Vaginal infections are notoriously common and result in around 10 million doctor visits per year. And while most women will have an infection at least once in their lifetime, a recent survey revealed that many women do not fully understand these infections and they often go untreated. Irritation of the vagina, known as vaginitis, can result from a number of different infections with the most common types being bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis (yeast) and trichomoniasis. "Many women will use creams that mask odors or treat itching. If the creams don't work, [and] the symptoms are persistent and they will come in to see a doctor," said Mary Inagami, at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Worryingly, around two-thirds of women who think they have a simple yeast infection actually have something more serious that needs treatment.
While yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter medications, other vaginal infections cannot. Bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis require a treatment prescribed by a doctor. Inagami warned that vaginal irritation, itching, discharge, or odor should never be treated with douching, which can flush an infection further into the reproductive tract. "If bacterial vaginosis goes untreated, you can have complications from pregnancy or problems after surgery," Inagami added. "An untreated infection can also obscure the Pap smear results." There is also evidence linking bacterial vagninosis to increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
According to Inagami, getting a proper diagnosis is of the utmost importance in treating vaginitis. She added that home diagnoses and self treatments were not always the best course of action. "Sales of products to treat yeast infections have risen sharply since those products became available over-the-counter without a prescription," commented Sherry Marts, of the Society for Women's Health Research. "Although these treatments are convenient, about half of women mistakenly diagnose themselves with a yeast infection when they don't have one. That can lead to the unnecessary use of expensive and ineffective treatments. Worse yet, these women may be missing other, more dangerous infections."
Past research suggests that 70 percent of women attempt to self diagnose and treat vaginal infections, and 80 percent of women have trouble distinguishing between yeast infections and other more serious infections. "Women often try to deal with these problems on their own," Marts said, "because they are not comfortable discussing vaginal health, even with their doctor, and because they view vaginal infections as a minor problem, when in fact they can cause serious health problems if not properly treated."
Source: Society for Women's Health Research
