What causes Vaginitis?

In a healthy vagina there are several kinds of microorganisms that live and interact peacefully. These include bacteria and yeast, which are present not just in the vagina but also in the stomach and intestine of a normal healthy woman. In a normal healthy vagina the yeast is present in small numbers. During vaginitis this natural environment gets disturbed and causes the yeast cells to overgrow resulting in an infection. Apart from yeast, there are many bacterial cells present in the vaginal lining. One such bacterium is lactobacillus. This is the friendly bacterium and it helps in maintaining the environment of the vagina. The bacteria also help in controlling the presence of yeast. Loss of lactobacillus disturbs the natural environment of the vagina. The bacterial growth gets out of hand which causes inflammation of the vaginal lining, resulting in vaginitis. 


Yeast and bacteria are the most common causes for a vaginitis infection. Apart from these two microorganisms a woman can also contract an infection from a protozoa (a single celled parasite) called Trichomoniasis, or Trichomonas (also called as Trich). This kind of vaginitis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and a woman can get it from her male partner. Apart from these, vaginitis can also be a result of a viral infection. Viral infections are usually contracted through sexual contact and are more painful and serious. 

But not all vaginitis episodes are a result of infections. An episode of vaginitis can be a result of an allergy. Some women are allergic to vaginal sprays, douches or the spermicidal chemicals present in condoms. Sometimes perfumes, soaps or even fabric softeners irritate the sensitive skin of vagina. Non-infectious vaginitis can also be caused by hormonal imbalances. This kind of vaginitis is most commonly seen in women who have had their ovaries removed, are postmenopausal, have recently delivered and are breastfeeding or undergoing radiation therapy. Doctors say that this happens due to a lack of estrogen, an important hormone in women. Estrogen deficiency causes the vaginal lining to dry and become thin causing the skin to itch and hurt.