“Intimate infection” is a symptom category—not one diagnosis
Vaginitis and vulvovaginitis describe inflammation involving the vagina and sometimes the external vulval skin. Common infectious causes include bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis and trichomoniasis. Cervicitis or other sexually transmitted infections, urinary infection and pelvic inflammatory disease may produce overlapping symptoms.
Not every symptom is infectious. Scented washes, douching, pads or detergents, contact allergy, eczema, lichen-related skin conditions, low-estrogen changes around menopause, retained material and other causes may create itching, discharge, burning or discomfort.
Because symptoms overlap, an ethical treatment plan begins with a private history and targeted assessment. The goal is to identify what is present, what is not present, and whether treatment, testing, follow-up or referral is needed.
- New or changed discharge
- Fishy or unusual odour
- Itching, soreness or burning
- Pain while passing urine
- Pain during intercourse
- Recurrent symptoms after treatment
- Symptoms after a new sexual exposure
- Symptoms during pregnancy or menopause




