If you’ve been experiencing ongoing vaginal discharge, burning, and discomfort despite multiple courses of antibiotics or antifungal treatments, you may have DIV. This condition requires specialist diagnosis and treatment to provide lasting relief.
At The Women’s Health Vulvo-Vaginal & Genitourinary Clinic, we specialise in diagnosing and treating DIV. Our team can help you find the right treatment when standard approaches haven’t worked.
You may have DIV if you experience:
If this sounds familiar, it’s time for a specialist assessment.
DIV is characterised by an inflammatory response in the vagina, with an increased number of inflammatory cells (particularly white blood cells) in the vaginal discharge.
DIV is more common in post-menopausal women, suggesting that low oestrogen levels may play a role in its development.
The normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted, but unlike bacterial vaginosis, DIV involves significant inflammation.
Some researchers believe DIV may have an autoimmune component, though this is not fully understood.
Previous infections, treatments, or irritants may trigger the inflammatory response that characterises DIV.
We’ll discuss:
A careful examination will reveal:
The key to diagnosing DIV is microscopic examination of the vaginal discharge, which shows:
Treatment for desquamative inflammatory vaginitis may include:
A: No, DIV is not an infection, though it’s often mistaken for one. It’s an inflammatory condition that causes symptoms similar to infection but doesn’t respond to standard antibiotic or antifungal treatments.
A: DIV is characterised by significant inflammation and purulent discharge, whilst bacterial vaginosis typically has a fishy odour and thin discharge, and yeast infections cause thick, white discharge with itching. Microscopic examination can distinguish between them.
A: No, DIV is not contagious and cannot be transmitted through sexual contact. It is an inflammatory condition.
A: Most women notice improvement within a few weeks of starting treatment, but ongoing maintenance therapy may be needed to prevent recurrence.
A: DIV can recur, particularly if underlying factors (such as low oestrogen) are not addressed. Ongoing maintenance treatment may be needed for some women.
