Female Sexual Health and Infections
Women have a unique fragile body and reproductive system which requires extra care in order to avoid infections and other health issues. Sexual health is understanding how your body functions in order to influence the choices you make, and for controlling your health by seeking care and treatment when needed. Sexual health is also part of your emotional and physical health encompassing sex and sexuality. Our team of Gynaecologists are experienced diagnosing and treating a wide range of infections.
Common infections and treatments we manage:
- Yeast Infection
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Vaginal Discharge
- STI’s
- Vaginitis (Recurring Vaginal Infections)
Overview of Sexual Health Infections and Diseases
There are certain factors that can however affect your sexual health and may lead to certain infections or diseases. These include:
Vaginal Yeast Infection
This is an infection in the vagina caused by a type of fungus called Candida albicans. The fungus can be present without a visible sign. It normally occurs when the balance of yeast and bacteria are disrupted, causing the yeast to overgrow. However, vaginal yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease because even women who are not sexually active can get affected.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infection is an infection that occurs in the urinary system such as bladder, urethra, kidneys and ureter. Most commonly the infection occurs at the lower urinary system, which is the urethra and bladder. Urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria enters the urinary system via the urethra and reproduces in the bladder until it forms an infection in the urinary tract.
Abnormal Vaginal Discharge
Abnormal vaginal discharge occurs when the discharge in the vagina appears in a rare color like green or yellow, has a foul smell or comes out consistently. This indicates a sign of bacterial or yeast infection. A normal discharge is supposed to be either white or clear and stretchy, watery, brown or bloody depending on the female cycle that you are on.
Vaginitis
Vaginitis entails a wide range of factors such as a decrease in the production of estrogen hormone, allergy, or irritation that may cause inflammation and infection. It is also known as vulvovaginitis as it affects the vulva or the vagina. Common causes of vaginitis include yeast, bacterial infection and viruses.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
This is an infection caused by bad bacteria known as anaerobes that is found in the vagina. In normal case there is lactobacilli (assists in fighting off and controlling infectious bacteria from growing) and anaerobes (the infectious bacteria) that are found in the vagina. When they are disrupted, the anaerobes bacteria tend to increase therefore causing bacterial vaginosis. This is most common during pregnancy.
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs)
STI is a condition that is spread from one person to another through unprotected sexual interaction. The symptoms can vary from being mild to severe. It is easier to diagnose sexually transmitted infections when there are symptoms present. Therefore, it is advisable to seek medical attention when you spot any abnormal signs or symptoms appearing in, on, or around the vagina. During the consultation, your doctor will perform various tests to be able to detect and identify which type of infection the patient has.
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