Q & A Medical Women's Health

Click the below link to find out about some common questions that our clients ask.

Topic - Vaginitis

QUESTION: I always get a vaginal yeast infection (vaginitis) when I take antibiotics. I understand is this is quite common in women. I am scheduled to get my pap smear next month. Will the yeast infection affect my pap results?

Vaginitis is a term used to describe an entire range of disorders characterized by inflammation of a woman’s vagina. The majority of women are affected by vaginitis regardless of age, state in life, or degree of sexual activity. The vagina has normal discharge that is clear or cloudy and whitish. A healthy vagina keeps a balance of many organisms such a bacteria and yeast. The most common types of vaginitis are Candidiasis (yeast), Bacterial Vaginosis (Bacteria), and Trichomonas (Parasite). Vaginitis usually reflects the woman’s overall health status. The severity of symptoms of vaginitis varies in all women. The causes of vaginitis and vulvovaginitis can range from poor health such as diabetes, use of antibiotics, a change in normal body’s hormones such as pregnancy or menopause, STDs, spermicides, douching, or poor nutritional habits. It is important that the treatment prescribed for the infection is very specific for the vaginitis and is followed for the entire prescribed length of time. Sometimes vaginal and cervical inflammation from the vaginitis can affect the results of a pap smear. It is best to get the infection treated before your pap appointment.

It is important for a woman to learn how to prevent vaginal infections by being aware of the symptoms, causes, and different types of vaginitis that may affect her overall well being, sexual health, and possibly her sexual partner.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a chronic vaginal infection, give our office a call at 850-877-5767 for an appointment.

Regina N. Lewis, ARNP-BC, Certified OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Azalea Women’s Healthcare, Tallahassee, Florida 32308

Originally published in the Thomasville Times Enterprise, Medical Q & A, October 2006

RNL/2009

Learn How to Monitor Your Menstrual Cycles

It is important for you to maintain good menstrual calendars. It is not normal to miss periods or to have too many periods. Sometimes health providers can control how many periods you have per year by using hormones such as birth control pills. You need to count from the first day of your menstrual flow to the first day of your next menstrual flow. Usually we regard the calendar count as normal between 24 and 35 days (one month). It is appropriate to count how long your periods last and we regard a period lasting 1-7 days as normal, which varies among all women. It is good to note if the period is light, moderate or heavy and this can be very subjective among women. Abnormal blood flow would be too light where you hardly have a spot of blood, and too heavy would mean you are changing pads every 30-60 minutes to the point of becoming anemic. You should not have bleeding or spotting at mid-cycle or any other time in your menstrual calendar. Be very careful using tampons and keep track of them. Toxic Shock Syndrome is very serious.

Menstrual cramping is called dysmenorrhea, which can be light, moderate, or severe (not relieved with pain medication). Primary dysmenorrhea means you release high levels of prostaglandins from the brain and anti-prostaglandins such as Ibuprofen relieve the symptoms if taken by the onset of the cycle. Secondary dysmenorrhea is a condition caused by other GYN problems such as endometriosis. Usually the pain is not relieved with medication or hormones. A diagnostic laparoscopy is the only way to diagnose endometriosis.

Check out www.mymonthlycycles.com or www.knowmycycle.com for further information.

Regina N. Lewis, ARNP-BC
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Azalea Women's Healthcare
1219 Hodges Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
850-877-5767