Inflammatory Vaginitis

[obgyn87]

I was recently diagnosed with inflammatory vaginitis, and no dcotor can seem to tell me the cause or what triggered this problem. Has anyone else heard of this problem, and had success in treating it? Has anyone had a life-long complications from it? This is all very new to me, and upsetting considering I've never had a problem before in my life.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[MSTRAT]

I was recently diagnosed with Inflammatory vaginitis also.  The doctor said it is very rare. I was given cortisone to use vaginally twice a week and premarin.  The premarin caused problems and so he stopped it.  Last week he told me that I would take the cortisone the rest of my life and to come back to see him in a year.  I am confused with this and am searching the internet for information.  That is when I found your link. I would also like any information on this subject.

[prettygirl0]

i too have inflamation of the virina and when i have sexual intercoure it gets inflamed and bleeds could this be inflammatory vaginis are they the right sytotoms of this ? if eny one help ?

[jebs1566]

I have a problem with sex, I can't have intercourse because it feels like little peices of glass are being put inside me. What are the symtoms of imflam. vaginitis?

[worried189806]

After many tests which were all negative for bacteria and infections, and much research of my own, I believe I have desquamative inflammatory vaginitis.  I have yellow discharge and soreness.  I have been told that they do not know what causes it and therefore do not know what cures it. I am on a trial of Clindamycin cream every other night for 6 weeks to see if that works.  I've not been diagnosed, my Dr is doing an elimination thing to see what may work. Can't find any definite answer anywhere.

[Cait1284]

I was diagnosesd with desquamative inflammatory vaginitis.  My doctor told me its an auto-immune response where for whatever reason, your vagina decides to continually shed cells.  The yellow discharge they tested showed lots of white blood cells and strep, which are classic conditions.  I can emphathize with you - this has been going on for about four months.  My doctor tried me on estrogen and hydrocortison suppositories on a taper for about 5 weeks.  It worked great for awhile, but my symptoms have returned.  I head back to my doc tomorrow.  I am sore, itchy, and generally uncomfortable.  Maybe the estrogen would work for you.  How is the Clindamycin working for you?  

[ren11]

i had a pap smear test done and  the results were negative no cervical cancer.however it revealed that i have cellular changes associated with inflammatory effects and i should do an (HVS) High Vaginal Swab test.can anyone tell me what this means.have an appointment wt my docter but that is quite on the  3rd nxt month.i know it is some sort of infection but am worried as to the extent of the problem.

[worried189806]

Used clindamycin cream for just over 3 weeks and it did stop discharge. But after that I was so sore have not been able to use it since and discharge has come back. Back to Drs in 3 weeks.

[j123k123]

High Vaginal Swab is used to detect on Gram stain BV (bacterial vaginosis), yeast, and perhaps Trichomonas. However, if something else is causing an infection (such as Staph or Strep), it may not be reported since these organisms can be normal flora so it is not routinely cultured. HVS is NOT used to detect STIs gonorrhea or chlamydia (a cervical swab is required for that).

[Cait1284]

I just went to doc this week, and all my cultures came back negative for the white blood cells and strep, so it seems like the suppositories I was on treated the DIV pretty well.  I haven't had any of that discharge I did before that lead to the DIV diagnosis (knock on wood...).   Maybe you should talk to your doc. about an estrogen/hydrocortison suppositories?  I took one every night for two weeks, then just twice a week for two weeks and once a week for two weeks.  My doc had to order them from a special pharmacy since they don't just make them like a regular prescription, so insurance often does not cover them.  I still have a slight irritation, and my doc. said that the slight irritation that I still have is unrelated to the DIV and likely just cronic inflammation or from getting over all the extra estrogen.   Good luck!

[worried189806]

I am pleased your problem has been sorted.  Did your Dr say if it would come back, or what to do if your irritation carries on?  About the estrogen - were you ever tested for estrogen deficiency?  Do you mind me asking if you are menopausal?

