The vagina is one of a woman's internal sexual organs. The muscular tube, which is around ten to twelve centimetres long, connects the external genital organs to the uterus. The vagina is very elastic and serves as a birth canal for the baby during delivery.
Here you will find further information and selected doctors for the vagina and its diseases.
The vagina is one of the female internal sex organs.
It is a hollow organ consisting of a flexible and smooth muscular tube ten to twelve centimetres long. This muscular tube is extremely elastic. This allows the vagina to adapt to the size of the child during birth and to the anatomy of the penis during sexual intercourse.
Due to the acidic body flora and its special structure, the vagina has a rapid self-healing process.
The vagina is a muscular tube between the cervix and the vaginal entrance © bilderzwerg | AdobeStock
The visible external female genitalia are often incorrectly referred to as the vagina. Only the labia majora and the vulva are visible. Between the labia are the labia minora, the clitoris and the vaginal vestibule. In addition to the urethra, the vagina also opens into the vaginal vestibule.
The clitoris contains erectile tissue. In terms of development, it corresponds to the penis. The clitoris is permeated by numerous nerves and plays a central role in a woman's sexual pleasure.
The vagina fulfills several functions as a passageway in a woman's body:
A healthy vagina contains numerous bacteria that are part of the vaginal flora. Healthy vaginal flora can ward off pathogens.
In addition to mucosal cells, a normal vaginal secretion contains around 100 million germs per milliliter. These bacteria are mainly lactic acid bacteria. They can thrive very well in the almost iron-free environment of the vagina.
Between five and eight different strains of lactic acid bacteria can be found in the vaginal secretions of healthy women. The composition of the strains can vary from woman to woman. For this reason, the susceptibility to vaginal infections also varies from woman to woman.
By converting sugar into lactic acid, lactic acid bacteria lead to a lowering of the pH value of the vagina. The pH value of a healthy vagina is below 4.5. The vaginal flora is therefore significantly more acidic than the rest of the skin, whose pH value is around 5.5.
The acidic vaginal environment makes it difficult for pathogens - such as fungi and bacteria - to multiply. In addition to lactic acid, many strains of lactic acid produce other substances that make it difficult for pathogens to multiply. These include antibiotically active protein molecules or hydrogen peroxide.
In principle, the vaginal flora hardly changes during pregnancy. However, some women may experience an increase in the pH value in the vagina. For this reason, regular check-ups with a gynecologist are recommended. They can detect infections at an early stage.
External influences can disrupt the natural and healthy composition of the vaginal flora. This is the case, for example, when taking antibiotics. Antibiotics not only fight unwanted pathogens, but also lactic acid bacteria in the vagina. Many women therefore suffer from a vaginal fungus while taking antibiotics.
This also happens in some women when taking hormone preparations, such as the contraceptive pill. Soaps or sprays in the intimate area can also negatively affect the vaginal flora.
For this reason, you should only clean your external genitals with clean water. You should also avoid vaginal douches. A healthy vagina cleans itself!
Finally, illnesses can also have an unfavorable effect on the natural vaginal flora. These include immunodeficiency diseases or diabetes mellitus.
If you frequently suffer from fungal infections of the vagina, consult a doctor to find out whether there is an underlying disease.
In gynecological practice, vaginal infections are among the most common clinical pictures. These can be identified during gynecological check-ups, for example. In most cases, the cause is a disruption of the healthy vaginal flora.
The symptoms of a vaginal infection can also vary depending on the respective trigger. For example, many sufferers complain of severe pain in the genital area, which occurs mainly during sexual intercourse. They also often experience redness of the vaginal mucosa and an unpleasant discharge from the vagina.
However, not all women have symptoms of a vaginal infection.
The treatment of a vaginal infection depends on the pathogen in question. The treating gynaecologist will analyze the vaginal secretions to identify the pathogen. As soon as this is known, treatment can be started with medication.
Vaginal thrush is often caused by the yeast Candida albicans. This is normally found in the intestines.
The most common symptoms of vaginal yeast infections include
The discharge can have an extremely unpleasant odor and a whitish to greenish-brown color.
Infection with a vaginal fungus is only possible through direct physical contact. Sharing everyday objects, such as the toilet seat, prevents transmission.
Certain vaginal suppositories are available as treatment options for vaginal yeast infections. The partner should also be treated, as otherwise new infections can occur again and again. He is usually given an ointment to apply to the penis.
Helpful for vaginal fungus:
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Ovarian cancer and cervical cancer also occur more frequently in younger women. Vaginal cancer, on the other hand, mainly affects women over the age of 60 or 70.
There are notypical symptoms that can indicate vaginal cancer. For this reason, vaginal cancer is often only diagnosed at a very advanced stage. Unfortunately, this also significantly reduces the chances of recovery.
Early diagnosis is therefore very important for early treatment. You should therefore attend regular screening appointments with your gynecologist. If detected early, vaginal cancer can be cured in around 70 percent of cases.
Typical examination methods include
The treatment of vaginal cancer depends on the location and size of the tumor. If it is located centrally in the vagina, it is usually easy to remove. However, if it is located near the cervix, it may also be necessary to remove the uterus.
As an alternative to surgery, radiotherapy can be used to treat vaginal cancer.
Vaginismus is an involuntary tightening of the muscles in a woman's pelvic floor area. It can make sexual intercourse considerably more difficult and is therefore experienced as very disturbing by those affected. In some cases, it causes pain or is not possible at all due to involuntary cramping of the muscles. Vaginismus can also occur when using tampons.
In many cases, psychological reasons are possible causes. False shame or anxiety can promote vaginismus. However, vaginismus can also be the result of childbirth or an operation.
Targeted pelvic floor training can be considered for the treatment of vaginismus. This can help the affected person to control their muscles.
Psychological treatment can also help to relieve internal tension. The use of vaginal dilators can also reduce the effects of vaginismus. These can be used to achieve desensitization when inserting them into the vagina.
Vaginal prolapse involves a change in the position of the vagina. The result is a lower entry of the vagina into the pelvis. Vaginal prolapse often occurs together with a prolapse of the uterus. The uterus then moves downwards and protrudes into the vagina.
The reason for vaginal prolapse in many affected women is pelvic floor weakness. There are several possible causes, including
Under certain circumstances, pelvic floor weakness can also occur after a surgical removal of the uterus.
Those affected often describe the following in the context of vaginal prolapse
as typical symptoms. Unwanted loss of urine when coughing or laughing can also be the result. Lower abdominal pain can also occur with vaginal prolapse.
The treatment of vaginal prolapse depends on the extent of the problem. In principle, both surgical and conservative treatment options can be considered.
Regular pelvic floor training is an important part of the various therapies. Targeted exercises can be used to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor area. In many cases, this can already alleviate the symptoms.
