Vaginal Hygiene Research Articles

Gynecologic Morbidity Is High for Egyptian Women In a Pair of Rural Villages

509 ever-married non-pregnant women aged 14-60 years living in one of two villages in rural Giza Egypt over the period November 1989 - July 1990 were interviewed and physically examined in a study conducted to procure information which could be used to create more effective programs for diagnosing and reducing the prevalence of womens reproductive health problems in developing nations. 45% had borne at least five children and some had delivered up to thirteen with 90% of the 41% who had been pregnant in the preceding two years having delivered a live birth. 43% of the married women were using a contraceptive method with 24% relying upon the IUD and 14% the pill. Physical examinations found 83% of women to be experiencing a vaginal or cervical discharge. 44% were diagnosed as having vaginitis 10% cervicitis 9% chlamydia and 1% syphilis. 52% had at least one reproductive tract infection 14% had an urinary tract infection 63% were anemic 56% had genital prolapse and 18% were hypertensive. Only 3% were free of all types of morbidity considered in the study. Reproductive tract infection among these women was associated with uterine and vaginal prolapse IUD use sexual exposure and poor personal hygiene.

Vaginal Douching and Ectopic Pregnancy

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> We were very interested by the results of Chow et al¹showing that douching is a risk factor for ectopic pregnancy. We were surprised by the high (30%) percentage of douching among the mostly Hispanic control group. We conducted a study²in a suburb of Paris, France, among 677 women who came for contraception or abortion, to assess the prevalence of different genital infections. Part of the questionnaire was devoted to vaginal hygiene behavior. Thirty-two percent of women practiced vaginal washing; less than 1% practiced actual douching, by means of a syringe. Vaginal washing appeared less frequent among French women (24%) than among those from North Africa (55%) or from black Africa (71%). The frequency differed with nationality (respectively, 36%, 43%, and 74% of French, North Africans, and black Africans who practiced vaginal washing did it at least daily). Women used water in 57% of

Vaginitis: its diagnosis and treatment.

Vaginitis is an almost universal problem for women, especially during the reproductive years. In many cases the etiology of the vaginitis is sexually transmitted and this knowledge has an intense impact upon the patient. The three major types of vaginitis are discussed in this article with special attention to the anticipatory counseling and guidance so necessary to optimum management. Information about vaginal physiology and general perineal hygiene is also included. Three common causes of vaginitis are discussed.

Vaginal Hygiene of Girls Seen in Well Child Care Visits

To the Editor.— Pediatricians and nurse practitioners often find that the vaginal hygiene of female infants seen in routine well-baby visits is inadequate. Fecally stained secretions are often found in the intracoitus, labial folds, or groin of these children. During a two-month period, we prospectively surveyed mothers seen in our offices for their knowledge of adequate hygiene practices for female infant genitalia. We specifically asked the mothers to demonstrate how they routinely wiped their baby girls' perineal and vaginal areas after "a messy diaper."

Urethral hymenal fusion Experience with antibiotic withdrawal test

Repair of urethrohymenal fusion has been advocated as a method of controlling recurrent urinary tract infections. A means of selecting surgical candidates has been devised. Postcoital antibiotic therapy combined with vigorous vaginal and perineal hygiene is prescribed for a period of six weeks. The postcoital antibiotic therapy is then withdrawn. If the patient has recurrent symptoms after withdrawal of the antibiotic agent, she is considered to be a suitable candidate for surgical correction of the urethrohymenal fusion. There have been no surgical failures in a small series, as opposed to a 16.6 per cent failure before the test was devised.

Woman's Personal Hygiene: Modern Methods and Appliances

This book was prepared by a lay woman, the wife of a physician, as an educational contribution for the enlightenment of all women, especially from the point of view of sex health. The subjects discussed are the anatomy of the female pelvic organs, the glands of internal secretion, displacements of the uterus, dysmenorrhea, leukorrhea, venereal disease, vaginal hygiene, vaginal douches, postpartum exercises and marital relations. At the end of the book is a list of "don'ts," with some of which the reviewer disagrees. The author says "Don't fail to take an occasional douche, regardless of your excellent health. Douches are refreshing and most women need a 'vaginal cocktail' at least twice a week." This surely is not sound advice. Furthermore, the author says "Don't put off visiting your doctor if you have any pelvic displacements." How is the patient to know about her displacement and, even if she has one,