How do healthcare providers diagnose vaginitis?

To find out the cause of a woman's symptoms, her healthcare provider will

  • Examine the vagina, the vulva, and the cervix (opening to the womb).
  • Look for vaginal discharge, noting its color, qualities, and any odor.
  • Study a sample of vaginal fluid under a microscope.

Other lab tests are also sometimes used to diagnose vaginitis.1

Citations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Self-study module:: Vaginitis. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from https://www.std.uw.edu/go/syndrome-based/vaginal-discharge/core-concept/all external link
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