Vulvovaginitis Questions & Answers

Updated: Dec 07, 2022
  • Author: Jill M Krapf, MD, MEd, FACOG, NCMP, IF; Chief Editor: Christine Isaacs, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is vulvovaginitis?

What are the signs and symptoms of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What are the signs and symptoms of chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What are the signs and symptoms of atrophic vaginitis?

What are the signs and symptoms of vulvar vestibulitis?

What are the signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis associated with vulvovaginitis?

How is vulvovaginitis diagnosed?

What is included in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

How is atrophic vaginitis treated?

How is pain managed in vulvar vestibulitis?

How is contact dermatitis related to vulvovaginitis treated?

What is vulvovaginitis?

What are the entities of vulvovaginitis?

Why is the differential diagnosis of vulvovaginitis complex?

What are the sources for patient education about vulvovaginitis?

What is the anatomy of the vulva relative to vulvovaginitis?

What is the pathophysiology of vulvovaginitis?

What is the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What is the role of pregnancy in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What is the role of contraception in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Which factors increase the risk for vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What is the risk factors for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What is the role of sexual transmission in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What is the pathophysiology of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the role of menopause in the etiology of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the pathophysiology vulvar vestibulitis?

What is the role of histology in determining the etiology of vulvar vestibulitis?

What are infectious etiologies of vulvar vestibulitis?

What are noninfectious etiologies of vulvar vestibulitis?

What is the neurologic pathophysiology of vulvar vestibulitis?

What is the pathophysiology contact dermatitis related to vulvovaginitis?

Which irritants can cause contact dermatitis related to vulvovaginitis?

What is the incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in the US?

What is the incidence of atrophic candidiasis in the US?

What is the global incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

How does the incidence of vulvovaginitis vary by age?

What is the prognosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What is the prognosis of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the prognosis of vulvar vestibulitis?

Presentation

What are the signs and symptoms of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What are the physical findings characteristic of chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What are the signs and symptoms of atrophic vaginitis?

What are the physical findings characteristic of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the clinical history characteristic of vulvar vestibulitis?

What are the forms of vulvar vestibulitis?

What are the symptoms of vulvar vestibulitis?

Which physical findings are characteristic of vulvar vestibulitis?

What are the signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis in vulvovaginitis?

DDX

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of vulvovaginitis?

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of prepubertal girls with vaginal discharge?

Workup

What is the role of lab studies in the evaluation of vulvovaginitis?

Which lab studies are performed in the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Which lab studies are performed in the diagnosis of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the role of vaginal pH in the diagnosis of vulvovaginitis?

What is the role of wet-mount test in the diagnosis of vulvovaginitis?

Treatment

What is the role of treatment of over-the-counter (OTC) medications in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

What is the optimum treatment for vulvar vestibulitis?

What are the treatment options for contact dermatitis in relation to vulvovaginitis?

What is the role of fluconazole in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Which antimycotic regimens are used in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

How is recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis treated?

What is the role of black cohosh in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the role of estrogen therapy in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

Which modality of estrogen administration is most effective for the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of estrogen cream for treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

How effective is a vaginal ring in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

How effective are vaginal tablets in in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the risk of developing endometrial carcinoma following estrogen treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

What are alternative treatments to hormone therapy for atrophic vaginitis?

What is the role of dong quai in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the role of isoflavones in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

What is the role of moisturizers and lubricants in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

What are the treatment options for vulvar vestibulitis?

What is the role of oral calcium citrate in the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis?

What is the role of alpha interferon in the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis?

Which medications are used in the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis?

What is the role of surgery in the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis?

What are treatment options for contact dermatitis caused by vulvovaginitis?

Medications

Which medications are used for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Which medications are used for the treatment of atrophic vaginitis?

Which medications are used in the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis?

Which medications are used in the treatment of contact dermatitis caused by vulvovaginitis?

Which medications in the drug class Estrogens are used in the treatment of Vulvovaginitis?

Which medications in the drug class Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of Vulvovaginitis?

Which medications in the drug class Antifungals, Systemic are used in the treatment of Vulvovaginitis?

Which medications in the drug class Antifungals, Vaginal are used in the treatment of Vulvovaginitis?

Which medications in the drug class Estrogen Receptor Antagonists are used in the treatment of Vulvovaginitis?