Thursday, June 21, 2007
At-Home Screening Test for Vaginal Health
Filed under: Diagnostics
, Medicine
, Ob/Gyn
Before long, women and their vaginas will be completely self sufficient. Previously, we've covered Dutch women's willingness to perform their own pap smears, but now a new at-home-test has surfaced. Tired of selling their product to women who didn't need it, the makers of Vagisil are releasing a self-administered test to help women accurately 'diagnose' their symptoms.
While vaginal infections are common occurrences in adult women, many women assume that it's a yeast infection and self-treat the problem with over-the-counter products. But in fact, more than 50 percent of these women are wrong. They are not always suffering from a yeast infection but from another type of vaginal infection that often requires treatment by a healthcare professional. Several types of vaginal infections can cause symptoms such as unusual discharge, itching, unpleasant odor and burning.
In fact, bacterial vaginosis (BV), not yeast, is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age, according to The National Institutes of Health. BV is caused by a bacterial imbalance in the vagina. BV has a variety of risk factors including douching, certain forms of contraception and sexual activity.
Self-Treatment May Not Be "What the Doctor Ordered"
Playing the waiting game can certainly be tough. Until they see their medical practitioner, many women self-treat their symptoms with over-the- counter medications. They're eager for relief, but find themselves at a loss.
"This kit is a significant step in empowering women to better understand their vaginal health," said Donnica L. Moore, MD, President, Sapphire Women's Health Group. "As it happens, many women don't turn to their doctors either because they're embarrassed to talk about their condition, because they think they know what the problem is, or because they want immediate relief. Using this kit can help women feel more confident when telling their gynecologists about their symptoms and also more confident that they are seeking the right treatment."
The Vagisil Screening Kit is intended for use by women who are experiencing itching, burning, unpleasant odor or unusual discharge. One way medical practitioners can check for vaginal infection is by measuring vaginal pH. The Vagisil Screening Kit allows women to measure their own pH in the comfort of their home.
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