Volume 30, Issue 171, May 2026

Cytolytic vaginosis - diagnostics and treatment

Karolina Dudek^1♦, Jan Błażukiewicz¹, Patrycja Wójcikiewicz¹, Natalia Gierulska¹, Gabriela Zakrzewska¹, Maria Materek¹, Damian Wach¹, Bartosz Dudek², Rafał Tarkowski³, Krzysztof Kułak³

¹Student’s Scientific Association at the 1st Chair and Department of Oncological Gynecology and Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Staszic 16 St., 20-081 Lublin, Poland
²Student Scientific Association of Histology at the Department of Histology and Embryology, Leszek Czarny 4 St., 35-615 Rzeszów, Poland
³1st Chair and Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University of Lublin, Staszic 16 St., 20-081 Lublin, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Karolina Dudek, Student’s Scientific Association at the 1st Chair and Department of Oncological Gynecology and Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Staszic 16 St., 20-081 Lublin, Poland

ABSTRACT

Cytolytic vaginitis (CV) is a vaginal inflammation that is difficult to diagnose. Due to overlapping clinical symptoms, it is similar to vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) or bacterial vaginosis (BV). It is characterized by excessive growth of Lactobacillus bacteria (especially Lactobacillus crispatus). It leads to a significant decrease in vaginal pH and epithelial cytolysis. Women have symptoms such as itching, burning, dyspareunia, and abnormal vaginal discharge. An accurate diagnosis requires assessment of vaginal pH and characteristic microscopic test results. The lack of an accurate diagnosis results in unnecessary antifungal or antibacterial treatment, which worsens the patient's symptoms. In addition, it contributes to the increase in antibiotic resistance. An effective form of treatment for CV is alkalization of the vaginal environment, most often with sodium bicarbonate-based solutions or gels. Preparations containing 4–5% sodium bicarbonate are a beneficial and safe treatment. In order to establish diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, it is necessary to educate people about CV.

Keywords: cytolytic vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e83ms3825

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Published: 09 May 2026