Last Updated on July 5, 2025
👩⚕️ Understanding Vaginitis: A Naturopathic Approach for Women’s Health
Vaginitis is a common condition affecting women of all ages—and it’s often more than just a temporary discomfort. Whether it’s itching, burning, unusual discharge, odor, or pain during urination or intimacy, these symptoms can impact daily life and long-term health.
At Inner Gate Health & Wellness in Portland, our naturopathic women’s health team takes a root-cause approach to treating all types of vaginitis. We’re here to help you understand what’s going on—and create a personalized path to lasting relief.
Acute, Chronic & Atrophic Vaginitis: A Functional Medicine Approach for Portland Women
Vaginitis is more than just a temporary irritation—it’s often a sign that your body is out of balance. Whether you’re experiencing occasional discomfort or dealing with recurring symptoms, understanding the type of vaginitis you’re experiencing is the first step toward lasting relief.
Common Symptoms of Vaginitis:
- Burning or itching
Unusual vaginal discharge
Unpleasant odor
Pain during urination or intercourse
These symptoms may overlap with other conditions, so proper diagnosis is essential.
1. Types of Vaginitis
Acute Vaginitis
Typically caused by infections like yeast (Candida albicans), bacterial vaginosis (BV), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), acute vaginitis has a sudden onset and may resolve with appropriate, targeted treatment.
Learn more: CDC on Vaginitis
Chronic Vaginitis
Persistent or recurring vaginitis may be influenced by hormonal imbalances, gut dysbiosis, or a disrupted vaginal microbiome. Repeated infections or long-term irritation often indicate a deeper systemic issue.
Reference: Penn State Health – Chronic Vaginal Infections
Atrophic Vaginitis (Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause)
Common during perimenopause and menopause, this type is related to declining estrogen levels, which can lead to thinning of vaginal tissues, reduced lubrication, and increased susceptibility to irritation and infection.
Source: Mayo Clinic on Atrophic Vaginitis
2. What Causes Vaginitis?
A functional medicine perspective looks beyond symptoms to identify contributing factors such as:
- Estrogen deficiency (common in perimenopause and menopause)
- Frequent antibiotic use, which can disrupt both gut and vaginal microbiomes
- Overgrowth of pathogens, such as Candida or Gardnerella
- Imbalanced gut flora, which influences systemic and vaginal immunity
- Use of harsh soaps or vaginal douches that disrupt the natural pH
- Chronic stress, which may impact immune and hormonal function
💡 Your body is interconnected. Disruptions in gut, hormone, or immune health often manifest as vaginal symptoms.
Related reading: NIH – The Vaginal Microbiome
3. Our Approach: Naturopathic and Functional Medicine for Vaginal Health
At Inner Gate Health & Wellness, we support your healing with a comprehensive, personalized plan that may include:
- Testing to assess root causes
- Bioidentical or botanical estrogen support for atrophic vaginitis
- Herbal antifungal or antimicrobial protocols, guided by lab results
- Vaginal and oral probiotics to support a healthy vaginal flora
- Anti-inflammatory, whole-food diet plans
- Stress-reduction techniques to regulate cortisol and support hormone balance
Each plan is tailored to your unique physiology and life circumstances, with the goal of restoring balance—not just masking symptoms.
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
We’re proud to serve women across Portland with compassionate, integrative care rooted in evidence-based naturopathic and functional medicine. If you’re struggling with recurrent or chronic vaginitis, you don’t have to go it alone.
Schedule a consultation today to get started with a personalized care plan.
Gut Health & Vaginal Health: Why the Microbiome Matters
When it comes to vaginal health, many people focus solely on external symptoms like itching, discharge, or irritation. However, emerging research indicates that your gut health may also influence your vaginal ecosystem.
At Inner Gate Health & Wellness in Portland, we adopt a functional medicine approach to women’s health—looking beyond surface-level symptoms to understand and address root causes. One often-overlooked connection is the gut-vagina axis, which plays a critical role in conditions like chronic vaginitis, recurrent yeast infections, and bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Let’s explore how the gut and vaginal microbiomes interact and what that means for your overall health.
