Using Microscopy in Practice to Diagnose Cytolytic Vaginosis

Abstract

Imagine a new patient arrives at your clinic for evaluation of vaginitis. Before entering the examination room, you list a few differential diagnoses in your head including bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, trichomonas vaginalis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. You got this. Confidently, you enter the examination room and find a reproductive-age woman sitting on the examination table in a relaxed posture with a paper drape across her waist. The health history begins, and the patient responds; her affect is void of animation. You consider the idea that you are not the first provider to evaluate this patient for her chief concern. Kimberly Anderson, DNP, WHNP-BC, is a women’s health nurse practitioner at Banner Baywood OB/GYN in Mesa, AZ, and can be reached at . Department Editor Denise G. Link, PhD, NP, FAAN, who would like to hear your ideas for future columns, can be reached at .