GYN

Diagnosing Vaginitis – Why the Office Visit Still Matters

CLINICAL ACTIONS:

A patient presents with vaginal inflammation with discharge, pain and/or itching. Next steps should include

Problem-focused history

BV
- Fishy odor | Thin homogeneous discharge (possibly worse after intercourse)
Candidiasis
- No odor | White, thick, ‘curdlike’ or ‘cheesy’ discharge | Itching and/or burning
Trichomoniasis
- Foul odor | Green or yellow, frothy discharge | Vaginal pain or soreness
Atrophic vaginitis
- Thin, clear discharge | Dryness | Dyspareunia | Itching
Irritant/allergic vaginitis
- Burning and/or soreness
Desquamative Inflammatory vaginitis
- Green or yellow (purulent) discharge | Burning | Dyspareunia

Exam including inspection of the vulva, vagina and cervix

BV
- Inflammation not usually present
Candidiasis
- Erythema | Edema
Trichomoniasis
- Inflammation | Strawberry Cervix
Atrophic vaginitis
- Inflammation | Thin/friable mucosa
Irritant/allergic vaginitis
- Erythema
Desquamative Inflammatory vaginitis (DIV)
- Varying vestibular and vaginal erythema

Appropriate laboratory testing

Collection of and microscopic examination of a 10% KOH and saline prep (wet mount)
Culture (if necessary)
- Yeast: Obtain if recurrent candidiasis or possible non-albicans Candida (suspect if blastospores ‘only’ or persistent treatment after treatment) | Negative microscopy with signs and/or symptoms of candidiasis
- Trichomoniasis: ACOG recommends culture with a negative wet mount in the following circumstances
  - Persistent symptoms following treatment | high vaginal pH and WBCs on microscopy | Pap suspicious for T. vaginalis | patient desire for screening
  - Note: CDC considers NAAT screening more sensitive for T. vaginalis then culture (previous gold standard) or wet mount
- Mucopurulent cervicitis: Test (DNA or cultures) for gonorrhea or chlamydia
- HSV: If any vulvar fissure/lesion suggestive of herpes simplex virus, perform viral culture or PCR assay for HSV DNA by swabbing the lesion
  - Type-specific HSV serologic assays might be useful in the following scenarios: 1) recurrent genital symptoms or atypical symptoms with negative HSV PCR or culture; 2) clinical diagnosis of genital herpes without laboratory confirmation (CDC STD Guidelines)

Perform “whiff test” with 10% KOH, and microscopy with saline

Positive whiff test
- Negative (-) for WBC: Treat for bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Positive (+) for WBC: Review signs/symptoms for trichomoniasis or mixed bacterial vaginosis or cervicitis
Negative whiff test
- negative (-) for WBC: Noninfectious

Determine vaginal pH

If pH is normal (<4.7) consider the following

Infectious: Vulvovaginal candidiasis | Genital herpes
Noninfectious: Physiologic leukorrhea | Vulvodynia | Dermatitis/dermatoses

If pH is elevated (>4.7) consider the following

Infectious: Bacterial vaginosis | Trichomoniasis | Cervicitis
Noninfectious: Blood | Semen | Atrophic vaginitis | Lichen planus | Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV)

SYNOPSIS:

Vaginitis is a general term for disorders of the vagina, but does not indicate the underlying cause. Vaginitis may result from infection, inflammation, or may reflect changes in the normal vaginal microbiome. The disorder is termed vulvovaginosis when the vulva is involved. When patients present with symptoms of itching/burning/irritation/dyspareunia/discharge consider a broad range of possibilities including but not limited to the triad of bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomoniasis and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Office based tests such as those above also have a low sensitivity. Accurate diagnosis may require a combination of a careful history, vulvar or vaginal biopsy and appropriate culture.

KEY POINTS:

Self-diagnosis and treatment, while convenient, may be unreliable and results in frequent misuse of OTC products
No microscope: ACOG recommends the following
- Vaginal pH testing narrows the differential diagnosis of vaginitis for BV and trichomoniasis
- BV: ‘Point of care’ FDA approved tests available for pH and amines, G vaginalis proline iminopeptidase activity and vaginal sialidases
  - ACOG considers the role of these tests to still be “unclear’ in “current diagnostic algorithms”, but may be an option if a microscope is unavailable
- Candidiasis: History | Exam | Culture
- Obtain vaginal secretions slide for future Gram stain if possible
Incidental findings on Pap test
- Not diagnostic
- BV on Pap
  - Symptomatic: pH, amine test, and wet mount
  - Asymptomatic: Do not treat
- Trichomoniasis on Pap
  - High false-positive rate (8% standard and 4% liquid-based)
    - Wet mount for confirmation
    - If wet mount negative, NAAT or culture
    - If diagnostic tests not available, can consider metronidazole, but high rate of unnecessary treatment