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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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In this Article

• Vaginitis facts
• What is vaginitis?
• What causes vaginitis?
• What are the risk factors for vaginitis?
• What are the symptoms of vaginitis?
• What about vaginitis in children?
• What about vaginitis during pregnancy?
• How is vaginitis diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for vaginitis?
• What home remedies are available to treat vaginitis?
• Can vaginitis be prevented?
• What is the prognosis for vaginitis?
• Patient Comments: Vaginitis - Causes
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Vaginitis Index

The treatment for vaginitis depends upon the exact cause.

Bacterial infections are commonly treated with injections of antibiotics or oral antibiotics. The cephalosporin drugs, such as ceftriaxone or cefixime (Suprax), are typically used to treat gonorrhea. Treatment for gonorrhea should always include medication that will treat Chlamydia (for example, azithromycin [Zithromax, Zmax] or doxycycline [Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox and others]) as well as gonorrhea, because gonorrhea and Chlamydia frequently exist together in the same person. Guidelines for treatment of STDs are constantly being adjusted based on the resistance of the infections to antibiotics.

Bacterial vaginosis is usually treated by metronidazole (Flagyl) taken either by mouth or applied as a vaginal gel or by vaginal clindamycin cream (Cleocin).

The treatment for trichomoniasis vaginitis is usually a single oral dose of metronidazole or tinidazole.

Yeast vaginitis is usually treated with topical anti-fungal medications including butoconazole (Femstat 3), clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole (Monistat), and terconazole (Terazol 3). Other antifungal drugs are available as vaginal tablets such as clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex), miconazole, (Monistat; Micatin), terconazole (Terazol), and nystatin (Mycostatin). Oral medications for yeast vaginitis and vulvitis include fluconazole (Diflucan), but oral antifungal drugs are associated with some unpleasant side effects like headache and nausea.

While there is no cure for atrophic vaginitis that arises in postmenopausal women, systemic or topical estrogen preparations can provide relief. For women who do not choose to take hormone therapy, a number of vaginal lubricant products are available.