Alternative therapies in women with chronic vaginitis

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