Prevalence of Vaginitis in Women Admitted to a Training and Research Hospital

Introduction and Objective: Vaginitis is a common gynecological condition, and its true prevalence varies due to factors such as a high proportion of asymptomatic cases, self-diagnosis, and treatment errors. This study was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed at retrospectively evaluating the prevalence of vaginitis among female patients aged 18 years and older who presented to a Training and Research Hospital with complaints of vaginitis.Methods: Data on patients’ demographic characteristics, time of presentation (day, month, and hour), and the number of patients by year were retrospectively reviewed using a computer-based patient registration system.Results: The average age of the patients was found to be 34.64±8.86. When examining the years of examination, it was found that 35.5% of the patients were examined in 2019, 18.8% in 2020, 21% in 2021, and 24.6% in 2022. It was observed that a smear test was recommended for 4.9% of the patients, and their average age was 39.88±7.14. It was found that an HPV test was requested for 0.8% of the patients, with an average age of 40.27±6.45 years.Conclusion: The study determined that the frequent cases of vaginitis in the 18-49 age range were consistent with the literature. The prevalence and causes of vaginal infections are multifaceted. Since it is a significant public health issue commonly seen in women and, if left untreated, can lead to chronic conditions, infertility, and cancer, there is a need to increase studies in the literature evaluating the prevalence of vaginitis.