Patient's question:
Before the rainy season, my underwear wasn't dried properly, which led to a fungal vaginal infection. Later, after treatment, it got better. Now I have a boyfriend, and every time we have sex, it hurts. My boyfriend said there are two red marks at the vaginal opening and abnormal discharge. However, we only have sex once a month, and every time we use a condom. Could this be a recurrence? How serious is it?Past Treatment and Effectiveness:
I had a fungal vaginal infection once, and it was treated and resolved. Now it seems to be recurring.
Help Needed:
Could you please advise how to treat this?
Doctor's answer:
Hello, friend, you can have the following treatment options:1. Change the pH of the vagina, such as using alkaline solutions to rinse the vagina. For example, a 2% to 4% soda solution can be used to rinse the vagina to alter the environment in which the fungus thrives.
2. Administer antifungals:
(1) Nystatin vaginal suppositories (containing 250,000 U of nystatin) should be inserted deep into the vagina, once in the morning and once in the evening, or once daily for 2 weeks.
(2) Oral nystatin 500,000 U, four times daily.
(3) Topical application of nystatin cold cream, twice daily.
(4) Oral ketoconazole 400 mg, twice daily for 5 days.
(5) Trichomycin—see the treatment for trichomoniasis of the vagina for details.
Additionally, oral clotrimazole or clotrimazole 0.5–1 g, three times daily, or local use of 15% ointment or cream, 3 to 4 times daily, also yields excellent results.