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Many women
feel that the presence of a vaginal infection reflects poorly on their personal
hygiene. Whether it is due to this apprehension or because they want to relieve
their symptoms as quickly as possible, as many as two-thirds of women avoid an
assessment by a healthcare provider, diagnose themselves, and attempt to treat
their condition with an over-the-counter product. Unfortunately, many of these
women actually have another form of vaginitis and don’t get the treatment they
need. Whether over the phone or in the office, women must understand the
importance of a proper diagnosis and correct treatment.
Here are a few points to make to help put your patients at ease when initiating
a discussion of a possible vaginal yeast infection (24,25): |
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•
Vaginal yeast infections are common—3 of 4 women will get a yeast infection at
one point in their lives |
| •
45% of women will have more than one vaginal yeast infection |
•
You’ve seen it before—10% of all OB/GYN visits are due to vaginal infections;
to
you, making this sort of assessment is very routine |
•
Yeast infections don’t necessarily result from poor hygiene—many other factors
can cause a yeast infection and anyone can get one from a
variety of common
causes |
The office
visit represents more than just the best way to properly diagnose and treat a
vaginal yeast infection from the outset; it’s an opportunity to educate
patients about the reasons they may have developed their infection, clear up
any misconceptions they have about yeast infections, and inform them about ways
they can prevent recurrence. In cases where a yeast infection does recur,
patients should understand the importance of returning for a proper evaluation.
The following discussion guides present key points to cover when you discuss
vaginal yeast infections and treatments. |
| Yeast
infection symptoms (26) |
| Symptoms of
a vaginal yeast infection in women may be mild or very uncomfortable. The most
frequent symptoms may include: |
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Vaginal itching (especially at night) |
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Vaginal discharge that is usually described as looking like cottage cheese; it
does not have a bad odor |
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Vaginal burning and redness |
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Pain, usually noticeable during urination or intercourse |
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| Common
causes (26,27) |
| It’s a
common misconception that vaginal yeast infections are a direct result of
“being unclean.” While yeast infections can result from poor hygiene, there are
a number of reasons why they occur. Vaginal yeast infections are caused by an
overgrowth of yeast cells in the vagina. The following is a list of common
causes that can lead to this overgrowth: |
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Menstrual period |
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Stress |
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Tight-fitting pants and synthetic fibers |
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Being overweight |
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Douching |
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Pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) |
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Antibiotic drug use |
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Steroid drug use |
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Diabetes mellitus |
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Weakened immune system* |
| *A weakened
immune system can be caused by poor diet, stress, or lack of sleep. However,
conditions such as immune system disorders, HIV infection, and diabetes can
also weaken the immune system. |
| What can
patients do to prevent yeast infections? (26,28,29) |
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Print
a copy of this discussion guide in PDF format 
(51k PDF) |
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| Important Gynazole•1 Information |
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