S’pore women today more informed about vaginal infections

MORE women are seeking medical advice on vaginal infections, say doctors. But that does notmean they are getting more promiscuous.

While it is true that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise, it is also a fact that Singapore women are more educated about their bodies.

Doctors The New Paper spoke to say they have seen an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with vaginal infections over the last five years.

Citing recent figures from the Ministry of Health, Dr Wee Horng Yen said that notifications of STIs other than HIV have been climbing in recent years, from about 11,000 cases in 2006 to 12,300 in 2008. Dr Wee is consultant and director of the Women’s Wellness Centre at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Dr Peter Chew, a senior consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at the Gleneagles Medical Centre, said
he has seen more patients seeking treatment for vaginal infections over the last five years because “patients are better educated and more aware of their personal health”.

For Dr Yong Tze Tien, a senior consultant for obstetrics and gynaecology at the Singapore General Hospital, such patients have increased by 20 per cent.

These doctors feel that Singapore women today are more well-informed about vaginal infections compared
towomenin previous generations.

Dr Yong said: “It’s an intimate topic with older women, whereas younger women are more open and are comfortable with male doctors giving them advice (on this topic).”

Doctors say that the most common form of vaginal infection faced by women here is Candida vaginitis or
Vaginal candidiasis, a yeast infection.

Dr Anupriya Agarwal, associate consultant at the National University Hospital’s department of obstetrics and gynaecology, said such infection results in the “production of thick, white discharge, which is often itchy”.

Other symptoms include “swelling, irritation or redness around the vaginal area”, she added.

Dr Chew said that this form of vaginal infection is more common among women who are pregnant, diabetic, on contraceptive pills or on antibiotics.

“The ‘good’ bacteria is destroyed by the antibiotics, and the yeast overgrows as a result,” heexplained.
The condition can be treated with anti-fungal tablets or vaginal creams.

Yesterday, Vagisil, a feminine hygiene brand developed in the US, officially launched a vaginal infection
self-screening kit forwomen.

Available over the counter
Vagisil claims the kit is the first of its kind that is available over the counter.

The kit is easy to use and can show users the results quickly.

But doctors said that women who come to them with symptoms of vaginal infections are usually made to go for laboratory tests which take some time.

They do not issue vaginal infection self-screening kits and caution against relying too much on such kits.

Dr Chew fears that women who use the kit may end up self-medicating and delay proper treatment as a
result.

He added that the results may not necessarily point the user to the exact type of vaginal infection she has.

Dr Chew said: “Early cervical cancer sometimes manifests itself via odd vaginal discharge, but users of
the kit may simply get a reading pointing to some form of vaginal infection.”

Dr Yong also advised against self-medication. “The test results may not be accurate as the symptoms
of the various types of vaginal infection generally include itchiness and discharge,” he noted.

“It would be hard to say which type the woman has.” Dr Chew said he would “evaluate the kit” before
allowing his patients to use it.

Ms Cheryl Soh, marketing manager of Corlison which distributes the Vagisil Screening Kit for Vaginal
Infections, explained that the kit actually “prevents self-medicating”.

This is because its instruction sheet encourages users to seek professional treatment, depending on the
test results.

Ms Soh added: “The kit does not claim to diagnose what exactly you are suffering from, although it seeks to provide a clearer indication of possible types of vaginal infections the user might have.”

How the kit works
THE Vagisil Screening Kit for Vaginal Infections works based on a pH system. Each kit comes with an instruction sheet, two pH test swabs and a pH guide.

A user inserts the pH swab into her vagina, then withdraws the swab after pressing it against the mid-vaginal wall for five seconds.

The swab changes colour to reveal the user’s vaginal pH. The swab’s colour is checked against the pH guide.

A normal vaginal pH is between 3.5 and 4.5. A reading of 4.5 might point to a yeast infection if there are also symptoms like itching, burning or a yeasty odour.

The kit ($19.95) is sold at all Guardian and National Health Group pharmacies.