Over-the-counter and alternative medicines in the treatment of chronic vaginal symptoms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of over-the-counter and alternative medicines in women with chronic vaginal symptoms. METHODS: One hundred five patients, referred by their gynecologists for evaluation of chronic vaginal symptoms, were interviewed about their use of over-the-counter and alternative medicines during the preceding year, the amount of money spent on each, and whether or not their physicians had been informed of these treatments. RESULTS: The mean age was 36 years, and one-half had finished college. The median symptom duration was 2 years. Seventy-seven (73.3%) patients had self-treated with over-the-counter medications such as miconazole (74% of over-the-counter users), clotrimazole (38.2%), or povidone-iodine (13.2%). The median expenditure for over-the-counter use was %0 (range $2-1000). Forty-four (41.9%) had used alternative medicines, most frequently acidophilus pills orally (50%) vaginally (11.4%), yogurt orally (20.5%) or vaginally (18.2%), vinegar douches (13.6%), and boric acid (13.6%). The median expenditure for alternative medicines was $35 (range $0-1200). Fewer physicians were aware of the use of alternative (70.5%) that of over-the-counter medicines (88.3%). Although most patients thought that vulvovaginal candidiasis was the cause of their symptoms, the most common diagnoses at initial presentation were candidiasis in 29 (27.6%), vulvar vestibulitis in 18 (17.1%), irritant dermatitis in 16 (15.2%), and bacterial vaginosis in 11 (10.5%). Women who actually had candidiasis were more likely to have used alternative medicines (odds ration 2.31, 95% confidence interval 1.00, 5.42) than other patients. CONCLUSION: Women with chronic vaginal symptoms often use over-the-counter and alternative medicines that add to health care costs and are unlikely to be of benefit.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Nyirjesy, C. Peyton, M. V. Weitz, L. Mathew, and J. F. Culhane Causes of chronic vaginitis: analysis of a prospective database of affected women. Obstet. Gynecol., November 1, 2006; 108(5): 1185 - 1191. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. S. Richter, R. P. Galask, S. A. Messer, R. J. Hollis, D. J. Diekema, and M. A. Pfaller Antifungal Susceptibilities of Candida Species Causing Vulvovaginitis and Epidemiology of Recurrent Cases J. Clin. Microbiol., May 1, 2005; 43(5): 2155 - 2162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. H. Beigi, L. A. Meyn, D. M. Moore, M. A. Krohn, and S. L. Hillier Vaginal Yeast Colonization in Nonpregnant Women: A Longitudinal Study Obstet. Gynecol., November 1, 2004; 104(5): 926 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Pirotta, J. Gunn, P. Chondros, S. Grover, P. O'Malley, S. Hurley, and S. Garland Effect of lactobacillus in preventing post-antibiotic vulvovaginal candidiasis: a randomised controlled trial BMJ, September 4, 2004; 329(7465): 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Zhou, S. J. Bent, M. G. Schneider, C. C. Davis, M. R. Islam, and L. J. Forney Characterization of vaginal microbial communities in adult healthy women using cultivation-independent methods Microbiology, August 1, 2004; 150(8): 2565 - 2573. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. G. Ferris, P. Nyirjesy, J. D. Sobel, D. Soper, A. Pavletic, and M. S. Litaker Over-the-Counter Antifungal Drug Misuse Associated With Patient-Diagnosed Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Obstet. Gynecol., March 1, 2002; 99(3): 419 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Nyirjesy, J. D Sobel, M V. Weitz, D. J Leaman, M. J Small, and S. P Gelone Cromolyn cream for recalcitrant idiopathic vulvar vestibulitis: results of a placebo controlled study Sex. Transm. Inf., February 1, 2001; 77(1): 53 - 57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Sanders Considerations for Use of Probiotic Bacteria to Modulate Human Health J. Nutr., February 1, 2000; 130(2): 384 - 384. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				USE OF NONPRESCRIPTION MEDICINE COMMON FOR VAGINAL SYMPTOMS Journal Watch (General), August 1, 1997; 1997(801): 4 - 4. [Full Text]