What Causes Frequent Recurrence Of Vaginal Infection?

Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. Recurrent vaginal infections are quite dangerous, in terms of long term sequelae such as pelvic adhesions, damage to the uterus, tubes , ovaries etc. There could be various reasons for this. The first is due to sexual intercourse, as women have a short urethra, and are prone to UTIs if perineal hygiene is not meticulous. You should wash thoroughly and pass urine after every act of intercourse. Also do not rub, scrub, itch , scratch or handle the area excessively. Just clean with warm water and pat dry gently. Also, do not use any soaps, gels, cleansers or douches. Drink lots of water as a routine - 5 litres of fluids daily. Deworm yourself, as it could be a primary anal infection. Untreated hypothryoidism also predisposes to infection. Get your vitamin D levels checked, as vitamin D deficiency in itself predisposes to recurrent infections. Your blood sugars should be tested to rule out diabetes. A renal ultrasound scan and complete urine analysis should be done to detect any stones / abnormalities in the urinary tract which predispose to recurrent infections. Take proper urine culture based antibiotics as wrong / incomplete treatment can also lead to resistant infections. Also, empty your bladder more frequently ( avoid holding urine for prolonged period ) and avoid using public toilets. Get a gynaecological opinion to rule out a lingering pelvic / vaginal infection which is best assessed by a vaginal swab and culture. Your partner should definitely be tested and completely screened for STDs to rule out his being the primary source. IN general, maintain an ideal BMI and exercise regularly and eat sensibly to maintain good immunity to fight infections. All the best. Take care.