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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Vaginitis

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Vaginitis

As most women can attest, any itching or discomfort in the vaginal area is just one nuisance too many. Unfortunately, this area is a regular magnet for trouble. The dark, moist surroundings are the perfect breeding ground for a wide array of bacteria and other organisms that can cause a host of irritations, inflammations and infections.

"Vaginitis is basically a catch-all phrase for any kind of inflammation of the vaginal area," says Ellen Yankauskas, M.D., director of the Women's Center for Family Health in Atascadero, California. "Inflammations can result from an infection, a chemical irritation from douche products, spermicides or condoms or simply not having enough estrogen." Whatever the cause--and there are many--here are some cures. (And for tips on coping with the discomfort of yeast infections, see page 000.)

Obey the Zen Commandments. Women with recurring vaginitis might want to consider a usually unlikely suspect--stress. "For chronic cases, I ask the woman to breathe deeply and try to get completely relaxed, so she can ask herself what she needs to know," says Susan Doughty, R.N., who is a nurse practitioner at Women to Women, a clinic in Yarmouth, Maine.

In Doughty's view, a regular, meditation-like evaluation of yourself can answer "internal" questions that could subconsciously be causing physical symptoms. Doughty also recommends looking at relationships: "We can keep treating the infections, but there's usually some issue in a womans relationship with her sexual partner that needs to be addressed."

When to See the Doctor

If you have deep pelvic pain or swollen glands in the groin area and you have a fever above 100°F you need to visit your doctor, according to Ellen Yankauskas, M.D., director of the Women's Center for Family Health in Atascadero, California. A doctor should also look at any open sores in the vaginal area, whether or not they're painful.

And be sure to see the doctor if there is no improvement with home remedies after a few weeks.

A Solution for Some Monthly Problems

Some women experience vaginal itching just prior to their menstrual flow. Once their period ends, the itching seems to stop until the following month, observes Susan Doughty, R.N., a nurse practitioner at Women to Women, a clinic in Yarmouth, Maine. Your doctor may tell you that this condition, cytolytic vaginosis, is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the presence of estrogen. Since this is just an imbalance (not a true infection), you may be able to clear it up with a home-prepared remedy.

The remedy, according to Doughty: Mix two tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of warm water and douche twice daily The first douching should be just before the time of the month when symptoms typically appear. After that, continue to douche twice daily as long as you have the symptoms.

After a few months, reassess whether you need to continue, suggests Doughty. You don't need to use the douche again unless the itching returns.

Double-rinse your underwear. Harsh laundry detergents can increase the amount of irritation that results from vaginitis, says John Willems, M.D., associate clinical professor of obstetrics/gynecology at the University of California, San Diego, and a researcher at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla. So make sure all detergents and soaps are thoroughly rinsed from underwear.

Go thigh-high in stockings. Panty hose may be a fashion godsend, but they're a contributing cause of vaginitis and yeast infections. "Panty hose do not allow the skin to breathe," says Dr. Yankauskas. When the crotch area is covered by panty hose, it becomes a better breeding ground for infections. "If you must wear stockings, I recommend the thigh-high types rather than the full cover-your-crotch styles," says Dr. Yankauskas.

She and other experts also recommend wearing only cotton panties--and not blends--because cotton allows for better air circulation.

Be Alert to Antibiotics

Many doctors recommend antibiotics to help clear up vaginitis--but antibiotics that are taken for other kinds of illnesses or infections can actually trigger vaginal infections.

You might be able to avoid or clear up some infections by using a nonprescription douche that contains Betadine, according to Susan Doughty, R.N., a nurse practitioner at Women to Women, a clinic in Yarmouth, Maine. Betadine, an iodine-like bactericide, is an ingredient in some douche preparations. It's also sold in separate packets, so you can make your own mixture. In both forms, it's available over the counter in drugstores.

Doughty recommends trying a douche containing Betadine either nightly or twice a day for one week.

But if you use the douche and there's no improvement after seven days, be sure to get a checkup with your doctor.

Practice brand loyalty in birth control. "Many women notice vaginitis when they switch brands of condoms or spermicides," says Dr. Yankauskas. "If you notice an irritation or infection after trying one brand, then obviously its not the one for you." On the other hand, if you're not having any problems with a brand, stay with it.

Favor bambino's soap. "If you're prone to vaginitis, or when you have an irritation, use the same soaps to bathe with as you would use on a baby," says Dr. Yankauskas. "Avoid deodorant soaps or anything with heavy dyes and perfumes."

Don't treat it with yogurt. While the yogurt/yeast infection connection is known far and wide, realize that yeast infection is only one type of vaginitis and yogurt may not be the cure.

"Some women try to treat vaginitis with a tampon dipped in yogurt," says Doughty, "but if the infection is bacterial, it'll grow like crazy when it comes in contact with yogurt."

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