🌿 What Is the Microbiome?
Your microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi, and microbes that reside in and on your body, particularly in the gut and vagina. These microbes contribute to essential functions, including:
- Immune function
👉 The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System - Hormone metabolism (estrobolome)
👉 Estrogen-Gut Microbiome Axis: Physiological and Clinical Implications - Protection from infections
👉 Use of Probiotic Lactobacilli in the Treatment of Vaginal Infections - Inflammation regulation
👉 Gut Microbiota: An Emerging Therapeutic Approach of Herbal Medicines
A healthy, diverse microbiome supports systemic resilience, including vaginal wellness.
🦠 How Gut Health Affects Vaginal Health
1. Bacterial Balance
Both the gut and vagina rely on beneficial bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus species, to maintain balance.
When gut dysbiosis occurs, it can affect the vaginal microbiota and contribute to infections like yeast, BV, or chronic vaginitis.
👉 Vaginal Microbiota and the Potential of Lactobacillus Derivatives in Vaginal Health
2. Estrogen Metabolism
The estrobolome—a group of gut bacteria—metabolizes and modulates circulating estrogen. Disruption in gut function can impair estrogen clearance or reabsorption, contributing to vaginal dryness and tissue thinning, particularly in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
👉 Estrogen-Gut Microbiome Axis: Physiological and Clinical Implications
3. Immune System Regulation
Approximately 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut. If the gut microbiota is compromised, so is immune function, increasing susceptibility to vaginal infections.
👉 The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System
4. Antibiotic Use and Microbial Disruption
Antibiotics can significantly disrupt microbial balance—not only in the gut but also in the vaginal microbiome—leading to recurrent infections if not properly restored.
👉 Impact of Antibiotics on the Human Microbiome and Consequences for Host Health
📉 Signs Your Microbiome May Be Out of Balance
- Frequent bloating, gas, or constipation
- Chronic yeast or BV infections
- Recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Hormonal acne or irregular menstrual cycles
- Frequent illness or weakened immune function
🌸 Restoring Balance: A Functional Medicine Approach
At our Portland naturopathic clinic, we explore both gut and vaginal microbiomes to get to the root of persistent symptoms. Your care plan may include:
✅ Testing to create a targeted plan
✅ Probiotics & Prebiotics
Specific strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri have been shown to help maintain vaginal health and reduce infection recurrence.
👉 Use of Probiotic Lactobacilli in the Treatment of Vaginal Infections
👉 The Role of Probiotics in Women’s Health: An Update Narrative Review
✅ Herbal Antimicrobial Support
Herbs like berberine, oregano, and garlic have shown antimicrobial properties useful in addressing gut dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth.
👉 Gut Microbiota: An Emerging Therapeutic Approach of Herbal Medicines
✅ Estrogen Support
When low estrogen is contributing to vaginal atrophy or dryness, we may explore bioidentical hormone therapy or phytoestrogens.
👉 Estrogen-Gut Microbiome Axis: Physiological and Clinical Implications
✅ Diet & Lifestyle Strategies
An anti-inflammatory diet, stress reduction, and detox support are all essential to nourish and rebalance the microbiome.
👉 Gut Microbiota: An Emerging Therapeutic Approach of Herbal Medicines
💬 Why This Matters
Chronic vaginal symptoms can be frustrating and isolating—but they are often tied to broader imbalances, especially in the gut. When we address gut health and the microbiome, we give the body the opportunity to heal from the inside out.
You deserve to feel comfortable, balanced, and empowered in your health journey.
📅 Ready to Get to the Root of Vaginal Imbalances?
We specialize in root-cause, naturopathic care for women’s health in Portland. If you’re struggling with chronic vaginitis, BV, yeast infections, or hormonal shifts, we’ll help you understand the gut-vagina connection—and create a customized plan to restore balance.
👉 [Book a Consultation Today]