by discharge, itching, burning, or odor, during their lifetime.1 Trichomoniasis, a common cause of vaginitis, is estimated to be the most prevalent nonviral STI worldwide,1 and bacterial vaginosis is reported to be the most common vaginal infection among women of reproductive age worldwide.2
Misconception #3: Vaginitis is always characterized by itching and discharge.
Fact: Although itching and abnormal discharge are common symptoms of vaginitis, not all cases present with these symptoms. Some individuals may experience pain during urination, discomfort during sexual intercourse, odor, or may not have noticeable symptoms at all.1,3 The multiple causes and often overlapping symptoms of vaginal infections can make correct diagnosis a challenge.
Misconception #4: Vaginitis is not a serious condition.
Fact: While some cases of vaginitis may resolve on their own or with basic treatments, it's essential to recognize that certain infections can lead to complications if left untreated. For example, untreated bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can increase the risk of preterm birth.3
Misconception #5: Vaginitis is difficult to diagnose.
Fact: Historically, the diagnosis of vaginitis has been challenging because vaginal symptoms can be caused by several different infections, infections often overlap, and accurate diagnostic tools have not been available. Traditional diagnosis of vaginitis has included microscopic examination of wet mount preparations of vaginal discharge, assessment of vaginal pH, the presence of a chemical reaction when KOH is added to a vaginal sample, vaginal culture, and gram stain. Traditional methods such as these may require extensive training, can be time-consuming, and suffer from low sensitivity and specificity, leading to missed diagnoses, incorrect prescribing, and repeat clinical visits. More recently, rapid point-of-care tests and molecular tests typically performed in clinical laboratories became available.1
Further complicating the diagnosis of vaginitis is providers’ limited awareness of recommended diagnostic practices, and lack of access to point-of-care diagnostic tools, potentially leading to guideline nonadherence and missed diagnoses.4
A recent clinical perspective comparing newer and traditional approaches to diagnosing vaginal infections concluded, “instead of trying to resist the oncoming tide of molecular diagnostics, we can embrace them and put them to appropriate use to effect rapid, accurate, and more flexible diagnosis of vaginitis conditions for our patients.”5 Accurate and simple molecular tests for the most common causes of vaginitis are now available in clinical labs and at the point of care in clinics and gynecology offices.5
Perspective:
Clinicians and patients need to be empowered with accurate information about vaginal infections and the best diagnostic tests available. Patients can benefit from education about the multiple potential causes of vaginal symptoms and be encouraged to seek accurate diagnosis and treatment for vaginitis.
Looking for a simpler way to detect the 3 most common causes of vaginitis: bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis, from a single vaginal swab? Learn about Cepheid’s Multiplex Vaginal Panel test here.
Références :
- Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
- Peebles K, Velloza J, Balkus JE, McClelland RS, Barnabas RV. High Global Burden and Costs of Bacterial Vaginosis: une évaluation systématique et une méta-analyse. Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(5):304-311. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000972
- About Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) | Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) | CDC. Accessed September 10, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/bacterial-vaginosis/about/index.html
- Nyirjesy P, Banker WM, Bonus TM. Physician awareness and adherence to clinical practice guidelines in the diagnosis of vaginitis patients: A retrospective chart review. Popul Health Manag. 2020;23(S1):S13-S21. doi:10.1089/pop.2020.0258
- Powell A, Goje O, Nyirjesy P. A comparison of newer and traditional approaches to diagnosing vaginal infections. Obstet Gynecol. 2024;143(4):491-498. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005529
