Why does vaginitis keep recurring? Care tips from a female OB/GYN at Gangnam Station

Are You Tired of Recurrent Vaginitis?

When itching, odor, and discharge repeatedly flare up and subside, both your body and mind naturally become exhausted. To get straight to the point, the most common reason for recurrent vaginitis is that only the symptoms are alleviated, without restoring the vaginal environment itself.

In the clinic, we often hear statements like, "It gets better for a while after taking medication, then starts again," or "I'm careful about hygiene, but it still happens." Today, from a specialist's perspective, we will explain the real reasons why vaginitis recurs and how OB/GYN clinics approach it.

Is Vaginitis Just a Simple Infection Problem?

Vaginitis is easier to understand not just as a problem of a single bacterium, but as a state where the balance of the internal vaginal environment has been disrupted. A healthy vaginal environment generally maintains the following conditions:

• A state where lactobacilli are predominantly established
• A state where pH is maintained within a slightly acidic range (approximately 3.5-4.5)
• A state where the mucosal immune function operates normally

When this balance is disturbed, an environment prone to inflammation is created. This is why some individuals may clear up with a single course of medication, while others experience recurrent infections.

What Types of Vaginitis Are There?

Vaginitis frequently encountered in clinical practice is classified by its cause. It is briefly summarized in the table below.

In actual clinical practice, it's not uncommon for multiple causes to overlap simultaneously. This is why a common pattern observed is symptoms subsiding with one medication only to flare up again.

What Are the Real Reasons for Recurrent Vaginitis?

The core reason is surprisingly simple. If only symptoms are managed without restoring the environment, the same issues are likely to recur. Factors frequently mentioned in connection with recurrent vaginitis include:

• Decrease in vaginal lactobacilli
• Vaginal pH imbalance
• Reduced mucosal immunity
• Hormonal changes due to childbirth, breastfeeding, menopause, etc.
• Delayed recovery of damaged mucosa

While antibiotics or ointments can alleviate symptoms, they may have limitations in fully restoring the vaginal environment to normal.

The vagina is less an object to be quickly fixed and more a tissue that requires time to recover. An approach that calms inflammation while simultaneously revitalizing the environment can help reduce recurrence.

How Do OB/GYN Clinics Diagnose Vaginitis?

Blanc OB/GYN emphasizes diagnosing the cause rather than merely suppressing symptoms. We conduct the following tests as needed:

• Confirming discharge status with microscopic examination (Wet smear)
• Evaluating acidity with vaginal pH test
• Identifying causative bacteria with bacterial culture test
• Concurrently performing STI-related tests if necessary
• Assessing vaginal mucosa and hormonal status

We prioritize focusing on the cause of symptoms rather than unnecessary excessive testing. This is because identifying the exact cause allows for the appropriate treatment direction.

What Care is Needed to Reduce Recurrence?

When managing recurrent vaginitis, we consider both medication and approaches to restore the vaginal environment.

First, we combine medication with vaginal environment restoration. After clearing the inflammation, it's crucial to create an environment where lactobacilli can re-establish themselves. Vaginal Mucosal Care can also be considered to improve the mucosal condition.

Second, we consider energy-based care to aid mucosal recovery. Care utilizing high-frequency or light energy is reported to help improve blood flow, restore mucosal thickness, and alter discharge, though individual results may vary. For those with sensitive mucosa and frequent recurrences, we sometimes recommend vaginal mucosal moisturizing care.

In this process, rather than concluding with just one treatment, monitoring the mucosal recovery progression can help reduce recurrence rates.

When Is It Good to Consider Other Factors?

If vaginitis recurs frequently, it's helpful to check for other contributing factors. For example, it may be necessary to determine if HPV or chronic vaginal mucosal issues are also present. In the clinic, we prioritize patient privacy and minimizing discomfort, while avoiding overtreatment and collaboratively determining a personalized approach based on the individual's condition.

In Summary

To reduce vaginitis recurrence, it is desirable for the following three aspects to be addressed together:

• Elimination of the cause of inflammation
• Restoration of the vaginal mucosa
• Normalization of the vaginal environment

Rather than relying solely on medication, combining medication with mucosal recovery care and environmental management can help reduce the likelihood of recurrence. If you've been deeply troubled by recurrent vaginitis, we recommend seeking a comfortable check-up rather than enduring it alone.

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Chief Director Lee Eun-jin (Samsung Medical Center OB/GYN major, Regular Member of the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Regular Member of the Korean Society of Menopause) Chief Director Lee Eun-jin's Profile First Published 2025-11-27 / Last Reviewed 2026-06-17

This article is for general informational purposes only, and symptoms and treatment responses may vary individually. For accurate diagnosis and treatment, please consult with an OB/GYN specialist.