eMedicine Specialties > Obstetrics and Gynecology > General Gynecology

Vaginitis: Follow-up

Author: Hetal B Gor, MD, FACOG, Consulting Staff, Private Practice, Bergen County, New Jersey
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 8, 2008

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Inpatient care usually is not indicated for vaginal infections, unless serious pelvic infections arise or evidence of systemic infection in an immunocompromised host is present.

Further Outpatient Care

  • Follow-up care is not indicated if patients are asymptomatic. However, in women who are pregnant or those with recurrent infections, a follow-up evaluation should be performed 1 month after completion of treatment.
  • Consider treatment of partners in case of trichomoniasis;
  • If chronic or recurrent infections occur, consider treatment of partners in case of bacterial vaginosis.
  • Yeast culture, glucose intolerance test, and HIV test should be offered in case of recurrent or resistant vaginal candidiasis.

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

  • All regimens are administered on an outpatient basis (see Medication).

Deterrence/Prevention

  • Although not extensively studied, safe sexual practices may play a role in decreasing BV and T vaginalis infections. Good hygiene also may play a role in preventing candidal infections. No studies show any benefit to douching as a treatment or prevention for vaginitis; douching may actually exacerbate symptoms. Tampon use does not seem to be associated with vaginitis.

Complications

  • BV has been associated with PID, endometritis, and vaginal cuff cellulitis when invasive procedures have been performed. Such procedures include endometrial biopsies, cesarean section, uterine curettage, and IUD placement.
  • During pregnancy, BV and trichomoniasis are associated with an increased risk of premature rupture of membranes, preterm labor, low birth weight, and preterm delivery.

Prognosis

  • The prognosis is very good because the majority of those infected will be cured.

Patient Education

Miscellaneous

Special Concerns

  • Patients who are immunocompromised, such as those with HIV, should be treated with the same regimens.
  • Pregnancy should not delay treatment.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Phuong H Nguyen, MD and Susanne Ching, MD to the development and writing of this article.



More on Vaginitis

Overview: Vaginitis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Vaginitis
Treatment & Medication: Vaginitis
Follow-up: Vaginitis
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

vaginitis, vaginal infection, Trichomonas vaginalis, vaginal candidiasis, Candida infection, bacterial vaginosis, BV, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, yeast infection, vaginal pH

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Hetal B Gor, MD, FACOG, Consulting Staff, Private Practice, Bergen County, New Jersey
Hetal B Gor, MD, FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Bruce A Meyer, MD, MBA, Vice President for Medical Affairs, Associate Dean for Health System Affairs and Director of the Faculty Practice Plan, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Bruce A Meyer, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physician Executives, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, Medical Group Management Association, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Antonio V Sison, MD, Medical Director, Ob/Gyn Group, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton
Antonio V Sison, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Frederick B Gaupp, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Family Practice, Hancock Medical Center
Frederick B Gaupp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michel E Rivlin, MD, Professor, Coordinator of Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine
Michel E Rivlin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Mississippi State Medical Association, and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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