Background: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is one of the frequent infections of the female genital tract and is the second most common cause of vaginal infections after bacterial vaginosis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, azoles are the first‑line treatment for VVC. Among the azoles available in the Philippines, only miconazole and clotrimazole are recommended for both pregnant and non‑pregnant women. Objective: Compare the effect of miconazole versus clotrimazole in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis among patients seen at the out‑patient department in a tertiary hospital Materials and Methods: This involved review of the records of patients diagnosed with VVC in a tertiary medical center from 2016 to 2020. All records of women, pregnant and non‑pregnant, wherein single‑dose 1200 mg miconazole or 6‑day 100 mg clotrimazole given vaginally were included Results: Eleven out of the 316 records (3.46%) remained symptomatic after treatment, about 18.1% (2/161) from those who used miconazole and 81.8% (9/155) from those treated with clotrimazole (p 0.027). In terms of failure rate, for miconazole it was 1.2% (2/161), whereas for clotrimazole it was 5.8% (9/155). None of the charts were found to have recorded adverse reaction to the given treatment Conclusion Single‑dose miconazole intravaginal regimen has a higher clinical cure rate than the 6‑day clotrimazole intravaginal treatment. Thereby, single‑dose intravaginal miconazole has the potential to improve patient compliance and treatment outcome at a lower cost
Clotrimazole ; Miconazole ; Vaginitis ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal

Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ; microbiology ; Communicable Diseases ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Microbiota ; physiology ; Vagina ; microbiology ; Vaginitis ; microbiology ; Vaginosis, Bacterial ; microbiology

OBJECTIVES: The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of the herbal medicine on the vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) among the menopausal subjects. METHODS: The literature related to VECs exposed to various herbal medicines in menopausal women were searched on three databases, MEDLINE (1966–August 2017), Scopus (1990–August 2017) and Cochrane Library (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; 2014). RESULTS: Totally, the meta-analysis was conducted on 11 randomised controlled trials. Based on the findings, the standardized mean difference (SMD) of maturation value (MV) was observed to be elevated by 0.48% (95% interval confidence [CI], 0.108–0.871; P = 0.012), as well as the heterogeneity was high (I2 = 84%; P < 0.001). The MV revealed a significant increase in soy group (SMD, 0.358; 95% CI, 0.073–0.871; P = 0.014) compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The herbal medicines exhibited a statistically significant effect on the VECs. A significant effect on the VECs was also found in the subgroup analysis of the patients, who received soy. However, further and extensive studies are required to achieve reliable outcomes.
Atrophic Vaginitis ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Menopause ; Phytoestrogens ; Population Characteristics

OBJECTIVES: Atrophic vaginitis (AV), which is common in postmenopausal women, is characterized by vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and discomfort. There are a variety of therapeutic agents for the treatment of AV, besides hormone replacement therapy. We performed this systematic review to compare the effectiveness of various therapies for symptom improvement in AV patients. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and other literature (Google Scholar, Web of Science, and hand search) for studies published between January 2010 and March 2015. AV was evaluated by the following outcomes: vaginal pH, dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, or cytological change (endometrial thickness, percentages of superficial cells and parabasal cells). They measured treatment efficacy with various outcomes pertaining to AV symptoms. RESULTS: Meta-analysis suggested that ospemifene was effective against dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, endometrial thickness, and percentage changes in superficial and parabasal cells. Vaginal pH was most affected by soy isoflavone vaginal gel. Ospemifene was effective for AV symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review compared the effects of several therapeutic agents on symptoms of AV through a network meta-analysis. This study provides objective evidence for clinical treatment and efficacy management in AV.
Atrophic Vaginitis ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Hand ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Postmenopause ; Treatment Outcome ; Vagina ; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) among perimenopausal women in Wuhan. A cross-sectional survey was performed on 1067 women aged 40-65 years sampled in Wuhan urban area from April to October 2014. Information about demographic characteristics, menstruation, parity and UI symptoms was collected using a questionnaire. The data were evaluated by Chi-square test and multiple Logistic regression analysis. The prevalence rate of UI was 37.2%, with stress UI (32.2%) being more prevalent than urgency UI (21.6%) and mixed UI (16.6%). 31.2% women with UI stated that UI had negative impact on their life. Risk factors for UI included menstrual disorder, menopause, overweight, perineal laceration, atrophic vaginitis, constipation and pelvic organ prolapse. Appropriate investigation apropos the factors associated with UI should be performed to diminish its impact on women's life.
Adult ; Aged ; Atrophic Vaginitis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Constipation ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lacerations ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Menstrual Cycle ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Perimenopause ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence ; epidemiology ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can detect many more microorganisms of a microbiome than traditional methods. This study aimed to analyze the vaginal microbiomes of Korean women by using NGS that included bacteria and other microorganisms. The NGS results were compared with the results of other assays, and NGS was evaluated for its feasibility for predicting vaginitis. METHODS: In total, 89 vaginal swab specimens were collected. Microscopic examinations of Gram staining and microbiological cultures were conducted on 67 specimens. NGS was performed with GS junior system on all of the vaginal specimens for the 16S rRNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and Tvk genes to detect bacteria, fungi, and Trichomonas vaginalis. In addition, DNA probe assays of the Candida spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, and Trichomonas vaginalis were performed. Various predictors of diversity that were obtained from the NGS data were analyzed to predict vaginitis. RESULTS: ITS sequences were obtained in most of the specimens (56.2%). The compositions of the intermediate and vaginitis Nugent score groups were similar to each other but differed from the composition of the normal score group. The fraction of the Lactobacillus spp. showed the highest area under the curve value (0.8559) in ROC curve analysis. The NGS and DNA probe assay results showed good agreement (range, 86.2-89.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Fungi as well as bacteria should be considered for the investigation of vaginal microbiome. The intermediate and vaginitis Nugent score groups were indistinguishable in NGS. NGS is a promising diagnostic tool of the vaginal microbiome and vaginitis, although some problems need to be resolved.
Area Under Curve ; Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Candida/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Gardnerella vaginalis/genetics/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; ROC Curve ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Trichomonas vaginalis/genetics/isolation & purification ; Vagina/*microbiology ; Vaginitis/*diagnosis/microbiology