[worried189806]

So pleased to hear your problem has been sorted. Did Dr say if it might come back, and what to do if irriation carries on?  Did you have test for estrogen deficiency? Do you mind me asking if you are menopausal?

[Cait1284]

I am only 25, so not menopausal yet!  Dr. said to only come back if I get that yellow discharge; just deal with irritation by using compresses.  I noticed that discharge coming back today... of course, right?  JUST when you think you are getting some where.  I'll give it a few days.  I was never tested for estrogem deficiency, but I'm not sure I'd get an accurate reading since I'm on the pill.  

[worried189806]

Went back to Drs today. Continuing with Clindamycin every other night for another 4 weeks.  Don't feel this is working though.  Have your symptoms returned like before and have you been back to Dr?  I am only 27 so don't think I have estrogen deficiency.

[eli25]

Hi-
  I can so relate to all of your symptoms. I started having inflammation in the vulvar area and spotting after sex, went to the doctor they said DIV. I was treated with the clindamyacin which did make the increase in white blood cells go away, however, the inflammation continued, also the spotting after sex. I tried estrogen inserts as well, and they didn't seem to help. Also was given various levels of hydrocortisone cream, which while it seemed to relieve symptoms of itching and burning from discharge, did not really improve the inflammation. I also was tested for all brands of yeast, STDs, everything, I even had a biopsy of the vulvar area which was inconclusive. I am 25 years old as well. I think it's so interesting that so many of us are in our 20's and definitely not estrogen deficient or most likely not. I have an appointment with a vulvar disease specialist this summer, but I have been looking for a support community. This has been so difficult to deal with especially in terms of relationships and sex. Would love to hear from all of you.
Good luck!
Rebecca

[BoiseM]

Hi Rebecca. Did you manage to resolve your DIV? If so, would love to know how. A dear friend of mine was recently diagnosed and tried everything you had described without success.

[Daisyc1986]

I’m wondering too, I’m in the same boat as you. Did you ever cure it?

[tstt]

i had a pap-smear test done 30-6-09 however the laboratory analysis of my pap smear reveals that i have CELLULAR CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS.  i dont no whats that i need help

[Paris75008]

I was told I have Chronic Inflammatory Vaginitis, too, about 8 years ago, but mine is caused by medicines, food, & liquids my body doesn't like. The big flare-up then was a result of prescription potassium I'd taken for years. The result was cellulitis of the "area", and later a biopsy. Since then, I've learned that eating salsa, fresh pineapple or mangos has the same burning effect on the area. Currently, B12 pills caused a flare-up about a month ago, and my dr. gave me the strongest cortisone cream she could prescribe! I am 63 and have very few days without pain. Paris75008

[byvette26]

I am 27 years old and have been dealing with vaginal itching for the past year. I have had some discharge that looks yellowish/greenish. My itching is on the inside and outside of the vagina. Does it sound like I have DIV? My docotor has been doing test after test, including a recent biopsy and culture that showed high white blood cell count. My results came back with yeast, so she put me on a 3-day course intravaginal suppositories. The medicine worked, but it has only been a month and I am back with the itching again, so I have to go back to see her. I live in Houston and my docotor is one of the best, but I am wondering if I should hee some kind of a specialist. Anybody have any advise?

[rea09]

I have been having these problems too. I am 24 and It seems like ever other month I have to get new antibiotics. They said that I had strep the last time I went and a very low white blood cell count. I do not know why all of this is happening. It all started about 7 months ago. I did start taking Sprintec the 3 month no period pill around that same time as I have had really painful periods in the past and i decided that I only wanted 4 periods a year. Do you think this is the cause? I have been on bcp's before and never had any problems. I have been diagnosed with BV also in the past 7 months which I have never had before. While on antiboitics I feel a lot better and as soon as I go off of them within days the pain comes back and i feel like there is a clamp inside squeezing everything. The docs are confussed and just keep giving me more and more antibiotics.

