Alternative therapies in women with chronic vaginitis

To describe the use of complementary alternative medicines in women with chronic vaginitis and to evaluate epidemiologic factors associated with these treatments.

In this prospective cohort study, patients with chronic vaginitis completed a questionnaire about past diagnoses and treatments. Information regarding demographics, medical and social history, perceived mental and emotional stress, and current symptoms was collected. All patients underwent a standard physical examination and laboratory testing and were assigned a specific diagnosis.

A total of 481 women were enrolled; 64.9% used complementary alternative medicines. The most common treatments were yogurt and acidophilus pills. In univariate analysis, compared with nonusers, users of complementary alternative medicines were younger (83.4% younger than 50 compared with 73.1%; P=.032), not African American (11.9% compared with 21.3%; P=.018), had increased measures of perceived stress (P=.008), and reported that their symptoms interfered with both work (59.1% compared with 40.6%; P=.001) and social lives (57.9% compared with 40.2%; P=.001). Patients using complementary alternative medicines had seen more doctors (median 2 compared with 1; P<.001) and were more likely to report a history of vulvovaginal candidiasis (98.4% compared with 90.5%; P<.001) or bacterial vaginosis (34.3% compared with 22.8%; P=.007). In the multivariable analysis, interference with social life, higher number of doctors seen, symptoms of itching or burning, and previous diagnoses of yeast infection remained associated with alternative medicine use. A current diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis was not associated with alternative medicine use.

Complementary alternative medicine use is common in women with chronic vaginitis, particularly in those who are young, have more disruptive symptoms, and report greater stress.

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