Genital Tract Infection

Are you experiencing any itching, rashes or irritation in your genital region? Don’t ignore it. Visit an experienced gynaecologist at Definite Cure today for simple diagnosis of a possible genital tract infection and get the best treatment options.

Overview

Genital tract infections, also known as reproductive tract infections can lead to extreme pain, discomfort, and unwanted consequences in women. These infections are classified into two main categories:

Lower Genital Tract Infections: This includes any infection of the lower reproductive tract including the vagina, vulva and cervix.
Upper Genital Tract Infections: This includes any infection of the upper reproductive tract which includes the fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries.

Types of Genital Tract Infection

Depending on the causes of the genital tract infection, they can be segregated into three types:

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: As the name suggests, these diseases are contracted through unprotected sexual intercourse. The most common STDs include gonorrhoea, chlamydia, chancroid and HIV or human immunodeficiency virus.
Endogenous Infections: These issues are caused by the overgrowth of certain organisms that are commonly found in the genital tract of healthy women. This includes conditions like vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis etc.
Iatrogenic Infections: These infections are caused by medical procedures that have been performed improperly. The most common causes of these infections are poor delivery or childbirth and unsafe abortion.

Any reproductive tract infection in women is treatable, provided it is diagnosed early. Complications related to the infection are most prevalent in the upper genital tract which can lead to issues with conception, pregnancy, etc.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of any genital tract infection in women are as follows:

Itching and redness in the vaginal region
Vaginal spotting or bleeding
Difficulty during urination
Burning sensation during urination
Painful intercourse
Change in the amount of vaginal discharge
Change in the colour of vaginal discharge
Heavy bleeding during periods
Inconsistency in periods
Pain in the lower abdomen

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, make sure you visit your gynaecologist immediately for a test.

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Causes

Diagnosis

The first step of diagnosing any female reproductive tract infections is to understand the symptoms and causes. Your doctor may ask you a few questions like:

What are the symptoms you are experiencing?
For how long have you noticed these symptoms?
Do you experience any pain during intercourse?
Have you engaged in unprotected sex?
Are you currently undergoing any fertility treatment?
Have you had these symptoms in the past?

Once you answer these questions, the doctor will perform a physical examination. This is followed by different tests such as:

Pap Smear
Hysteroscopy
Laparoscopy
Pelvic Ultrasound

What are the treatments for Genital Tract Infection?

Based on the source of the infection, the reproductive tract infection treatment procedure varies. The most common treatment options are as follows:

Topical creams: For any vaginal or lower genital tract infection at the surface level, topical creams are provided to ease the symptoms.
Antibiotics: In case of bacterial or other microbial genital tract infection causes, antibiotics are prescribed to reduce the infection and the growth of the microbial population.

Laparoscopic surgery: This is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to manage complications in the infection of the fallopian tube, pelvic inflammatory disease etc.

Post-Operative Care and Prevention

If you undergo any surgical procedure, make sure you consume the medicines prescribed to prevent any infection. You must also follow up with your doctor as required to monitor your progress.

Preventive measures for genital tract infections are as follows:

Ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of the genitals.
Avoid unprotected sex
Have an active lifestyle
A healthy diet is a must to prevent infections
Avoid the use of any abrasive soaps to clean the genital areas.
Stay hydrated

The Definite Cure Advantage

Minimal access procedures
Short duration of procedures
Faster healing
Zero scarring
Painless surgical options
Short or no hospital stay
Skilled doctors from Safdarjung and AIIMs
Early rejoin of work