Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection.  BV is sometimes also called bacterial vaginitis, or bacterial vaginal infection but is not really a vaginal infection.  It is really an imbalance of the normal bacteria in the vagina. Click to learn more about bacterial vaginosis.

Vulvar or vaginal burning, irritation, pain rawness or discomfort may be caused by a variety of conditions.  This may include chronic yeast infections, skin conditions such as contact dermatitis, lichen sclerosus, plasma cell vulvitis or erosive lichen planus, unusual vaginal infections such as desquamative inflammatory vaginitis or vulvodynia.  Click on any of the conditions to learn more about them.

Carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix (CIS) is also called severe cervical dysplasia and is caused by HPV but is not cancer.  click to learn more about CIS.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also called cervical dysplasia or squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) is further subdivided into low-grade (mild) changes and high-grade (moderate-severe) changes.  The distinction between low-grade and high-grade disease is very important. click to learn more about CIN.

Cuts of the vulva may be caused by a variety of conditions that cause the skin to be swollen or damaged.  This may include chronic yeast infections, or skin conditions such as contact dermatitis, lichen sclerosus or vulvar atrophy.  Click on any of the conditions to learn more about them.

Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV) is an uncommon cause of persistent vaginitis. Women will have an excessive discharge that may have been present for years (often yellow-green, but may be bloody). They may have vulvar burning, irritation and itching. Intercourse is often uncomfortable or painful. Some women complain of odor.  Click to learn more about DIV.

Genital warts (condyloma) are growths that are found on the vulva, vagina, cervix and around the anus.  Click to learn more about genital warts.

Erosive lichen planus is a skin condition that can affect the inside of the mouth, the vulva and the vagina. The symptoms include soreness, burning and rawness. The inner parts of the vulva may be moist, red and have sores.  Click to learn more about erosive lichen planus.

Lichen sclerosus (lichen sclerosis) is a skin condition that can affect the vulva.  It may occur in any age group but is most common in women after menopause.  The most common symptom is itching. When lichen sclerosus affects the vulva it causes the skin to turn white.

 Many conditions of the vulva can cause painful intercourse.  These include vaginal conditions such as yeast infections and desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, vulvar conditions such as contact dermatitis, lichen sclerosus and erosive lichen planus, and vestibulodynia (vulvar vestibulitis syndrome).  Click on any of the conditions to learn more.

Plasma cell vulvitis (Zoon's vulvitis) is a rare condition that can cause vulvar ulcers irritation and pain.

HPV infection is so common in young women that the test should not be done as a routine part of screening in women under 30.  Although most women with a positive HPV test do not have disease, they may require additional testing.  Click here to learn more about positive HPV tests.

There are many diffectent types of vulvar rashes.  Among them are intertrigo, candida vulvitis, allergic and contact dermatitis and many skin contitions such as lichen sclerosus and erosive lichen planus.  Click on any of the conditions to learn about them.

There are many infectious and noninfectious causes of vulvar sores and ulcers.  Some of the more common infectious causes are herpes and yeast infections.  Some of the more common noninfectious causes are erosive lichen planus and aphthous ulcers (vulvar canker sores).  Click on any of the conditions to learn more.

Lichen simplex chronicus of the vulva (also called squamous cell hyperplasia) is a chronic skin condition associated with chronic and intense vulvar itching.

Many conditions can cause vulvar swelling including yeast infections and contact and allergic dermatitis.  Click on any of the conditions to learn more about them. 

Trichomonas vaginitis is a sexually transmitted vaginal infection.  It can cause a gray green vaginal discharge with itching, burning and pain.

Conditions that can cause vaginal dryness include postmenopausal atrophy and yeast infections.  Sometimes women who breast feed can develop severe vaginal atrophy similar to that found in menopause.

Yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis are so common that sometimes less common vaginal conditions are forgotten.  Some, such as physiologic discharge and lactobacillus overgrowth are normal variants.  Others, such as desquamative inflammatory vaginitis are rare and difficult to diagnose.  Click on the various conditions to learn more.

Contact dermatitis is a rash that results when the skin makes contact with an irritating substance. The reaction may either be a type of chemical burn or an allergic reaction and may develop very quickly and severely or more gradually. Click to learn more about Contact Dermatitis

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is abnormal cells on your vulva that are not cancer but can sometimes become cancer if not treated.  Some cases of VIN are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Other cases of VIN are associated with conditions that cause chronic vulvar irritation such as squamous cell hyperplasia (lichen simplex chronicus), lichen sclerosus or erosive lichen planus. Click on any of the conditions to learn more.

Vestibulodynia also called vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), is a nerve base pain condition that causes severe pain on attempted vaginal penetration. The most common complaints are burning, stinging, irritation or rawness at the vaginal opening with attempts at intercourse that may last a few hours or even a few days after intercourse. This same sensation may also be experienced when placing tampons or touching in the area of the vestibule.  Women with severe symptoms may also feel this same sensation when riding a bicycle, horseback-riding or jogging and sometimes while sitting, walking or even without any movement.  

Vulvodynia is a nerve based pain condition that causes of vulvar pain, burning, irritation, rawness, stretching, aching, soreness or throbbing. The symptoms of vulvodynia can come at any time regardless of whether the area is touched or not. Patients often complain of constant burning or pain. Click to learn more about vulvodynia.

Yeast infections are one of the most common vaginal infections.  75% of women have at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. The symptoms of a yeast infection can include a white, yellow creamy or clumpy (like cottage cheese) discharge, redness, itching or burning, swelling and in severe cases cuts in the skin.  However some women have no discharge at all.  Sometimes women have burning with urination.  Intercourse may be painful.  Some women complain of vaginal dryness.  Cick here to learn more about yeast infections.