[ellebell23]

I was diagnosed wiith desquamative inflammatory vaginitis 5 years ago. Clindamycin works for a few weeks, but symptoms come back. The only way to manage this is long term treatment with a compounded cream of Clindamycin, Estrogen and Hydrocortisone. Use nightly for a month, then every other day for 2 weeks, then as needed-I use a few times a month, usually right before my period. As I've said, it's been yeras, and this is the only treatment that has managed to really reduce symptoms overall, but it seems to require ongoing maintenance and there does not seem to be a real "cure/"

[student2020]

I was recently told that I had a trichomonas infection, only to have my culture come back as negative for trichomonas, bacteria, and yeast.  Luckily, my doctor spoke to a Pelvic Pain Specialist who suggested DIV as the diagnosis.  I am being seen by said specialist on Saturday.

Pelvic Pain Specialists may know more about DIV since a common symptom is pain with intercourse.

Regarding the low estrogen fact.  I read somewhere, that sometimes women on the pill naturally make more estrogen; therefore, taking the pill lowers the estrogen in their bodies and their bodies respond as if estrogen is low (ie post menopause).  This is a case by case basis; for many women this is not the case.  Anyway, I started having DIV-type symptoms on and off when I started the pill, so this is something I'm going to discuss with the specialist.  There is a possibility, that if this is a recurrent issue, and you're on the pill, the next step may be a trial period off the pill to see if your symptoms improve.

[leaves14]

My story is very similiar to what many of you have wrote about above. Currently, my gyno is trying to fgure out if I have inflammatory vaginitis, vulvodynia, or ??????. Please let me know what has/has not worked for you. I am searching for hope and hopefully a cure. Thanks!

[JPBTech]

Inflammatory vaginitis is caused by, at least, one of the following: bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, candidiasis and desquamative inflammatory vaginitis.

Treatment:

Hygienic measures
Symptomatic treatment
Treatment of cause

The vulva should be kept as clean as possible. Soaps and unnecessary topical preparations (eg, feminine hygiene sprays) should be avoided. Intermittent use of ice packs or warm sitz baths with or without baking soda may reduce soreness and pruritus.

If symptoms are moderate or severe or do not respond to other measures, drugs may be needed. For pruritus, topical corticosteroids (eg, topical 1% hydrocortisone bid prn) can be applied to the vulva but not in the vagina. Oral antihistamines decrease pruritus and cause drowsiness, helping patients sleep.

Any infection or other cause is treated. Foreign bodies are removed. Prepubertal girls are taught good perineal hygiene (eg, wiping front to back after bowel movements and voiding, washing hands, avoiding fingering the perineum). If chronic vulvar inflammation is due to being bedridden or incontinent, better vulvar hygiene may help.


http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec18/ch246/ch246b.html

[keakaren]

I am 50yrs old, fit and healthy and like so many of you i have had intermittent problems for years but over the past 3 years have had very little relief from these symptoms, clydimycin is still the best but symptoms return quickly after stopping the course. Health E cream soothes externally, I have found wearing a tampon on the heavy clear fluid days stops the blistering externally. i really hope someone is working on a cure for this, lucky i have a wonderful supportive husband of 30 years, but still is a huge strain on a relationship and some days does your head in with all the pain and discomfort. i have just started vitamin d supplement daily so will let you all no if it helps. keakaren.

[JessicaLove]

For the last 9 months I have been from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what the heck was wrong with me.  I had a yellow discharge, itching, redness, swelling, hurt to pee, sit, everything... oh and just to think about sx hurt... yet all swabs came back with nothing.  After biospies, swabs, and everything under the sun I went to a vulvodynia specialist and after trying all sorts of treatments we finally found one that works and it is treatable !  I was put on clindamaycin (twice a day) for 30 days plus was given a cream that I inserted every other night that was a mixture of clindamaycin and a steroid and within a week it had all cleared up and I have not had a problem since.  I will still be on the cream for 3-6 months and could possibly have a relapse but my doctor has prescribed me oral clindamaycin to take at the first signs of this which is the discharge.  Here is a website that helped me understand it a little more... http://www.brighthub.com/science/medical/articles/64874.aspx