Trichomonas vaginalis induces proinflammation in cervicovaginal mucosal epithelium. To investigate the signaling pathways in TNF-alpha production in cervical mucosal epithelium after T. vaginalis infection, the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways were evaluated in T. vaginalis-infected SiHa cells in the presence and absence of specific inhibitors. T. vaginalis increased TNF-alpha production in SiHa cells, in a parasite burden-dependent and incubation time-dependent manner. In T. vaginalis-infected SiHa cells, AKT, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK were phosphorylated from 1 hr after infection; however, the phosphorylation patterns were different from each other. After pretreatment with inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways, TNF-alpha production was significantly decreased compared to the control; however, TNF-alpha reduction patterns were different depending on the type of PI3K/MAPK inhibitors. TNF-alpha production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with wortmannin and PD98059, whereas it was increased by SP600125. These data suggested that PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways are important in regulation of TNF-alpha production in cervical mucosal epithelial SiHa cells. However, activation patterns of each pathway were different from the types of PI3K/MAPK pathways.
Cell Line ; Cervix Uteri/enzymology/metabolism/*parasitology ; Epithelial Cells/*enzymology/metabolism/parasitology ; Female ; Humans ; *MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mucous Membrane/*enzymology/metabolism/parasitology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics/*metabolism ; Trichomonas Vaginitis/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism/parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics/*metabolism

The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a new term that describes various menopausal symptoms and signs including not only genital symptoms (dryness, burning, and irritation), and sexual symptoms (lack of lubrication, discomfort or pain, and impaired function, but also urinary symptoms (urgency, dysuria, and recurrent urinary tract infections). The terms vulvovaginal atrophy and atrophic vaginitis, which were generally used until recently, had a limitation because they did not cover the full spectrum of symptoms and did not imply that the symptoms are related to a decreased estrogen level in menopause. Since the GSM may have a profound negative impact on the quality of life of postmenopausal women, women should be made aware of these problems and treated with an appropriate effective therapy. Thus, in this review we introduce new terminology and discuss the importance of comprehension of GSM and the necessity of active treatment of this syndrome in postmenopausal women.
Atrophic Vaginitis ; Atrophy ; Burns ; Comprehension ; Dysuria ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Lubrication ; Menopause* ; Quality of Life ; Urinary Tract

Mycotic vaginitis is a common and frequently-occurring gynaecopathia and easy to attack repeatedly, so painful to patients. In this study, the authors observed the clinical efficacy of Sophora gel combined with Fluconazole capsules in treating mycotic vaginitis, in order to seek an effective method for treating mycotic vaginitis. Totally 85 patients with mycotic vaginitis treated in our hospital between December 2012 and July 2014 were randomly divided into the treatment group (43 patients) and the control group (42 patients). The treatment group was given vaginally Sophora gel (one piece every night for 14 days) and orally Fluconazole capsules (150 mg, once every three days, four times in total); The control group was only administered with Fluconazole capsules. The total efficacy, cure rate, recurrence rate and clinical symptom improvements of the two groups were observed. The results show that the total efficacy, the cure rate and the recurrence rate of the treatment group vs. the control group were respectively 97.7%, 90.7% and 2.6% vs. 83.3%, 71.4% and 20.0%, with statistical significance in their differences (P < 0.05). The treatment group showed reduced leucorrhea, pruritus vulvae disappearance and earlier mucosal hyperemia disappearance than the control group, with statistical significance in their differences (P < 0.05). In conclusion Sophora gel combined with Fluconazole capsules can improve antifungal activity of drugs, relieve clinical symptoms, shorten the course of disease, enhance the cure rate and reduce the recurrence rate; So this therapy can be widely applied in clinic.
Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; administration & dosage ; Capsules ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluconazole ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Mycoses ; drug therapy ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaginitis ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: This randomized, single-blind, two-arm controlled study compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of an intravaginal suppository preparation containing metronidazole 750mg + miconazole 200mg (Neopenotran Forte) with another vaginal preparation containing metronidazole 500 mg + nystatin 10000 IU (Flagystatin) in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV), candidal and trichomonial vulvovaginitis (CVV, TV), mixed vaginitis and in the prevention of secondary candidal vulvovaginitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women ages 18-45 years with chief complaints of abnormal vaginal discharge or vaginal/vulvar itching were examined and microbiologic confirmation of BV, VVC, TV or mixed infection was made. They were then randomly assigned to receive either treatment once daily (nightly) for 7 days. A total of 261 subjects had evaluable clinical and microbiological findings at the end of the study. Test of cure by Amsel criteria and Nugent score were performed twice after treatment.

RESULTS: The overall test revealed that microbiological cure rate is significantly different between the two treatment groups.

CONCLUSION: The odds of being cured microbiologically is 2.35 times more in the metronidazole 750mg + miconazole nitrate 200mg group compared to the metronidazole 500 mg + nystatin 10000 IU group. However, no significant difference in the clinical cure between the two groups was found. Both drugs are safe and convenient to use.