Patient's question:
Recently, there has been an increase in leukorrhea ~yellow~ with a slightly unpleasant odor. I also have a canker sore in my mouth ~no itching sensation in the lower body~ it's just that the leukorrhea is excessive. A few weeks ago, it started with cottage cheese-like leukorrhea, and there were ulcers at the urethral opening and labia minora, causing painful urination. The reason was that I touched the ulcers. Later, I used fluconazole ointment and Daktar suppositories, but they didn't work. After using metronidazole, it improved a bit, but the leukorrhea seemed abnormal. Then my menstrual cycle (MC) came, but it has been about half a month since then, and the leukorrhea has remained yellow with a slightly unpleasant odor. I still had a large canker sore in my mouth, which has now healed. However, after eating sunflower seeds, it seems to have grown back—small and appearing to be caused by friction.Doctor's answer:
Hello: Medication is not necessary to be taken long-term for treating candidal vulvovaginitis. It can be treated using either pure Western medicine or a combination of Chinese and Western medicine.(1) General treatment: Actively treat other diseases that can cause candidal vulvovaginitis and eliminate predisposing factors. Maintain external genital hygiene and dryness, and avoid scratching. Abstain from sexual activity during treatment. Avoid spicy and irritating foods.
(2) Changing vaginal pH: The optimal pH for Candida growth is 5.5. Therefore, using alkaline solutions to rinse the external genitalia and vagina can alter the vaginal pH, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of Candida. A 2%–4% baking soda solution can be used to rinse the vagina once or twice daily, with 2 weeks constituting one course. After rinsing, dry the external genitalia to maintain dryness and inhibit Candida growth.
(3) Vaginal medication: Using imidazole ointments for vaginal medication is highly effective for candidal vulvovaginitis. Clotrimazole ointment: Insert one suppository nightly into the vagina after rinsing, with 10–14 days constituting one course. Alternatively, Daktarin ointment: Insert one suppository nightly into the vagina after rinsing, with 7 days constituting one course.
(4) External ointments: Applying clotrimazole cream or Daktarin cream externally can treat vulvitis caused by Candida infection and alleviate symptoms such as itching and pain in the external genitalia. Apply externally several times daily for 2 weeks. Eucerin cream, which contains econazole as the main ingredient with a small amount of topical steroid, provides excellent anti-itch effects and is particularly suitable for those with severe itching from candidal vulvovaginitis. Apply externally twice daily.
(5) Oral medication: