Diagnosing Vaginitis

Senile vaginitis is diagnosed through a Pap-Smear test where the cells from your cervix and vagina are taken for the test.

Must Read: Got Your Annual Pap-Smear Test Done?

Treating Vaginitis

Since this type of infection happens due to lack of oestrogen, your doctor may first put you on oestrogen tablets and may give you some oestrogen creams for local application to bring down the itchiness.

If oestrogen tablets do not work, your doctor may also ask you to go for a hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

However, while treating this infection, your doctor needs to make sure you are not suffering from diabetes, stroke or cancer.

Wear comfortable cotton panties.

Prevention

Once the infection is treated, you need to take care that it does not recur. To prevent this infection from recurring, make sure you keep your vagina clean and not very dry.

If your vagina is dry, do not apply soap because soap will dry the area even more.

Instead, you can go for a gentle body wash which does not have a strong drying effect. If you feel your vagina is becoming dry, you need to consult your doctor and start taking oestrogen supplements.

Since you are at a higher risk of getting the infection, get yourself checked by your doctor regularly so that you can keep the infection away.

(With inputs from Dr. Ranjana Dhanu, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician from Lilavati Hospital and Rishma Dhillon Pai, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician from Jaslok Hospital)