Patient's question:
I recently had my period, but I'm still using medication. I want to ask if it's okay to use sodium bicarbonate to rinse the external genitalia during the menstrual period for candidal vulvovaginitis.Doctor's answer:
Candidiasis is caused by infection with Candida albicans. Since it is quite persistent, it tends to recur frequently. Therefore, for candidal vaginitis, alkaline solutions can be used to rinse the vagina, and nystatin should be administered for treatment. Each course of treatment lasts 7 to 10 days. During treatment, sexual activity is strictly prohibited.For patients with candidal vaginitis who cannot use vaginal medication during their menstrual period, oral nystatin can be an alternative. It is recommended to wait until the menstrual bleeding has reduced or stopped before performing external vaginal cleansing, to avoid reverse transmission.