According to a 2024 study, millions of doctor’s visits are made every year as a result of vaginitis and its symptoms. As such, you can see how common this condition is, but did you know that, in some cases, you can manage it at home? But when does vaginitis become a problem you’ll need to treat at the clinic?
Schaumburg Immediate Care offers urgent care and family medicine. That’s why we treat everything from COVID-19 to sore throats to, yes, even vaginitis. So, we’re here to give you the skinny on this condition as well as when you should make an appointment for a terrible case of it.
Vaginitis is sometimes confused with urinary tract infections or vice versa. After all, since everything’s in the same area, it’s easy to feel unsure of what’s happening. But there’s a key difference you can easily spot: UTIs affect your urination, so you’ll feel burning or pain when you go to the bathroom or an increased urgency to pee.
With vaginitis, however, you may feel pain and discomfort, but many people experience it constantly in and around the vulva. In addition, vaginitis causes discharge that is either a concerning color, smell, or both. Finally, discomfort during sex is a common feature, as is redness and swelling of the vulva, both of which are not common with UTIs.
Vaginitis has a few primary roots, which include
Any of these issues can occur for a number of reasons, from wearing tight pants or douching (which causes BV) to taking certain medications to even having a poor diet, especially when living with diabetes (which can cause a yeast infection). Multiple issues can also interact to cause it again and again.
Did you know there are ways to manage the condition at home? First, make sure you understand the symptoms of the condition. If you do, you can take a few steps at home to manage it effectively.
In most cases, this type of gentle, natural care will help clear up the condition in a few days. But of course, this isn’t always the case.
Why do so many people visit the doctor for vaginitis if it can just clear up on its own? Well, it’s common for patients to get scared when their genital area becomes painful. Still, it’s also because there are legitimate situations in which you should visit the doctor for vaginitis, no matter what its root cause. Consider the following:
All of these are signs that something is truly amiss or that continued exposure to vaginitis could spell trouble. If you are experiencing a smelly or strangely colored discharge or you’re in a lot of pain, you could be dealing with a severe condition that the at-home remedies probably won’t be able to manage. In addition, those worried about an STD should definitely get tested.
Finally, if you’re pregnant, you’ll want to make sure the condition is cured up quickly and effectively. And those who have not had this condition or don’t remember how to treat it at home should at least consider booking an appointment to learn or relearn the basics.
But in many cases, it can be handled efficiently either at home or in our clinic. Still, it’s important to know when you need to see a doctor so you can get it treated as soon as possible.
We’re available for appointments at our Schaumburg, Illinois, clinic. Simply call 847-250-1700 or book online. We’re here to help.
