Interní Med. 2012; 14(3): 119-121

Vulvovaginal discomfort of fungal origin: current status and therapeutic options

doc.MUDr.Jiří Špaček, Ph.D.¹, doc.RNDr.Vladimír Buchta, CSc.², MUDr.Jan Kestřánek¹

¹ Porodnická a gynekologická klinika, LF a FN v Hradci Králové

² Ústav klinické mikrobiologie, LF a FN v Hradci Králové

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the most common vaginal disease and it is also the most frequent cause of vulvovaginal discomfort (itching,

burning and discharge). It affects most women at some point in their lives and its sporadic form is usually managed without difficulty. By

contrast, in recurrent conditions symptoms escalate and the gynaecological finding is often very poor or completely normal. Sometimes

it is possible to determine the inciting moment; however, the actual cause mostly remains undiscovered. Moreover, in a number of cases,

the finding of yeast may not necessarily confirm fungal aetiology and the term recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis fails to reflect the nature

of the condition. While in acute sporadic cases one-time anti-infective treatment is highly effective, in chronic vulvovaginal discomfort

it tends to have a transient effect only. In the long-term perspective, it is advisable to rather improve the quality of the vaginal milieu in

these patients. The vagina and vulva are strongly oestrogen-dependent; therefore, hormonal intervention may also be an option.

Keywords: vulvovaginal discomfort, disturbance in the vaginal milieu, vulvovaginal candidiasis

Published: March 26, 2012  Show citation